My definitions and usage of various terms in the following essay (e.g. “waking up,” “leap-frogging,” “The Force”) are found in the initial essays in this blog collection. See the entries posted as Front Matter and Introduction, Waking Up and Leap-Frogging.

Pitfalls of the Path

My definitions and usage of various terms in the following essay (e.g. “waking up,” “leap-frogging,” “The Force”) are found in the initial essays in this blog collection. See the entries posted as Front Matter and Introduction, Waking Up and Leap-Frogging.

 

 

Pitfalls of the Path

 

            The previous essays in this collection have described waking up and leap-frogging as positive, desirable activities or states of being, and they are. But it would be disingenuous of me to suggest they are without pitfalls. This final essay considers some of the disadvantages, drawbacks or dangers associated with waking up and leap-frogging.

            Our examination will take as a model of awakeness and leap-frogging the figure of Jesus. His life illustrates some of the hazards the path can present. We will consider these under six rubrics: general problems; frustrations; temptations; problems associated with lifestyle; problems related to relationships with other people; and the pitfalls linked to public activities (i.e. leap frog actions).

Some General Problems

            Under this heading, I consider the inevitable consequences of either waking up or leap-frogging. Problems of this type are inescapable.

            “Waking up” is a process of coming to realize that the psyche is real and that Spirit is primary. Therefore Spirit has purchase on one’s soul. Our spiritual commitment comes before all else. This is what is meant by the Biblical injunction against “having any other gods”[1] but The Force. Nothing else can we worship. How is this a problem? Because the Second Wave world lives in the materialistic confusion that ignores Spirit and denigrates the soul. We are “odd man out” when we put Spirit first in our lives.

            Doing so—living with Spirit primary–implies living on faith and trust. In practice, this means holding or containing the left brain’s lust to know, to plan, while we hold or contain the ego’s fears and anxieties in the face of unknowing. This is painful, and hence, another peril.

            Pain and suffering are unavoidable on this path. Jesus and the Buddha recognized this. But, as was noted in an earlier essay, suffering can be reperceived when we consciously recognize its meaning and purpose. But sometimes, especially when we are struggling alone, feeling isolated, without guidance or support, it can be very difficult indeed to know the point or purpose. And even when we do see the meaning, the ego is not likely to be happy. It does not like being crucified. This is what Jesus referred to when he spoke of “taking up one’s own cross”[2] and following him. We face crucifixion whenever we must hold the “tension of opposites” in the struggle toward integrating them, as part of the individuation process.

            The ego also hates self-denial. It does not appreciate having its desires thwarted. This is part of the task of “losing one’s life”[3] that Jesus mentioned as being a part of his followers’ task. Relinquishing the things we want, so as to have higher, spiritual blessings, is never easy, for the whole Second Wave world pressures us to buy, consume, compare, compete, and “keep up with the Joneses.” It requires a strong inner locus of determination and independence of thought, as well as repeated contacts with The Force, to come to the point of knowing the truth that we do find life only when we consciously give it up.

Pitfalls of Frustration

            Then there are the pitfalls associated with frustration. Frustration is an omnipresent feature of waking up and leap-frogging. Again, Jesus’ life can provide multiple examples.[4] Frustrations come from many sources, e.g.

_from being misunderstood.[5] This is likely, perhaps inevitable, from those who are very asleep, because of the wide difference in level of consciousness between those awake and those very asleep. But even our closest contacts and aspirants—people who work with us and spend lots of time with us—may not be able to get on the wavelength at times.

_from literalism and fundamentalism. Those stuck in the old way, following the letter of the law, will always misintepret what is said by those awake. Jesus experienced this with Nicodemus.[6] Nicodemus was a well-known, recognized teacher and leader. Jesus knew this. Yet, for all his training and knowledge, Nicodemus was not able to rise above literalism in thinking that “rebirth” meant some literal process of being reborn. People who are not into spiritual things will not “get it,” and this will cause frustration in the face of the seemingly unbridgeable gulf.

_from the refusal of some people to wake up, or even to recognize that their lives are not working. This is likely to be the most common frustration. Lots of people in the Second Wave world are in denial, thinking that “denial” is that river in Egypt. When we encounter these folks, what is patently obvious to us won’t even be “up” on their radar screens. This will provoke intense frustration unless we take Jesus’ advice: leave; move on. We don’t subject ourselves to lower levels of consciousness. There will be other, more challenging tasks to address, including another pitfall. This is the pitfall of temptation.

