The True Nature of Integration - Paragraphs 6 and 7

With these final two paragraphs we’ve now come to the end of this subsection titled The True Nature of Integration. Roberts closes this subsection by saying:

“There is no greater cause of the watering down and eventual loss of authentic revelation than attempts to prematurely incorporate or integrate a higher rung of the journey into a lower one. Unknowingly - even knowingly - people do this all the time. More often they are writers on the spiritual journey who have never lived it.

In conclusion, the term “integration” as used in the context of our spiritual ascent does not refer to any rational or intellectual activity on our part. Instead, as we move through the journey, God alone will integrate and unify all knowledge and experiences until, ultimately, they converge in the fullness of God’s revelations.”

We find today in Roberts’ text a final word on integration, of which I would call surrender. She has said it in many ways, not just through this subsection, but throughout her text, that the mind alone can not understand the Mystery that is at work in our soul. In my experience there is a sort of relinquishment of the reins (surrender) when the mind can’t understand what is happening at the soul level. She has also said in various ways that this “mind” or “intellectualizing” is a pitfall that comes easy to us. We will be tempted to do it therefore we must learn another way to move forward. 

When I ponder on what she cautions us of, using our mind, I hear echoes and whispers of Meister Eckhart along with the author of The Cloud of Unknowing. Eckhart talks of the “pathless path,” which is to say the path the mind can not think nor take, and The Cloud of Unknowing suggests putting everything, every thought, under the Cloud of Forgettting. These sentiments are also found in Smith’s The Way of Paradox, which says the path is either “a winding path” or one that “assaults the summit directly,” but both require a shift in our mindset.

It seems that Roberts' experience of integration is one of a more direct approach, that of the assault, trusting solely in God’s work or Love to accompany the integration process. There is no doubt that this direct method leaves one in a vulnerable position and reeks of helpless surrender. Although now that I’ve written that I would amend it to say any process of integration can create a sense of helplessness. Whenever we encounter the unknown parts of ourselves, whether by a slow or fast method, a great amount of compassion is needed with the surrendering process.

To the human, particularly the mind, this unknown or liminal space can feel like an untenable dimension. The mind asks, “How does one know the path or even stay on it if we disregard our usual method of figuring things out?” One must breathe easy and let the mind know that while we do not know the way forward a way will appear if we are sincere in our practices and playful in our curiosity as to what is unfolding.  Trust the process.

For myself trusting the process as a path has been trial and error, the emphasis on error. Nevertheless, as we become more adept at following the inner guide the way becomes clearer. Not clear, but clearer as nothing about this journey is perfectly clear, except the fidelity of my heart that wishes to maintain a pursuit to the summit. Another indicator I use for traveling the path is humility. At times the path seems somewhat discernible in direct proportion to the amount of humility I can muster. 

The possibility of “watering down and eventual loss” of a revelation hurts my heart and brings me to my knees. Ideas like surrender and humility are not popular buzzwords, but there is a certain internal posture required of me to fully embark on integration, which resembles these terms. There is also a certain trust needed to stay the course as well as a healthy dose of self compassion. Coming face-to-face with shadow can be scary. So does letting go of it as it requires a courageous heart to believe something new will appear past the horizon of the shadow.

As I ponder the resonances of Roberts’ words within myself my sense is one of “yes!” Yes to the liminal space, yes to tenuous dimensions, yes to not knowing, and yes to humility and surrender. Let us be on our way!