Integrating Light and Dark (Blog)

[Savage]

Use this thread to discuss the following entry from Steve Pavlina's blog:

Integrating Light and Dark

[Warping]

This post, from beyond. Psychic download much?

One of the most attractive aspects of your work is unpredictability.

Om Shanti.

[st33med]

It's not about good and evil, it's about the balance between the two. We all do it to some intensity. Most people who are 'asleep' as you say don't do much in terms of contribution to themselves or the universe.

And this clears up my conflict in my mind with light/darkworkers!

[MidasGirl]

I don't view light/darkworking with such simplicity, but each to their own. Everybody darkworks at times or lightworks at times, and many times, a certain aspect of a person can be fully darkworked while another is fully lightworked.

But I agree that polarization is needed for outstanding results to manifest. I just don't see that practically, anyone is fully polarized either dark or light in every aspect of their lives. For example, when you Steve slam religion (I do too) or write a modern day nazi post, that is darkworking in its full glory.

[Melchior]

Alternatively, you could perform this integration from the start, as has been mentioned on these boards multiple times, and personally, I think it's the better way to go because as you "polarize" each aspect develops alongside the other. Granted, I think this way is probably also a bit more difficult as there's that issue of determining what may be more appropriate for different situations, but overall, I think the idea of keeping a healthy balance throughout the growth in "power" is well worth it for the additional effort in maintaining balance, no "syndromes" for example. Moreover, because integration starts at the beginning, rather than having to incorporate relatively large changes in the later stages by getting to know your shadow, all you really need to focus on is creating higher frequencies.

Now, in the post, you mentioned a benefit to light/dark polarization being learning how to channel power effectively, and I'll agree that going with one modality or the other would certainly help with that to a great extent, although mainly for the reason that the learning curve of doing so is smaller as there doesn't need to be as much attention paid to how that power is channeled, namely, it was already chosen, given the modality. The benefit of an integrated modality is that, because power doesn't just flow one way or the other, but rather in some form of cycle, by tuning how much is channeled in either direction, some form of harmony is achieved. Thus not only is power channeled effectively here, it is also channeled optimally for the situation. And just as you've pointed out in your blog post that the two modalities, while superficially opposing, are not actually in conflict, I'm sure you can understand that with effort, by integrating light and dark from the outset, there are ways to bypass the so called energy tension that may result if integration was done haphazardly.

Of course, that's just my personal preference and path on how to polarize. Eventually, it leads to the same place as the others, the only major difference is that harmony is just as much a part of the "destination" as it is the path.

[MidasGirl]

On second thoughts, maybe Jesus was a 100% lightworker, well, except that one time he got mad that people were conducting business in the temple.

But still, look where his 100% lightworking got him.

[jayh]

I think it's interesting that the increase of power you get from embracing your shadow side still puts the increase of power on yourself. Thus making everyone a darkworker in this context?

[danas]

Very smart article
thank you!
I am both a polorized darkwoker and polarized lightworker
depends what I'm doing

[Xamuel]

For awhile, I've been finding your articles hard to read. It's been a while since I've thoroughly digested one from end to end. This one finally broke that pattern... and really made me think. Welcome back, master-writer Steve

[cobrien11]

I don't know if anybody is going to read this or even care. I feel that no matter how polarized you become, no matter how many frequencies you learn there is a limit. Altruism means an uncaring service to others, and is synonymous with your definition of lightworker. People don't seem to understand all beliefs are superficial no matter the nature of the beliefs. The more and more you believe the more and more you are cut off from your power, from life.
I can't say that beliefs are pointless. The lightworker and darkworker are just two more beliefs. I hope you don't get caught up in them. Beliefs lead to suffering and isolation from other people. If you call yourself a light worker would you be repulsed by a darkworker? Would you feel angry at them or feel sorry for them?
Personal Development has its limits because it's personal. At a personal level a person is isolated not physically, but mentally. Spiritual development is developing your awareness to a point where you can sense pure consciousness and feel your connectedness with form.

When you write an article I can sense your state of consciousness at the time. I believe you are doing good work to raise the consciousness of the planet, but Personal Development can only take you a certain level of awareness before you must dis-identify with yourself, your beliefs and continue evolving.
When you are ready you will change and feel it. I hope everybody does. I don't know if I'm coming across as cocky or arrogant, but I honestly hope that everybody has a chance to feel consciousness.

[cacheborn]

The things Bill Gates is doing at the moment can be viewed as his attempt to give back what he has taken. I would like to see an opposite example also.

[RohanMitchell]

Bill Gates sprang straight to mind as a person who built an empire and then expanded his repotoire into philanthropy. I also found this article helped release some resistance to playing with darkworking, knowing that no matter how far I take it, it's not a permanent orientation.

[inverse Paranoid]

Steve, when you wrote How to Be a Man, you knew that you didn't know enough about being a woman to write its equivalent for the opposite sex. So you opened it up to others to write it so that your readers might benefit from a truly firsthand perspective.

Why not do something similar with How to Be a Darkworker?