The Pitfall of Temptation

            There are many types of temptation, but three are particularly common in the lives of people who are waking up. Again, we can look to the life of Jesus to illustrate these types.[7] Perhaps the most omnipresent, given the consumerist cultures of the West, is the temptation of materialism. Where “getting and spending” are seen as virtues, and keeping alive the “throwaway” economy is a civic duty, it is hard to resist falling into this temptation. Even if we do manage to escape “consumeritis”[8] by consciously choosing lives of “voluntary simplicity,”[9] we can still fall into this temptation in its more subtle form: regarding “security” in monetary terms. This form of materialism would have us feel “safe” by having a regular paycheck, or savings in the bank, or health insurance, or other such external sources of income. Such thinking is another form of projection, or externalization, in which we shift our loyalty from The Force to the world, from trust in Divine provision to Mammon. Those waking up are learning to live relying on Spirit (i.e. living out the truth that Spirit is primary), knowing that all material, physical needs will be met. One of the lessons in this learning is to be able to distinguish between need and greed (that is, between what is really essential and what we simply want). The Force will provide for our need, but not for our greed. Nor will it provide for careless or wanton wastefulness, which brings us to a second type of temptation.

            This is testing the limits of Divine protection. Much as the Devil suggested Jesus throw himself from the Temple roof, relying on God to save him, we can be tempted to push the boundaries of our spiritual protection. When we are living our mission, The Force will protect us, but not if we deliberately do foolish things. Here’s an example from my own experience. I travel frequently to Africa, always by directive dreams. Going where I am sent, I feel safe everywhere. But I consciously avoid falling into the temptation to test The Force: In hotel rooms I use the safes provided by the hotel and I refuse to walk alone in downtown Johannesburg, Karachi, Mexico City or Moscow at 2 A.M. Nor would I venture into the malarial swamps of the Okovango River without shots and pills.

            A third temptation is the most insidious, as well as the most harmful and common: the temptation of power and pride. Ego inflation and ego aggrandizement are constant perils on the path to waking up. The ego lusts for control, wants power and wants to think highly of itself. Our inner demon/shadow is constantly tempting us to turn from a focus on Spirit to focus on it. How does this show up? Many ways, e.g.:

_setting our own agendas, without first seeking inner guidance on how to allocate our time

_falling back into the values and thinking patterns of the world (i.e. becoming “of the world”)

_looking outside for approval or approbation from others, so as to feel sure or good about ourselves or our actions

_thinking of ourselves as “better” than others. This is the most serious form of pride. This is a form of ego inflation that arises from the very fact of having a higher level of consciousness, even as that higher consciousness makes us realize we are all one, that none is “better” than another. Just as our hand is not better than our foot, so no person is better than another. This temptation is fostered by the left brain’s tendency to dichotomize, or fall into bi-polar thinking, seeing the world in “us-them” terms. This is false.

            There is considerable confusion on this point. Saying we are equal is not equivalent to saying we are all the same. We are all equal. We are not all the same. Those awake live lives that work better than the lives of those who are asleep. Those awake are able to perceive more accurately (without distortion) than can those asleep. Those awake get on in personal relationships better than do those asleep. Those awake function more effectively. But these distinctions do not mean the awake are better intrinsically in the eyes of The Force.

            These are just three of the many types of temptations that cross our path. While we might wish to eliminate temptations, we should remember the purposiveness of The Force. Temptations are put in our way for a good reason: to stretch us and help us grow. The etymology of “temptation” (from the Latin temptare, to stretch oneself) makes clear that by facing temptations and growing past them, we stretch our willpower and evolve spiritually.

Pitfalls Associated with Lifestyle

            There are also problems that relate to lifestyle: how we live in daily reality. The most noteworthy pitfall here lies in the fact that our lives are no longer our own. That is, living is not under the control of the ego and left brain. Thus the ego is not able to plan. This is especially hard on J types (and I speak as one) who love to plan and organize. Waking up means focusing on the Now moment, not in the past, nor in the future. There is a certain measure of spontaneity required in this lifestyle.

            We don’t often think about what it means not to “own” our lives. Jesus provides an example. He had very little free time—time when no one sought him out or noticed his absence. He was constantly in demand. He also had very little privacy and opportunity for solitude. For people waking up, time alone for inner work is like manna: It feeds the spirit. Yet such times are rare due to external demands.

