A Sacred Path to Self-Awareness: Working with the Ego
“You can’t destroy the ego, you can only make it transparent.”
The ego is not perceived as an enemy in the field of Shamanic Energy Medicine; rather, it is considered an essential part of the human condition. In our capacity as Shamans, we invite you to meet the ego with ceremony, compassion, and an awareness of its complexity. The Andean Medicine Wheel helps us understand how the ego works in our quest for healing, connection, and empowerment.
From a psychological point of view, the ego acts as a go-between, keeping base desires in check with higher goals and the realities of life. Stories and labels that come from it, such as "I am successful" or "I must be liked," form who we are. Even though the ego helps us navigate through life, it can keep us caught in cycles of fear and needing validation. If we are aware of these tendencies, we can use them as opportunities to do better.
From a Shamanic or Spiritual Belief perspective, the ego is the soul's false self or protective mask. It doesn't want to change since it's stuck in the past. Therefore, we see the ego as something that can be understood, and then changed.
“Ego is just an idea of who you are that you carry with you.”
The Ego's Role in Shamanic Practice:
Sacred Ember's view of the ego is based on the Andean Medicine Wheel. We regard the ego as a wounded storyteller. Working with Sachamama, the archetype to the South of the Medicine Wheel, might help us let go of old anxieties and identities that don't work anymore. Here, we put the ego in the fire, so to say, in order for it to change from being the boss to being a partner.
“The wounded storyteller, not the ego, is our enemy. When you hold it in Sacred Space, you can rewrite its stories. ”
When you become conscious of your ego, you’ll discover that it acts out of fear or lack. Some signs are:
Anger or the need to establish one’s innocence
Self-evaluation and comparison to others
Fear of being turned down or wanting to be accepted
Being too worried about your job or the results
When we look at these reactions with curiosity, we can open the door to transformation. Check in with yourself:
Is this answer based on safety or truth?
Is there a part of me that feels neglected, unsafe, or unseen?
An Emotion Awareness Study published in Frontiers in Psychology in 2021, found that being more conscious of your emotions can help you control your responses, especially in relationships with other people. The first step in ego work is to notice and understand how our emotions work.
Ways to Befriend Your Ego:
Mindfulness:
Take time to listen to your own thoughts to practice mindfulness. Who is talking right now? Fear or my spirit?Ceremony:
Do fire ceremony to let go of outdated identity stories and limiting thoughts and beliefs. During fire ceremony, give the ego's fears to the flames.Working with the Medicine of the South or Sachamama:
The first step in the South of the Medicine Wheel and working with Sachamama's (Serpent) Medicine is to let go. Let go of the past and your burdens. Let go of what is fake so that what is sacred can take its place.
Walking in Ayni or Right Relationship – A Sacred Invitation:
The purpose of ego healing is to restore harmony, not destroy it. This means being in right relationship with Spirit, with each other, and with ourselves. Talk to the part of you that recalls being whole and ask the soul to take the lead.
You are more than what you think or feel. Your stories don't have to define you just because they come up. When you're ready, go back to the calm inside. This is where you'll uncover the truth. You are on a holy path, where stories can be rewritten and your light rises as you become more aware.
“The spiritual journey is not becoming someone new. It’s about unbecoming everything that isn’t truly you.”
With love and kindness, look into the process of transforming your ego. The way to heal and become stronger is to find the sacred presence behind the it.