How can I learn to see and feel the energies of the human psyche?
Before we can learn to see anything in the psyche, we have to first believe it is there. This seems to run counter to the popular notion that seeing is believing. However, if we really think about it, this notion does not hold up very well in everyday life. In fact, we are seldom able to recognize or acknowledge new information or ideas that run counter to our beliefs.
In order to learn to see or feel the energies of the psyche, we have to begin by behaving as though they were a reality. This is not quite the same as believing, which usually involves blind acceptance. It’s more like the idea of a “working hypothesis”. In order to prove the existence of something unseen — radio waves, for example — scientists first hypothesize its existence and then set up an appropriate experiment to test their hypothesis. Similarly, with the psyche, once we assume that it exists, we can then make appropriate observations and gather data. We usually begin by learning to detect subtle differences in the feel of the energies and, eventually, we develop the ability to interpret their significance. If, on the other hand, we begin by believing that they don’t exist, we are unlikely to make any observations because we will ignore what we do see or feel.
One major obstacle in the development of psychic awareness is the failure to recognize the difference between fantasy and psychic reality. Because we are so accustomed to sensing with our physical faculties, it is difficult to know if what we are sensing psychically is real. The principal requirement is honesty, which begins with an understanding of why we want to learn to sense in the first place. It also involves asking ourselves how badly we need to feel something. Do we have something to prove? Are we in competition with someone? Before we start sensing psychically, it’s important that we deal with these issues, or at least be aware of them. Psychic awareness involves setting aside our wants and preconceptions and being prepared to make mistakes; if we are afraid to make a mistake, we can never be totally open and responsive.
Ultimately, it is our ego systems that will determine how quickly we learn to discriminate between psychic reality and fantasy.
There is also the matter of aptitude. Everyone can learn to paint, but the degree of talent varies widely. It is the same with the psyche; everyone who is prepared to invest time and effort can obtain some degree of psychic awareness. Even those who have innate ability, however, still require many years of practice to perfect their skills.