            Another pitfall of lifestyle is that of inconvenience. The “call” can come at any time. Again, the Gospels provide an example. At one point in Jesus’ ministry, one of his disciples learned his father had died. Jewish law is quite explicit about the responsibility of a son to tend to the proper burial of his father. But Jesus had a very different set of priorities, and he told the man to follow him and “leave the dead to bury their own.”[10] When social convention demands we be some place, or do something, we must be willing to throw all of it over to obey the Divine call, no matter how inconvenient. So often, the ego will want to make up some really good excuse to justify turning a deaf ear. For the work of leap-frogging, we must be prepared to be inconvenienced.

            Embedded in the pitfall of inconvenience is the pitfall of new priorities and values. As the above Gospel story indicates, The Force does not necessarily value what we value, or what our society values. We are likely to have to change, to develop another set of values. Our needs will be met, as I noted above, but our greeds will be frustrated. Intangible, spiritual values will have to become the motivating drivers of our lives. Love, courage, fidelity, trust, creativity etc. must replace control, power, wealth, gratification, speed, success. And living with such a different set of values will result in many people who are still stuck in Second Wave thinking wondering about your sanity.

            A final lifestyle pitfall is the rootlessness inherent in being part of the “spiritual army.” Jesus noted how he had “no place to lay his head.”[11] Living “on call” to The Force can mean we move around a lot. I know this peril well: I was moved ten times in one 53-month interval! In such situations, “home” has to be redefined spiritually, to be a psychic connection and rootedness in The Force, rather than in some geographic location, physical structure, or connection to family or friends. Like so much else of the wake up process, this will seem very curious to many people we encounter.

            All the above pitfalls pale in comparison to the last two types: problems with relationships, and perils in public life.

Pitfalls of Relationship

            Jesus’ life is a vivid illustration of these pitfalls. We get no honor among those who know us best. “Only in his home town and in his own house is a prophet without honor.”[12] Yes. Waking up fosters prophetic awareness, as we begin to access and trust our intuition. But we must not expect family and long-time friends to see us in a new light and give heed to what we say. In fact, we must expect just the reverse: family and close friends are likely to be resistant to and resentful of our changing.

            Jesus warned of this explicitly. He said that he came to turn sons against fathers, mothers against daughters, children against their in-laws. It is not a happy picture of domestic bliss that he paints in Matthew 10:34-37. Our enemies will be those people in our own household.

            Why are family conflicts inevitable in this process? Because waking up implies getting wise to the dysfunctions in our natal family system. We begin to see all the forms of denial our relatives (and we ourselves) have been living in. As we wake up, we stop denying, and that changes the whole dynamic of the system. We change. We recognize the proverbial “elephant” in the living room, and we begin to talk about it, to bring it out into the open. The web of relationships gets tweaked and destabilized, and this causes discomfort to the rest of the family members. People dislike being discomfited. They also dislike having their defense mechanisms pointed out. They bitterly resent having us withdraw the projections we put on them. Such actions are like challenges to their sense of reality. Anger, complaints, and snide comments are likely. In many cases (especially when the family system is seriously dysfunctional) the person waking up will find it easier to move away, to provide the necessary “space” to continue growing without constant criticism.

            Old friends tend to react like family—with bewilderment, resentment and accusations like “You’ve changed!” (implying that that is a bad thing). If old friends are not also on the path of waking up, they will eventually fall away, let you down, or become difficult to be around. This, of course, assuming they don’t betray you (as Jesus’ friends did).

            A final form of relationship pitfall is the criticism that is likely from others who will project their flaws on us. The Pharisees were constantly doing this with Jesus, always criticizing him for this or that infraction of the law, all the while thinking so self-righteously of themselves.[13] It is very common to find people project their “stuff” on us, either positively or negatively. Negative projections will show up as criticisms, often very vitriolic (reflecting their own shadow “stuff”). Positive projections cause others to set us up as some sort of guru or special person. I call this the “pedestal syndrome.” It is very common. When people do it to me, it makes me acutely uncomfortable, because I know I am very human, and that pedestal space is very small. People projecting their own power, wisdom and Divine guidance come to feel very disillusioned and disappointed when we do something that forces them to take back the projection. In neither negative or positive projection is the person able to see us: he or she is really just looking at the projection.

