The True Nature of G-d
The True Nature Of G-d
And what it means for creating personal connection with the Divine
If you’ve done much reading about G-d and spiritual growth, you may have come across the terms “duality” and “non-duality” as ways of discussing the nature of G-d. In case those are new terms for you, I’m going to explain them each a bit.
It’s important to understand them because the majority of religious and spiritual practices use one or the other to guide you through entering into a relationship with the Divine - whether they tell you that or not.
Duality
This is the term for how most people are taught to think of G-d. Some being in the sky who’s far removed from humanity and Earth… who makes demands of us and punishes or rewards - sometimes on what seems like a whim.
It’s no wonder so many people struggle with faith. This model is kind of cold and untouchable. Who wants to put their trust in some being they don’t know and aren’t encouraged to know? Not me, and probably not you.
Non-Duality
As the name implies, this is the opposite of duality. Under this theory of how G-d works, G-d is us and everything. G-d is Earth, plants, rocks, animals, etc.
This seems a little more accessible at first. At least we know ourselves, we can form relationships with the natural world, with animals, with each other.
But…
If we’re G-d, why doesn’t life always go exactly as we want, when we want it to? Some scientists might say “chaos theory.” Other people might say there’s some being working against you. And those explanations might or might not be true.
However, I think the reason that neither duality nor non-duality models for the nature of G-d are the truth… and until you fully understand the true nature of G-d, you will continue to struggle with faith and feel dissatisfied with your life - no matter how good others think you have it.
The True Nature of G-d
G-d is actually both duality and non-duality at the same time. That might feel like a head scratcher since they seem like opposites on the surface.
The following metaphor might help you wrap your head around this concept.
Each wave in the ocean seems to themselves and to the casual observer, to be a separate entity. Each wave is slightly different from the one before and the one after. (This separateness would be duality.) However, if we shift our thinking a bit, we - and the waves themselves - can see that they’re all water. As such, they’re all part of each other and part of a larger universal cycle (the water cycle in this case). This is non-duality. As you can see, both are true.
Let’s look at how this applies to understanding G-d.
G-d is a Higher Power - one that is removed from humanity and Earth. This separation was necessary in order for creation to occur. Prior to the act of creation G-d was All and Nothing, Everywhere, and Nowhere. To create the world - the universe, G-d had to retract, pull back, make space for that world to exist. This pulling back automatically brought about a duality.
In the act of creation, however, G-d put G-dself back into the world with each Being. In doing so G-d is also able to inhabit the physical world in which we exist. G-d is literally all of us, Earth, rocks, plants, etc.
But because that G-d form inhabits the physical realm, It is subject to the laws of physics. As such, we’re not able to willy nilly create and destroy, snap our fingers and alter our lives (or anyone else’s).
Trying to bounce between duality and non-duality leads so many spiritual seekers to frustration, confusion, and anger.
The Path Forward
Acceptance and balance. When you truly understand that G-d is both dual and non-dual, you begin to embrace a new way of working with the Divine, of praying, of connecting with Spirit, and manifesting your dreams and goals.
It begins by accepting that two things that seem opposite are true. Working with the Tree of Life can help (just saying, this is what I’m here to help you with…).
As you accept this new truth about the nature of G-d, you also need to develop new ways to work with the Divine. It begins by recognizing the parts of reality over which your own G-dself has control and the parts of reality which the Higher Power G-d must control.
Mostly, this comes with time and practice, but I also know you’re craving knowledge right now, so I’ll give you some examples.
1. This one actually happened to me several times before I figured things out.
I felt called to move, which would mean selling what I thought was my forever home in Southern NH and uprooting my entire life. It took A LOOONG time before I was willing to even admit I felt that call, And when I did, I was on the dual-only side of things. So, without doing much (really any) research other than sitting down with online real estate and saying “show me where I should go,” off the cats and I went.
And I should point out that I was also willfully listening to part of the message. I had a dream that I knew took place in Westminster, CO, but moving there seemed WAAAY too hard, especially with 3 cats and an extreme dislike of driving. So I twisted what I was getting from G-d into “it must mean Westminster, VT.”
