The Alchemy of Awareness
Illumination: As successful approaches are discovered and a new self is gradually constructed more and more of the previous self will be illuminated. More and more of what was subject will become object and, as such, available for use in making choices and decisions. Focusing on these newly revealed objects of thought could help speed up the completion of the transitional process because awareness of them makes the possibility of falling back into old habits less of an issue. How to Proceed At this point it is essential to remember what has been said about the need to progress one level at a time. There are no shortcuts through the levels of awareness. Each level must be personally experienced and each transition must be personally won. The important thing is to recognize where you are and proceed from there. When you are ready to make a transition going over the material presented in this book that is related to your particular transition may prove helpful. However, since each person is unique it is unlikely that everything you need to go through to make a real transition from your level of awareness to the next level will be covered in this book. It will be important to reach out other resources as required. Making a transition is seldom a simple undertaking but it need not be a lonely one. There are trained professionals, public services, and support organizations available. The Necessity of Drives When a transition is made from one level to another the drive of the lower level is not forever annihilated. It is just that what was an unconscious drive is now available as an object of thought which means that the drive can now be taken into account and consciously managed when appropriate. Individuals with level 4 awareness still have a drive for membership. Our drives, unconscious or not, serve evolutionary purposes and as such cannot and should not be eradicated. Nor should we attempt, as we sometimes do, to wall them off from our experience or denying them their healthy expression. Once brought into the light of awareness our drives can become necessary resources in the pursuit of mental well-being.
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