            In sum, it is prudent, when we undertake the wake up process, to expect relationships to be fraught. But we can take comfort in the Universal Law of Attraction: “like attracts like.”[14] As we become more conscious, we will find like-minded people on the path whose level of consciousness is closer to our own. And relationships with such people will be much more rewarding and mutually gratifying. At this time in the evolution of the human species, such people are not in the majority, so expect to experience loneliness, isolation, and lack of understanding at times.

Pitfalls of Public Life

            The last pitfall is the most problematic, in terms of physical well-being. By “public life” I don’t meant politics, but rather any form of activity that puts us out in public, to be seen by others. Since leap-frogging means a doing “out there,” in some sort of work that strives to create a better world, it is a “public” activity. As such, it is full of pitfalls. Jesus’ life again affords some examples.[15]

            There is the pitfall that takes the form of outcries about our defying social conventions or traditions. Jesus healed on the Sabbath, advocated the ignoring of filial obligations (like not burying one’s father), and threw the money changers out of the Temple. Such activities did not win him friends. Leap-froggers also defy convention, and can expect to hear arguments, naysaying, criticisms and protests.

            Then there is the pitfall of being tested by doubters.[16] Any form of innovation brings out the conservatives, who cling to the old ways as their clutchhold on security. Novelty is threatening to such people. Challenge their beliefs and assumptions and they will demand “signs,” i.e. proofs that we have some special kind of power (which then presumably would make us more “credible”). They are the people we hear say, “I’ll believe when I see it.” But they will never see it, because they have the whole thing backwards: in this business of spiritual development and waking up, you see it only if you first believe. When people demanded signs from him, Jesus called them “a wicked and adulterous generation.” And he refused to give them signs. In environments where we confront widespread doubt, we must ignore the demands and move on to more open, receptive venues.

            And where are such places? The law of the retarding lead gives us clues. Those open to leap-froggers’ messages are not likely to be the rich, powerful politicians and leaders. Those folks are likely to be “retarded” by virtue of their leadership positions. Rather than looking to the leaders to be receptive, look to the marginalized, those with the most incentive to see things change.

            So, in leap-frogging work, expect to spend time among the poor, the needy, the outcasts. Sacrifice any illusions about prestige or “making it,” in terms of conventional definitions of “success.” I speak about the redefining of success in another essay in this collection. Imperiled here will be the ego, if it fancies its status in terms of the company it keeps.

            A final pitfall relates to the reactions that can come from the society’s leaders. Leap-frogging can threaten the status quo. Some leaders will interpret leap-frog actions as challenges to their position, authority, or beliefs. So we must expect fear reactions, e.g. demonization from some (who project their own fears and failings on to us);[17] challenges and confrontations; even (in extreme cases) punishment, imprisonment or persecution. To the extent that leap-frogging offers a challenge to some official’s “turf,” we can expect irrational responses to it.

            What to do in such cases? Inner work, first and foremost. We must be sure that what we are doing is what The Force intends for us (rather than acting out of ego). Once we are certain that we are acting fully aligned with our Divine purpose, we can relax in the promise we have been given: “… take heart! I have overcome the world.”[18]

Conclusion

            The foregoing are just some of the pitfalls that can show up as part of the process of waking up and leap-frogging. Whatever pitfalls present themselves, we can be certain that they will not prevail if we remain centered in The Force. This is why a regular regimen of inner work (meditation, prayer, dream work etc.) is essential, because only this will keep us centered.

            The path has pitfalls, but all of them pale when compared to the joys and blessings provided by waking up and leap-frogging. Becoming more conscious and serving others in fulfillment of our divine mission offer so many benefits that the pitfalls seem minor indeed.

Some Questions for Reflection

What is your reaction to the idea that there might be pitfalls on this path? Do some of those discussed here bother you more than others? If so, which seem most troubling?

Can you think of other pitfalls?

Do you feel deterred by the reality that waking up and living out your life mission may bring problems?

 

For Further Reading

Bonhoeffer, Dietrich (1959), The Cost of Discipleship, rev. ed. trans. R.H. Fuller. New York: Macmillan.

Buckingham, Jamie (1976), Risky Living: Keys to Inner Healing. Plainfield NJ: Logos International.

Edinger, Edward (1984), The Creation of Consciousness: Jung’s Myth for Modern Man. Toronto: Inner City Books.

Elgin, Duane (1981), Voluntary Simplicity: Toward a Way of Life that is Outwardly Simple, Inwardly Rich. New York: William Morrow.

Jung, Carl (1969), “Answer to Job,” Collected Works, 11. Princeton: Princeton University Press.

