The mind usually perceives things as set in stone. Once it has been analyzed, labeled, and concluded, a finite perception stays as a cornerstone of reality. We can be pretty judgmental with ourselves, making a scenario in which we only perceive and magnify the qualities we believe are harmful or wrong. It’s important to remember that once the brain has information about the perceived reality of something, it will look for more information that supports this perception: it will filter and adapt it to align with it.

Our heart is present within us, and we are inherently connected. We can feel what is happening within ourselves and others, especially if we feel safe or have started discovering ourselves. The more you embrace your humanity, the less you unconsciously blame others for your life (your past, current situation, or the imagined future), and the more vulnerability will arise. The more you acknowledge and embrace what is within, the more you will embrace it. And the more you will release judgments or preconceived notions of how you should be, think, feel, and act.

The flowering of the heart is the journey of discovering your humanity, realizing your connection with all of life, and embracing the humility that arises as you allow life to flow in its way.

For some time, this has become a specific center point in spirituality: the idea that the mind will become silent, even thoughtless. And even though we may have some periods of low activity of the mind… most of this idea is better connected with the experience of attention and intention.

Let’s say, for example, you want to cook a meal for a loved one, and it’s a dish you have never prepared, and you want to honor your guest. Your intention sets an internal environment: ensuring you have the right ingredients in the right quantities, following instructions precisely, seasoning it, serving it, and so forth. All of these steps require your utmost attention. You may have music playing in the background or even a podcast, but it will not be your center of attention. The more your attention and intention are prevalent, the less you will be distracted by any external input. You are focused and present.

That is a way to experience silence, even if the mind is there. It can become a background noise, and you can move your attention away from it. This requires discipline and effort, but the more you practice your attention and intention, the more the mind settles into a place that is not the center of your experience.

Throughout history, rituals have been followed in all of our cultures. They are important in religious and spiritual contexts since they aim to engage you in a practice through which you can be fully present and connect with higher consciousness. Your presence ignites the power of the ritual. If these rituals are done unconsciously, they become mechanical and automatic events. The mysterious esoteric magic that lies within them becomes hidden. 

Rituals also hold the wisdom of surrendering to higher consciousness. The human mind tries to control many situations that are indeed out of our control. Rituals are a way to communicate with higher consciousness: they involve intention, attention, and offerings, which are vehicles of our requests and needs. They become a bridge between realms and realities. We remember that we offer what we carry to open space for what is coming.