I did wind up there for a while…and for a short time, it was okay. But mostly, it was SUPER not aligned for me. The good thing about this is that when we, in our ego-selves, make decisions that aren’t aligned, the Higher Power G-d sets about bringing us back to the path we’re meant to be on.
With VT, this meant that I was so unhappy there that moving to the moon no longer seemed not feasible. Rent a U-Haul, tow my car with 3 cats in the cab and travel 4 days across the country? Sure! I got this!
And I did. And it was actually more fun and more enlightening than I’d have ever guessed.
But…
In the end, CO was a stop over. One I will always treasure because it helped me to think big, to understand that my capacity for being is limitless. And if I was still solely relying on Spirit to guide me, I might still be there. But, CO is also extremely expensive and in a very real way I couldn’t live the life I wanted.
I was so stressed and frazzled that I was blocked. I couldn’t hear G-d’s voice or my G-dself. All I heard was the panic. “Get out! Get literally anywhere you can afford!”
I made plans to move to the Syracuse, NY area, but at the 11th hour ditched those plans because I heard G-dself say “NO” loudly.
Instead, I wound up back in NH - in the central part of the state. And… I basically hated it from the moment I arrived. But this time, I resolved to make the next move more mindful. To be more balanced in working with Spirit and my real life needs.
After a year of research, lots of prayer, and a deep dive into how to truly partner with the Divine, that resolve ultimately led me to Chicagoland and to creating this business so that I can help others find this same balance, this same joy, this same ability to create a life they love.
2. Let’s say you need more income. You started by praying, doing ceremonies, and all the usual manifesting stuff that the “energy workers” tell you should fix the problem. But nothing has changed. You still need more income and you’re starting to freak out. Even worse, you’re starting to think that this whole “Higher Power in control” thing is nonsense.
So, you swing the other way and decide that you - and ONLY you can create your own reality. You do vision boards, guided meditations, and all sorts of crazy mind contortions that half the time you’re not even sure you believe. And again…nothing changes.
What if, instead of swinging from one way to the other, you tried a middle way? It might look something like this:
You pray with an open heart rather than a demand. So, instead of “G-d, I need more income now. Thank you.” And then expecting it to appear from the ethers…
It looks more like “Thank you G-d for providing for all my needs, including financial. Please show me the path to a larger income.”
And then, you actually get open! Meditate, go for walks, whatever you need to do to get out of your worrying headspace.
When you do that, you’ll be able to hear your G-dself showing you the way to more income. It might not be a raise at your current job. It might mean changing jobs. It might mean moving. It might mean throwing caution to the wind, accepting less in the short term, and starting your own business. It might mean picking up some side jobs or gig work.
Whatever your G-dself directs is the path you should follow, even if your brain thinks it’s nuts - you have to do the work (look for a new job, make the move, etc.); even if your emotions are edging towards panic and you’re working to stay calm more often than you’d like.
Okay, so you’ve gotten empty and you’ve taken a scary AF step towards more income. But it hasn’t arrived yet. Now what?
First, remember that things in the physical realm take time. This is the stage where trusting that Higher Power G-d - the one you can’t see - is working for you is critical. It’s also the perfect moment to start creating a personal relationship with that G-d.
Your soul already wants this - it’s been asking for it each time you’ve bounced from dual to non-dual. Your soul also already knows the way to reconnect your G-dself to Higher Power G-d.
Chances are, though, that your brain and body are like “huh? No, we really don’t!”
That’s okay! Ask those parts of you to step aside for a moment. They can come back later if they want, but for just a moment, see if they’ll allow your soul to explore a new way.
What comes up for you in this moment where doubt steps aside?
Clarity?
Inner quiet and calm?
A sense of “more” that you can’t quite grasp?
Something else?
Whatever comes up for you is the right answer! Go with it, and know that you’ve taken the very first step on your path to reuniting G-dself and G-d - the very first step on living a life you love and feeling peace in each moment.
Take your next step by downloading the free Seeker’s Guide to Spiritual Growth Using the Kabbalah Tree of Life.