May, Rollo (1975), The Courage to Create. New York: Bantam Books.

Moelaert, John J. (1974), “The Epidemic in Our Midst,” Earthkeeping: Readings in Human Ecology, ed. C. Juzek and S. Mehrtens. Pacific Grove CA: The Boxwood Press.

The four Gospel accounts in the New Testament also give much food for thought on the issue of spiritual blessing in the midst of pitfalls and problems.

 

The previous essays in this collection have described waking up and leap-frogging as positive, desirable activities or states of being, and they are. But it would be disingenuous of me to suggest they are without pitfalls. This final essay considers some of the disadvantages, drawbacks or dangers associated with waking up and leap-frogging.

Our examination will take as a model of awakeness and leap-frogging the figure of Jesus. His life illustrates some of the hazards the path can present. We will consider these under six rubrics: general problems; frustrations; temptations; problems associated with lifestyle; problems related to relationships with other people; and the pitfalls linked to public activities (i.e. leap frog actions).
Some General Problems

Under this heading, I consider the inevitable consequences of either waking up or leap-frogging. Problems of this type are inescapable.

“Waking up” is a process of coming to realize that the psyche is real and that Spirit is primary. Therefore Spirit has purchase on one’s soul. Our spiritual commitment comes before all else. This is what is meant by the Biblical injunction against “having any other gods” but The Force. Nothing else can we worship. How is this a problem? Because the Second Wave world lives in the materialistic confusion that ignores Spirit and denigrates the soul. We are “odd man out” when we put Spirit first in our lives.

Doing so—living with Spirit primary–implies living on faith and trust. In practice, this means holding or containing the left brain’s lust to know, to plan, while we hold or contain the ego’s fears and anxieties in the face of unknowing. This is painful, and hence, another peril.

Pain and suffering are unavoidable on this path. Jesus and the Buddha recognized this. But, as was noted in an earlier essay, suffering can be reperceived when we consciously recognize its meaning and purpose. But sometimes, especially when we are struggling alone, feeling isolated, without guidance or support, it can be very difficult indeed to know the point or purpose. And even when we do see the meaning, the ego is not likely to be happy. It does not like being crucified. This is what Jesus referred to when he spoke of “taking up one’s own cross” and following him. We face crucifixion whenever we must hold the “tension of opposites” in the struggle toward integrating them, as part of the individuation process.

The ego also hates self-denial. It does not appreciate having its desires thwarted. This is part of the task of “losing one’s life” that Jesus mentioned as being a part of his followers’ task. Relinquishing the things we want, so as to have higher, spiritual blessings, is never easy, for the whole Second Wave world pressures us to buy, consume, compare, compete, and “keep up with the Joneses.” It requires a strong inner locus of determination and independence of thought, as well as repeated contacts with The Force, to come to the point of knowing the truth that we do find life only when we consciously give it up.
Pitfalls of Frustration

Then there are the pitfalls associated with frustration. Frustration is an omnipresent feature of waking up and leap-frogging. Again, Jesus’ life can provide multiple examples. Frustrations come from many sources, e.g.
from being misunderstood. This is likely, perhaps inevitable, from those who are very asleep, because of the wide difference in level of consciousness between those awake and those very asleep. But even our closest contacts and aspirants—people who work with us and spend lots of time with us—may not be able to get on the wavelength at times.

from literalism and fundamentalism. Those stuck in the old way, following the letter of the law, will always misintepret what is said by those awake. Jesus experienced this with Nicodemus. Nicodemus was a well-known, recognized teacher and leader. Jesus knew this. Yet, for all his training and knowledge, Nicodemus was not able to rise above literalism in thinking that “rebirth” meant some literal process of being reborn. People who are not into spiritual things will not “get it,” and this will cause frustration in the face of the seemingly unbridgeable gulf.

from the refusal of some people to wake up, or even to recognize that their lives are not working. This is likely to be the most common frustration. Lots of people in the Second Wave world are in denial, thinking that “denial” is that river in Egypt. When we encounter these folks, what is patently obvious to us won’t even be “up” on their radar screens. This will provoke intense frustration unless we take Jesus’ advice: leave; move on. We don’t subject ourselves to lower levels of consciousness. There will be other, more challenging tasks to address, including another pitfall. This is the pitfall of temptation.

