This one is quite a personal blog that starts with some frustration, but ends with an insight.
Welcome to some of my process!
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So here I am. I am supposed to be drafting a marketing eLetter! This letter will enthusiastically sell my new Shift course ‘Working with Subtle Energy.’ I love teaching this material and I know how useful and inspiring it can be for my students and colleagues. But . . .
But . . . I have other things on my mind that I need to unload about subtle energy and metaphysics.
I know that by now I ought to have learned how to calmly accept it all, but I haven’t. I am still frustrated by those people who disdainfully dismiss subtle energy and metaphysics as imaginary concepts made up by con artists seeking to manipulate the stupid and vulnerable.
Part of my frustration comes from the inconsistency of their disdain. These folk would not move into a new home that had bad vibes. (Subtle energy.) They walk into a beautiful temple or cathedral, and are touched by its wonderful atmosphere. (Subtle energy.) They feel the beauty and wonder of nature. (Subtle energy.) Perhaps they may even think of a close friend or relative, and in that moment the phone rings or an email arrives from that very person. (Subtle energy.)
Yes Yes, we all know that there are charlatans, snake oil salesmen and fake gurus, selling subtle energy and metaphysical false goods. That’s just the usual human nonsense and criminality. The fact that there are subtle energy con artists is not a good reason for a wholescale dismissal of metaphysics. Do we dismiss all medicine because some medics are criminals?
I am frustrated by these dismissive materialists.
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I have a similar frustration with traditional religions. I have met many clerics who are suspicious and aggressively dismissive of anything metaphysical or to do with subtle energy. This is particularly self-contradictory, because the very focus of their worship is a metaphysical entity, a subtle energy. Without metaphysics and subtle energy, where would religion be?
The problem here is that religions like to claim a monopoly on truth and practice. They tend to decide and control who can work metaphysically – talk to God, call in angels, do a blessing, welcome or help a soul on its way. They tend to restrict subtle energy work to their ordained priesthoods. Anyone outside their priesthood who engages with metaphysics can be treated as a heretic, demonic, and so on. This unpleasant reality is well known.
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The disdain of materialists and the control of religionists create a paradoxical alliance between the two camps. Both materialists and religionists tend to criticise and scorn those of us interested in subtle energy and metaphysics.
I can manage the criticism, but I don’t like the disdain and scorn. That scorn can threaten my life chances; and in other societies that scorn can spill over into explicit punishment. I also find it intellectually hollow, as a disdain for metaphysics and subtle energy can close down open-minded enquiry and research in philosophy, theology, science and healthcare. (Try introducing subtle energy into a medical school curriculum…)
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This is all very personal for me.
As I plan my year ahead, I find myself concerned that my mainstream work might be jeopardised by my engagement with metaphysics.
Over the coming year I will continue working in the mainstream for the Spiritual Companions Trust. We are successfully developing educational resources for spiritual practice, care and wellbeing; we have initiatives for schools’ religious education; we are developing a useful person-centred approach and voice for the spiritual-but-not-religious approach.
But when potential mainstream partners do due diligence, I worry they will see my writing and teaching about metaphysics and subtle energy; and, by association, disdain and avoid our mainstream projects. Yikes. I speak from experience.
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Resolution
But in writing this blog to express my frustration, a useful insight surfaced for me. (Isn’t the creative process great!)
This insight is meaningful to me, because it gives me a new angle on the challenges I have just described. It provides a conceptual and practical bridge between the two worlds in which I work – mainstream spirituality and the metaphysical.
It is to do with the core life skills of practitioners.
Some readers might even wonder why I haven’t noticed it before. Well, I did know it, but had not realised its significance. The insight is this:
Mainstream spiritual wellbeing and metaphysics both require the same skillset:
a mindful, reflective and wise awareness of subtle sensations and impressions.
Whether we are developing emotional intelligence, resilient wellbeing or metaphysical awareness, we all require these same life skills.
Mindful • Reflective • Wise
Awareness of Subtle Sensations and Impressions
To be unpacked in a future blog …
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So I started this blog with frustration, but ended with an insight that I can add to my educational toolkit. It might also help me be more accepting of the disdain given by some materialists and religionists, though I will always endeavour to set a boundary if there is bullying and cruelty.
Life eh!
How shall I end this blog?
Ah yes: I wish you all a mindful, reflective and wise awareness of subtle sensations and impressions.
William, you inspired me a long time ago. I have people that join my workshops & magic groups searching for whatever they are searching for. I recommend, and often give them books that, I’m pretty certain, will give them answers …. and they don’t read them. It has become for me a joke that I share with them.
