by Suzanne Matthiessen
I recently caught a replay of an episode of Bravo TV's "Inside the Actor's Studio" featuring Al Pacino, and during the program Pacino said he attributed his success as an actor to being able to get out of his own way. His description of being able to step outside from who he is in daily life and become immersed in the character he's preparing to portray made me cognize that a similar self-removal process occurs during spiritual transformation and awakening. In acting, the very best are able to so convincing become someone else that they make it seem effortless – but this transition is temporary, and they return to their own identity once the production is complete. It's a bit different with spiritual growth however!
Getting out of your own way on the spiritual path is similar to acting in a technical sense, but the metamorphosis process is intended to be permanent. Although we all know we carry energetic baggage that must be shed along the way, some of it is very difficult to release – particularly the aspects of our ego we've become quite attached to that have served us as coping or strategic devices for a long time. And although we engage in these behavioral patterns because there's some sort of payoff in doing so, eventually, if we are truly serious and dedicated to spiritual awakening, those shadow behaviors that are spiritually self-destructive must be faced and transcended. The Law of Reincarnation states if this isn't done before we pass from this physical body, we will come back again in physical form repeatedly until we do so.