The Pitfall of Temptation

There are many types of temptation, but three are particularly common in the lives of people who are waking up. Again, we can look to the life of Jesus to illustrate these types. Perhaps the most omnipresent, given the consumerist cultures of the West, is the temptation of materialism. Where “getting and spending” are seen as virtues, and keeping alive the “throwaway” economy is a civic duty, it is hard to resist falling into this temptation. Even if we do manage to escape “consumeritis” by consciously choosing lives of “voluntary simplicity,” we can still fall into this temptation in its more subtle form: regarding “security” in monetary terms. This form of materialism would have us feel “safe” by having a regular paycheck, or savings in the bank, or health insurance, or other such external sources of income. Such thinking is another form of projection, or externalization, in which we shift our loyalty from The Force to the world, from trust in Divine provision to Mammon. Those waking up are learning to live relying on Spirit (i.e. living out the truth that Spirit is primary), knowing that all material, physical needs will be met. One of the lessons in this learning is to be able to distinguish between need and greed (that is, between what is really essential and what we simply want). The Force will provide for our need, but not for our greed. Nor will it provide for careless or wanton wastefulness, which brings us to a second type of temptation.

This is testing the limits of Divine protection. Much as the Devil suggested Jesus throw himself from the Temple roof, relying on God to save him, we can be tempted to push the boundaries of our spiritual protection. When we are living our mission, The Force will protect us, but not if we deliberately do foolish things. Here’s an example from my own experience. I travel frequently to Africa, always by directive dreams. Going where I am sent, I feel safe everywhere. But I consciously avoid falling into the temptation to test The Force: In hotel rooms I use the safes provided by the hotel and I refuse to walk alone in downtown Johannesburg, Karachi, Mexico City or Moscow at 2 A.M. Nor would I venture into the malarial swamps of the Okovango River without shots and pills.

A third temptation is the most insidious, as well as the most harmful and common: the temptation of power and pride. Ego inflation and ego aggrandizement are constant perils on the path to waking up. The ego lusts for control, wants power and wants to think highly of itself. Our inner demon/shadow is constantly tempting us to turn from a focus on Spirit to focus on it. How does this show up? Many ways, e.g.: setting our own agendas, without first seeking inner guidance on how to allocate our time falling back into the values and thinking patterns of the world (i.e. becoming “of the world”) looking outside for approval or approbation from others, so as to feel sure or good about ourselves or our actions
thinking of ourselves as “better” than others. This is the most serious form of pride. This is a form of ego inflation that arises from the very fact of having a higher level of consciousness, even as that higher consciousness makes us realize we are all one, that none is “better” than another. Just as our hand is not better than our foot, so no person is better than another. This temptation is fostered by the left brain’s tendency to dichotomize, or fall into bi-polar thinking, seeing the world in “us-them” terms. This is false.

There is considerable confusion on this point. Saying we are equal is not equivalent to saying we are all the same. We are all equal. We are not all the same. Those awake live lives that work better than the lives of those who are asleep. Those awake are able to perceive more accurately (without distortion) than can those asleep. Those awake get on in personal relationships better than do those asleep. Those awake function more effectively. But these distinctions do not mean the awake are better intrinsically in the eyes of The Force.

These are just three of the many types of temptations that cross our path. While we might wish to eliminate temptations, we should remember the purposiveness of The Force. Temptations are put in our way for a good reason: to stretch us and help us grow. The etymology of “temptation” (from the Latin temptare, to stretch oneself) makes clear that by facing temptations and growing past them, we stretch our willpower and evolve spiritually.

Pitfalls Associated with Lifestyle

There are also problems that relate to lifestyle: how we live in daily reality. The most noteworthy pitfall here lies in the fact that our lives are no longer our own. That is, living is not under the control of the ego and left brain. Thus the ego is not able to plan. This is especially hard on J types (and I speak as one) who love to plan and organize. Waking up means focusing on the Now moment, not in the past, nor in the future. There is a certain measure of spontaneity required in this lifestyle.

We don’t often think about what it means not to “own” our lives. Jesus provides an example. He had very little free time—time when no one sought him out or noticed his absence. He was constantly in demand. He also had very little privacy and opportunity for solitude. For people waking up, time alone for inner work is like manna: It feeds the spirit. Yet such times are rare due to external demands.

Another pitfall of lifestyle is that of inconvenience. The “call” can come at any time. Again, the Gospels provide an example. At one point in Jesus’ ministry, one of his disciples learned his father had died. Jewish law is quite explicit about the responsibility of a son to tend to the proper burial of his father. But Jesus had a very different set of priorities, and he told the man to follow him and “leave the dead to bury their own.” When social convention demands we be some place, or do something, we must be willing to throw all of it over to obey the Divine call, no matter how inconvenient. So often, the ego will want to make up some really good excuse to justify turning a deaf ear. For the work of leap-frogging, we must be prepared to be inconvenienced.