I’ve come to the conclusion that everyone’s on their own journey in their own way and often they will dismiss what seems obvious to us. You and I learned what we think we know from experiencing something unique & profound. Your journey made sense to me ‘cos our journey’s were similar. I think we can only be ourselves and those that are inspired by our actions will be inspired & those that aren’t will find their answers somewhere else – maybe in other lives – although I don’t believe in past lives (I did in my last life, but not in this one) Sorry, bad joke.
As a Canadian, I am in fear for what is happening in the US. Do you have any words of wisdom to help lead us through the upcoming political context?
We all have to be careful not to radiate anxious energy, which can just fuel and make things worse. Your concern is 100% understandable. But if you can just center down and be very calm, that can send helpful vibes into the situation.
Crises call us to be oases of calm that reassure and strengthen folk to do the right thing.
Good luck! Blessed be.
Thank you William. As you know I too have been up against what you describe for some time. It was ever thus. Because these issues of being mindful, reflective, wise and full of love are so important to us, and we want to share them with more people because they’re important for them, and the world, of course we get frustrated. However, what I have found is that if we call out what these deniers of truth are doing, they slink into the shadows. I’ve invested a great deal of time and energy finding out what is happening to prevent my message reaching new people. And gradually I’m now calling it out- not directly as the media etc would seize on it and twist it, but piece by piece. I look forward very much to your next blog! Your quote “Energy follows thought” has prevented me going down the rabbit hole and helped me fill up with fiery hope!
I appreciate your honesty William and thank you for this post, which demonstrates your congruence and your grounding. Tuning into subtle energy I’d important work. Christ did this during his earthly ministry. 🙏
What a beautiful account of coming up against the line of resistance when we start to move towards the unknown. This is a very familiar place for all those of us who bring pioneering approaches to subtle energy work in cynical and suspicious environments. I find solace in drawing hope from the imaginal realm which often comes to me in the form of poetry (Subtle Energy). Reading this, the following words from John O’Donohue’s A Blessing of Angels (Subtle Energy) immediately floated in.
May the Angel of the Imagination enable you
To stand on the true threshold;
At ease with your ambivalence
And drawn in new directions
Through the glow of your contradictions.
So let’s cheer on the mindful, reflective and wise awareness of subtle sensations and impressions that lead us into the Divine Light shining through all our human ambivalences and contradictions.
Thank you.
I loved this blog William – it resonated deeply and made me think of Carl Rogers’s words ‘the personal is universal’ Feeling your frustration as part of the frustration in the collective just now with the patriarchal systems and the paradigms they are built upon, are biting back ever stronger as they fall.
Yet what you describe is also so much older than too – I’m reading ‘There is a River – The Story of Edgar Cayce’ just now and the description of what his medical ‘friends’ did to him in his trance state to try and disprove the truth of his power brought me to tears.
I can’t find the words for the potency of the symbolism of it. And way before that – witch hunts, heretical burnings…….
With the intensity of the personal and ancestral clearing we are in small wonder your frustration and personal fears glowed bright.
And such a wise and peaceful resolution you reached through your process – seeing you ultimately weaving a way with grace and ease between the worlds, as you have done time and again over the decades. Rebel energy and all.
Gratitude for the ways in which in doing that for yourself you do it for us all.
Thank you
Beautifully worded and I couldn’t agree more. I, and I am sure most people working in this arena, have experienced similar disdain. We can only rise above and continue doing what we do.
Hi William. It’s good you’ve discovered a spiritual insight you can draw on. The ongoing dismissiveness must be incredibly grating, especially to someone who’s very well-known and respected in the field of spiritual growth.
You exude integrity, intelligence, compassion, common sense and good will. Someone who has an ability to teach complex spiritual subjects in a grounded and engaging way. And, you come with a fully functioning B.S. Scanner—which is so vital these days! I choose who I follow online very carefully, and from what I’ve observed, you are the ‘real deal’.
If anyone is skilled enough to open the hearts and minds of those in the mainstream sector, it would be you. It’s unfortunate that in your work, you have to deal with many who choose to keep their inner eyes squeezed shut. Challenging to keep one’s equanimity in face of all that, especially with a professional reputation to consider.
Like many here, I’d like to add words of appreciation for the work you do. I resonate a lot with what Gary expressed in his reply. I’m someone who keeps a pretty low profile regarding spirituality. Been that way since I was 6 years old, when I had my first metaphysical experience. Through the years, it felt safer to keep mum about it all. It takes strength to be in the public spotlight. Thank you for caring enough for keep at it all these years. A special thank you for your courses as well. With your skillful teaching, I’m slowly developing the poise and groundedness required to function and thrive in these tumultuous times. Good luck with the S.N. marketing email, btw! Like Vanessa, you’ve already sold me on the course. Look forward to joining you and the rest of the students later in January.
Hi William, thanks for expressing these insights, which resonate with my own concerns in the transition to greater awareness of these levels of existence and function and influence on our often subconscious levels of awareness.
