by April Bender via integrated Overself

I wish to speak with you today, regarding the increasing sense of darkness currently pervading your world. Many light-workers and way-showers, especially those who are empaths, are struggling to remain centered during this energetically intense time. I understand that by outward appearances the world seems to be falling apart . . .degrading into chaos, violence, hatred, and hopelessness. However, what you are witnessing are merely the symptoms of a larger movement happening deep down below the surface, . . .the rise of the collective unconscious.These shadows of the collective, seek only to be brought out into the light of awareness for resolution, integration, and healing. As part of the ascension process it is necessary and natural for this to take place. Spiritual initiates know this process well on an individual level as layer by layer they've combed the depths of their rich underworlds in an effort to cleanse, heal, re-pattern and re-integrate lost and/or unconscious aspects of self. I think all can attest that it was not necessarily a pleasant or comfortable experience delving into those depths - as you know death and rebirth processes are scary and messy. However, the collective must also pass through these same thresholds or gates on the way to ascension, and this month of August (with the Lion's Gate and Solar Eclipse), beyond into Fall, will be a very intense time of confronting shadow while passing through the collective underworld.While on the surface it's easy to see why people, including light-workers and way-showers, are angry and afraid, they must realize that in their anger and fear, they are inadvertently falling back into dualistic/separatist (us and them) thinking, which only serves to strengthen the very illusion (and patterns) that they are trying to break. For you cannot extend Oneness only to those who feel, behave, and think the same way as you. There is a self-righteousness in that. For if the Creator wanted you all to be the same, you would be made entirely the same. Obviously, diversity is the preference.Oneness = All, and All are One in consciousness. This Oneness by its very nature, implies an intertwining of fate and destiny with all others, with All of Creation. To harm another is to ultimately harm oneself, whether in word or deed. There may be many asleep to this fact, but you dear light-workers are not. Therefore, you MUST BE the example. You must be careful. You cannot allow yourselves to be pulled backwards into the dualistic fray. For you know that no creature is born inherently hateful or violent, let alone entire swaths of people. These are learned conditions (sometimes carried over multiple lifetimes). So one must ask in all sincerity, where did society fail them?You know there were many ancient indigenous cultures of the past who shared in this wisdom. When someone in the tribe became ill, whether a disease, ailment or mental illness, the entire tribe would take ownership of that illness. You see they recognized their inherent Oneness, and would gather around the individual in an attempt to heal and better understand what was truly manifesting and why, in order to prevent future episodes. This is precisely the wisdom that needs to be brought forth again.This doesn't preclude the need for justice to be met in some cases or a firm stance against harm to be taken, but it does warrant closer examination so that past mistakes, past dysfunctional patterns, are not repeated.For just as individuals create their own shadows so does the collective. And the more light that is anchored upon the Earth, the more these shadows will be revealed so you must be prepared for that.Remember our last discussion on the Alchemy of Ascension ? To spiral up or to spiral down? The opportunity is and always has been, yours. Your voices MUST be the prevailing voices of reason. You must rise above the current fray and see things from a much higher vantage point and LEAD from that place or humanity is doomed to repeat its past mistakes. How many more times would everyone like to be reincarnated together on the wheel of Earth-life before this lesson is learned?You are the mighty light warriors, the brilliantly shining and wise way-showers, you are a HUGE influence in the current energetics and course of events. How will you use that influence? Those superpowers ? Will you stand in your empowered and unified center or will you give yourself over to fear and the illusion of separation?Choose wisely.