Embedded in the pitfall of inconvenience is the pitfall of new priorities and values. As the above Gospel story indicates, The Force does not necessarily value what we value, or what our society values. We are likely to have to change, to develop another set of values. Our needs will be met, as I noted above, but our greeds will be frustrated. Intangible, spiritual values will have to become the motivating drivers of our lives. Love, courage, fidelity, trust, creativity etc. must replace control, power, wealth, gratification, speed, success. And living with such a different set of values will result in many people who are still stuck in Second Wave thinking wondering about your sanity.

A final lifestyle pitfall is the rootlessness inherent in being part of the “spiritual army.” Jesus noted how he had “no place to lay his head.” Living “on call” to The Force can mean we move around a lot. I know this peril well: I was moved ten times in one 53-month interval! In such situations, “home” has to be redefined spiritually, to be a psychic connection and rootedness in The Force, rather than in some geographic location, physical structure, or connection to family or friends. Like so much else of the wake up process, this will seem very curious to many people we encounter.

All the above pitfalls pale in comparison to the last two types: problems with relationships, and perils in public life.
Pitfalls of Relationship

Jesus’ life is a vivid illustration of these pitfalls. We get no honor among those who know us best. “Only in his home town and in his own house is a prophet without honor.” Yes. Waking up fosters prophetic awareness, as we begin to access and trust our intuition. But we must not expect family and long-time friends to see us in a new light and give heed to what we say. In fact, we must expect just the reverse: family and close friends are likely to be resistant to and resentful of our changing.

Jesus warned of this explicitly. He said that he came to turn sons against fathers, mothers against daughters, children against their in-laws. It is not a happy picture of domestic bliss that he paints in Matthew 10:34-37. Our enemies will be those people in our own household.

Why are family conflicts inevitable in this process? Because waking up implies getting wise to the dysfunctions in our natal family system. We begin to see all the forms of denial our relatives (and we ourselves) have been living in. As we wake up, we stop denying, and that changes the whole dynamic of the system. We change. We recognize the proverbial “elephant” in the living room, and we begin to talk about it, to bring it out into the open. The web of relationships gets tweaked and destabilized, and this causes discomfort to the rest of the family members. People dislike being discomfited. They also dislike having their defense mechanisms pointed out. They bitterly resent having us withdraw the projections we put on them. Such actions are like challenges to their sense of reality. Anger, complaints, and snide comments are likely. In many cases (especially when the family system is seriously dysfunctional) the person waking up will find it easier to move away, to provide the necessary “space” to continue growing without constant criticism.

Old friends tend to react like family—with bewilderment, resentment and accusations like “You’ve changed!” (implying that that is a bad thing). If old friends are not also on the path of waking up, they will eventually fall away, let you down, or become difficult to be around. This, of course, assuming they don’t betray you (as Jesus’ friends did).

A final form of relationship pitfall is the criticism that is likely from others who will project their flaws on us. The Pharisees were constantly doing this with Jesus, always criticizing him for this or that infraction of the law, all the while thinking so self-righteously of themselves. It is very common to find people project their “stuff” on us, either positively or negatively. Negative projections will show up as criticisms, often very vitriolic (reflecting their own shadow “stuff”). Positive projections cause others to set us up as some sort of guru or special person. I call this the “pedestal syndrome.” It is very common. When people do it to me, it makes me acutely uncomfortable, because I know I am very human, and that pedestal space is very small. People projecting their own power, wisdom and Divine guidance come to feel very disillusioned and disappointed when we do something that forces them to take back the projection. In neither negative or positive projection is the person able to see us: he or she is really just looking at the projection.

In sum, it is prudent, when we undertake the wake up process, to expect relationships to be fraught. But we can take comfort in the Universal Law of Attraction: “like attracts like.” As we become more conscious, we will find like-minded people on the path whose level of consciousness is closer to our own. And relationships with such people will be much more rewarding and mutually gratifying. At this time in the evolution of the human species, such people are not in the majority, so expect to experience loneliness, isolation, and lack of understanding at times.
Pitfalls of Public Life

The last pitfall is the most problematic, in terms of physical well-being. By “public life” I don’t meant politics, but rather any form of activity that puts us out in public, to be seen by others. Since leap-frogging means a doing “out there,” in some sort of work that strives to create a better world, it is a “public” activity. As such, it is full of pitfalls. Jesus’ life again affords some examples.