I am in my final decades of explorations and archiving some novel models giving formal theoretical descriptions and definitions to help create a more coherent understanding of these levels of human existence. My colleague and publisher Keith Hill has created Attar Books (www.attarbooks.com) to disseminate our work, the most recent of which is On Acquiring Wisdom (Calvert & Hill) 2024. Written in NZ, we feel and are similarly frustrated by the various impacts from both current society and history delimiting recognition and current sensitivity to these skilsets.
In response to Mary Turner’s comment “I dont see why you cant find a way to bring some quantum physics into your “mainstream” work.” I suggest reviewing Joachim Keppler’s work at http://www.diwiss.de for a formal linking between subtle energy and the zero point field aspect of the Standard Model in physical theory. I find useful his concept of the Read-Write Head descriptive of our propensity to both influence and be influenced by the subtle energy fields.
Best wishes for your work !! 🙂
Hi William, how you stay strong with all the criticism that is bound to come your way, working in a relatively new field, against mainstream thought, I don’t know! You wouldn’t be human if it didn’t overwhelm you at times. You are at the forefront of this wonderful, wonderful, transforming area of spirituality, and therefore will be the one battling on, with your shield up, with us following on behind!
You and your commitment to this most profound area of life, makes it easier for people like me, to stay strong.
I, like many others, are so appreciative of the work you do. And it’s such necessary work!
So thank you for staying resilient and strong. And having the courage and humility to share your frustrations and challenges support us greatly when we come up against them too.
Thank you!
Hi William
Your words of wisdom and insight are very helpful in accknowleging these different perspectives.
I have always been one that says, why would you read one book with one opinion, rather than a few books on the subject enabling you to make your own decisions and experiences, while remaining open to growth and changes.
Like you and others have shared here I have been judged for my spiritual practises, even meditation and yoga.
I know the truth of Divine connections and stay faithful to what is actually been proven in my life to be real and sometimes just miraculous.
I had the experience of being part of your Mediation course during our time in isolation, there was no denying the connection made energetically, wonderful.
Many Blessing to you William for all you do !
Thank you Willam. A little story….I wanted to find a venue for workshops on Angels. Experiencing their suble energies etc. I knew of a suitable room in a local church so I asked if I may rent it. When I explained that the workshop was about Angels and the wonder of them, I was told firmly No. Why I asked. “Because we don’t want that sort of thing here!”
Blessings to you from me and the Angels.
Oh dear Janet. I’m sorry to hear of your dismissal in this way. The Bible is full of angels, often talked about in the most matter of fact way.I pray for the provision of them for friends who are struggling. They certainly are wonderful! ❤️
Hi William , such interesting times! Yes , I’m finding I’m quite reflective when in conversation with my middle son He says for now he goes with being a Humanist , saying ‘life is about being the best human being I can possibly be’, he’s a great guy and teaching at the moment woodwork in a junior school. He told me kids were coming up to him asking if he believed in Angels and felt his reply to them although honest , was not comfortable for him . It’s strange because I have always felt him to be very angel like, coming with clarity, there is something pure and untouchable about him. I’m intrigued about how our Human Family is evolving.
HAPPY NEW YEAR WILLIAM ! LOVE AND PEACE xLiz
Old Jean from South Africa here.. I simply want to thank you for being in my LIFE.. THANK YOU xxx
Many thanks!
I bow to your good work, William! I ever grateful for your teachings on subtle energy.
I first came across you on a Shift Network Summit. I noticed you had integrity and were not afraid to call out anything that might be shallow and without true Spiritual value. Since then I have participated in two of your courses and saw you had depth and wisdom through your extensive experience. I am about to embark on the one coming up. Yes the key is being centred in your practice.
I have lived with a materialist reductionist for 46 years and I took on the mantle of the village idiot, despite being a highly qualified research scientist, and often felt frustrated and that my position and personal integrity was dismissed and rejected.
There is a story about a frog in a pond. He was King of his little pond. One day there was a very heavy storm and the torrential rain flooded a huge lake (which was actually the size of a small inland sea). The consequence of this was that a new frog appeared in the pond. The King asked the new frog where had he come from? The frog explained that he had come from a pond that was very large, so large that it was difficult to measure it or explain. The King frog blew out his cheeks, drew in his stomach and took a leap from one side of the pond to the other. All the froglets gasped in amazement. “ Well there cannot be anything greater than this pond” said the King, (or himself he probably thought) and having demonstrated his power and agility he dismissed the frog as having lost his senses.
Someone recently reminded me of how long I had been on my Spiritual path and what I had learned and could See. Although it is not really about the length of time, I did realise I had started to take for granted what I had been graciously allowed to See and therefore Knew from experience. People really cannot See until they do.
