Ego

[douglas]

The term "ego" is used a few times in articles on this website.

What, essentially, is ego?

(From a shamanic perspective of course.)

 

 

[Moonshadow]

Hi Douglas.

 

Simply put, in a nutshell, there is the real ego- the healed personality of a person, and then there is the mind's sense of it's self-importance- the ego born from being in the world. It's what takes things personally instead of being unattached and compassionate. It thinks the world of itself, and of the world.

 

To me, the ego is like a thick layer of insulation in the attic. It shrouds you and your perception. It limits your movement because it directs your emotional reactions and as a result your energy. It isn't personal power, but the persona who judges one's self-worth by their looks, the car they drive, or their bank account. It's what tends to get hurt and angry and feels great self pity.

 

Mandy

[kai]

Hi Douglas,

 

Simply put the ego is what keeps you separate from the rest of the world and gives you a sense of individual existence, the expression of 'you' into the world. It doesn't need to carry any of that crap usually associated with it though - the self-importance and all that emotional baggage is extra and no way integral part of 'ego' in the shamanic sense. Ego doesn't need to be anything more than a simple matter of identity, you could think of it like a 'lense' or focal point of expression energetically, in a clean state that's really simple and straight-forward. You need the ego to function in the world, to be completely rid of it there's just floating awareness with no sense of expression or identity, while that is something you can access it's not a position you can really live your life from, unless you just go sit in a cave somewhere and be a tourist attraction or something

 

Kai

[Dance]

Have noted that the ego seems to creep into what has been called by some as a spiritual ego. Have seen this used as a hierarchy and judgement of others, especially in spiritual groupings of people that gather. Now so very careful not to follow that path and my goal is always to apply unconditional love to all life. Do still some times catch this spiritual ego at work within self, catch it and it fades filling that part of ego with love light.