There is the pitfall that takes the form of outcries about our defying social conventions or traditions. Jesus healed on the Sabbath, advocated the ignoring of filial obligations (like not burying one’s father), and threw the money changers out of the Temple. Such activities did not win him friends. Leap-froggers also defy convention, and can expect to hear arguments, naysaying, criticisms and protests.

Then there is the pitfall of being tested by doubters. Any form of innovation brings out the conservatives, who cling to the old ways as their clutchhold on security. Novelty is threatening to such people. Challenge their beliefs and assumptions and they will demand “signs,” i.e. proofs that we have some special kind of power (which then presumably would make us more “credible”). They are the people we hear say, “I’ll believe when I see it.” But they will never see it, because they have the whole thing backwards: in this business of spiritual development and waking up, you see it only if you first believe. When people demanded signs from him, Jesus called them “a wicked and adulterous generation.” And he refused to give them signs. In environments where we confront widespread doubt, we must ignore the demands and move on to more open, receptive venues.

And where are such places? The law of the retarding lead gives us clues. Those open to leap-froggers’ messages are not likely to be the rich, powerful politicians and leaders. Those folks are likely to be “retarded” by virtue of their leadership positions. Rather than looking to the leaders to be receptive, look to the marginalized, those with the most incentive to see things change.

So, in leap-frogging work, expect to spend time among the poor, the needy, the outcasts. Sacrifice any illusions about prestige or “making it,” in terms of conventional definitions of “success.” I speak about the redefining of success in another essay in this collection. Imperiled here will be the ego, if it fancies its status in terms of the company it keeps.

A final pitfall relates to the reactions that can come from the society’s leaders. Leap-frogging can threaten the status quo. Some leaders will interpret leap-frog actions as challenges to their position, authority, or beliefs. So we must expect fear reactions, e.g. demonization from some (who project their own fears and failings on to us); challenges and confrontations; even (in extreme cases) punishment, imprisonment or persecution. To the extent that leap-frogging offers a challenge to some official’s “turf,” we can expect irrational responses to it.

What to do in such cases? Inner work, first and foremost. We must be sure that what we are doing is what The Force intends for us (rather than acting out of ego). Once we are certain that we are acting fully aligned with our Divine purpose, we can relax in the promise we have been given: “… take heart! I have overcome the world.”
Conclusion

The foregoing are just some of the pitfalls that can show up as part of the process of waking up and leap-frogging. Whatever pitfalls present themselves, we can be certain that they will not prevail if we remain centered in The Force. This is why a regular regimen of inner work (meditation, prayer, dream work etc.) is essential, because only this will keep us centered.

The path has pitfalls, but all of them pale when compared to the joys and blessings provided by waking up and leap-frogging. Becoming more conscious and serving others in fulfillment of our divine mission offer so many benefits that the pitfalls seem minor indeed.
Some Questions for Reflection
What is your reaction to the idea that there might be pitfalls on this path? Do some of those discussed here bother you more than others? If so, which seem most troubling?
Can you think of other pitfalls?
Do you feel deterred by the reality that waking up and living out your life mission may bring problems?
 

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For Further Reading
Bonhoeffer, Dietrich (1959), The Cost of Discipleship, rev. ed. trans. R.H. Fuller. New York: Macmillan.
Buckingham, Jamie (1976), Risky Living: Keys to Inner Healing. Plainfield NJ: Logos International.
Edinger, Edward (1984), The Creation of Consciousness: Jung’s Myth for Modern Man. Toronto: Inner City Books.
Elgin, Duane (1981), Voluntary Simplicity: Toward a Way of Life that is Outwardly Simple, Inwardly Rich. New York: William Morrow.
Jung, Carl (1969), “Answer to Job,” Collected Works, 11. Princeton: Princeton University Press.
May, Rollo (1975), The Courage to Create. New York: Bantam Books.
Moelaert, John J. (1974), “The Epidemic in Our Midst,” Earthkeeping: Readings in Human Ecology, ed. C. Juzek and S. Mehrtens. Pacific Grove CA: The Boxwood Press.
The four Gospel accounts in the New Testament also give much food for thought on the issue of spiritual blessing in the midst of pitfalls and problems.