I stopped discussing or arguing with my partner a number of years ago. In the last 4 years they have taken up meditation and have completely changed their point of view. For the first time they are open and willing to consider subtle energies and what they might mean.
Hi William, your post brings to mind an afternoon in Glastonbury when I was taking part in the first Spiritual Companions Course. You were talking about creating sacred space, clearing stale energy from a room etc. You went on about opening windows, cleaning, banging cushions burning essential oils etc. I got very irritated because coming from my conditioning ‘subtle energy’ would be dismissed as a load of woo woo. As far as I could see you were just talking about careful, thoughtful housework. Nothing metaphysical about that! And then it dawned on me that ‘subtle energy’ was your way of describing my previously unexamined but totally instinctive way of looking after my household and its occupants. Ever since I’ve been able to value these activities much more consciously. A few days after that afternoon I was talking to a friend and describing the afternoon. Her reaction was ‘Duh’ you are a garden designer, you spend your life creating sacred spaces. Funny that I just hadn’t seen it that way! So your job William seems to be to help us to translate your ways of expressing your perceptions into something that makes sense to those who don’t share the same vocabulary. So much is a question of language.
❤️
Hey William, you’re doing great work! It’s a tricky and, I imagine, at times lonely furrow to plough but it’s an important one which is, I am sure, much appreciated by many now and will continue to be so in the future. Pioneering is uncomfortable, even when you’re pretty low-key like myself, just quietly getting on with ‘weird metaphysical stuff’ in my obscure little corner of nowhere in-particular, but you’re really ‘out there’ in the public sphere and this brings pressures which I’m sure you must feel as much on psychic/subtle levels as on the more mundane levels. So, all power to you! Take heart and know that you are respected, valued and admired and keep up the good work! 🙂
Thank you William. Your newsletter arrived in a timely fashion. I am so weary with the disdain , the heaviness on a daily basis. The constant treading on eggshells with people in my community. Not being my authentic self when the dialogue gets tricky. Trying to keep the peace with my evangelical Christian cousin (who I love dearly). A year ago at the age of 66yrs, I decided to step down as a plant medicine practitioner and remedial massage therapist after 38yrs of clinical practice. Quite a big decision indeed. My sensitivity and experience of subtle energies became more so. The constant references of name calling eg My witchy practice and potion making continues even to this day. It is very difficult to let go of the frustrations and the feeling of contraction that visits me. So, I am withdrawing from everything at the moment as I have not got the energy on any level to engage with the outside world. Although I am now starting to feel the nourishment of the seclusion and am gently following the subtle calls of the wildness of nature.
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I completely sympathise William. I have lost some dear friends, who announce they are Christians, and distance themselves. I am saddened by it, but cannot waste my precious energy, better utilised in my healing practice. It is an added layer of knowledge, which enriches, informs and replenishes my gifts. Happy new year!
Thank you, William, hugely helpful as ever. As a priest of the C of E, can I just reassure you that while what you say is true of some clergy, it is certainly not true of all and less and less true the more you look at average sorts of congregation…certainly the ones I deal with. I am and continue to be hugely helped by teachers of subtle awareness, yourself very much included.
That’s reassuring, Paul. Thank you!
Be of good heart William, courage ! I am reading Dante’s Divine Comedy and so far he has come across two Popes in Hell ! It was just the same for Yeshua . In fact you might consider that sort of criticism as indicators that you are on exactly the right path. Happy New Year !
Hi William
“Dismissive materialists” and “traditional Religion” are often defending against difficult material with their “criticism and scorn”. (quotes are of you from your blog). The psychological defence of splitting is of course a basic defence mechanism. So as you know, you need to keep holding the balance between the 2 positions and build a bridge wherever possible.
I found your reflections helpful: the simple notion of being “mindful reflective and wise” in our approach to subtle energy and metaphysics takes away any notion of having to strive for anything which is where I think i might have been heading personally.
I dont see why you cant find a way to bring some quantum physics into your “mainstream” work. After all its perfectly mainstream science is it not?
The planet and all life on it needs this mindful wise reflection from humans.
I am wondering how I contribute and will sign up for your subtle energy course.
thank you.
I found the post / newsletter really helpful.
Although I’m not sure how to comment about the disdain aspect – for me in my life and experience tackling various institutions from NHS for my son or the huge institutions of planning and local government a lack of understanding on so many levels is there. Which must be something that is not held by all the cogs in there – and so the bigger metaphysical web is greater than that and acts despite of. I’m doing a metaphysical/ spiritual sidestep after reading this.
But I also want to comment on the Shift network course and costs of that which for me are just too expensive as is sadly the way of it now for many on line courses – my opinion only of course.
Wise words – thank you William. I can empathise with your response to disdain. As someone once said: “Scepticism is healthy; cynicism erodes.” Happy New Year!
Oo. I like that 🙏