Yes, you may have experienced life as a Darkworker as a teen, and I know you've experimented briefly with being a Darkworker later in life, but having (to the best of my knowledge) never given Darkworking so much as a full 30 day trial as an adult, how can you be certain that your perspective on Darkworkers is truly accurate?

I'm not saying that some of your observances aren't useful and enlightening, but I do think your perspective is biased by your obvious predisposition toward Lightworking.

To me it feels like you have a fully formed, conscious understanding of what it's like to be a Lightworker, but your point of view on Darkworking lags far behind. As if you're drawing most of your Darkworking conclusions from your firsthand experience as a teenager mixed with your adult perspective as a Lightworker.

For instance, I don't believe a true Darkworker would call his or her focus service to self.

For me, the concept of service holds a negative connotation. It's one of almost subverting my own desires in the name of some other cause. And that's just plain foreign to me. I do what I do for selfish reasons—because it feels good to do so—not in service of my selfishness.

And it's highly unlikely that a Darkworker would call themselves a Darkworker. Some Darkworkers may indeed romanticize evil, but the majority of people—regardless of their polarization, or lack there of—see themselves in a predominately positive light. After all, Hitler saw himself as the savior of Europe. Not a tyrant looking to dominate the world.

I think it would be very interesting to post an open call to people who are driven by selfishness, not service, and have them give their honest perspective on the world. Rather than giving them the label of Darkworker, allow them to choose whatever title they feel fits.

And ask them: Why do they see the world the way they do? Why does it work for them? Where are they getting the greatest results? How have they learned to love themselves even though their selfishness is shunned by society?

I think we could all learn a lot from what they may have to share. And it could vastly expedite the integration process for the many Lightworkers that frequent this blog and forums.

[ElyseD]

Steve, I found this article interesting, but not sure I really understand it. It would be helpful to get examples of powerful people and why you think they’re polarized in one direction or the other. For instance, Oprah is obviously a lightworker, but is Bill O’Reilly a darkworker?

[MidasGirl]

I'm actually wondering how much of this article was influenced by Deepak Chopra's latest book, The Shadow Effect? Maybe it was just a synchronicity and Steve hasn't read it. I'm going to be reading it today, it's been sitting on my desk for 2 weeks now, I bought it as soon as I saw ALG mention it.

[JeffistheAnswer]

What a nice synchronicity that you wrote this article.

Question: In terms of SR, polarity shouldn't matter at all. Why think of things in terms of lightworking and darkworking when the power to create our reality comes from the one consciousness , regardless of whether we want to give or take?

[Cado]

Originally Posted by inverse Paranoid

snip

To add to what he said, I've always wondered why you don't work with someone like Asmoday. It would be interesting to see two perspectives on the same issue, one from a lightworker and one from a darkworker.

After all, you've admitted that whatever you opinion of darkworkers may be you think we can learn-and I'm all about learning. The two sides have a lot to share with each other and I'd like to get past the faux animosity so it can happen.

[Melchior]

Originally Posted by Illustro Cado

To add to what he said, I've always wondered why you don't work with someone like Asmoday. It would be interesting to see two perspectives on the same issue, one from a lightworker and one from a darkworker.

Maybe now's the time.

[Savage]

Originally Posted by Illustro Cado

To add to what he said, I've always wondered why you don't work with someone like Asmoday. It would be interesting to see two perspectives on the same issue, one from a lightworker and one from a darkworker.

How powerful is he?

[NSS]

From my understanding, when darkworkers begin to integrate their shadow self, they still do it for selfish reasons yea? For example a darkworker doing philanthropy is doing it to make himself feel better or whatever other selfish reason. But because the deed itself is lightworker-ish it benefits many people as a whole and increases his power as well.

Or do darkworkers suddenly start caring about other people when they've reached a certain level? Based on my experience its almost impossible to have this kind of shift all of a sudden. But I'm not polarized in any direction yet so maybe I'm wrong.

[Zach M]

You’ll rarely hear polarized people say something like, “I can’t afford that,” as such a statement is an abuse of power. Lightworkers and darkworkers are stronger than that. They know how to channel their power to get what they want instead of inadvertently creating the opposite.

So does that mean that LWs and DWs don't dream about, say, hiking on Olympus Mons on Mars? Or they do feel powerful enough to muster the world's resources and accomplish it if they really want? Or what? The feeling that one can do whatever one wants seems rather illogical to me, and I'm just looking for a clarification. Thanks.

[Chris_1977]

Very interesting article.

[RohanMitchell]

Originally Posted by Zach Matley

So does that mean that LWs and DWs don't dream about, say, hiking on Olympus Mons on Mars? Or they do feel powerful enough to muster the world's resources and accomplish it if they really want? Or what? The feeling that one can do whatever one wants seems rather illogical to me, and I'm just looking for a clarification. Thanks.

Here's what goes through my head when I approach this from a darkworker mindset:

"It'd be pretty sweet to go hiking on Mars. Man, the views would be awesome. Okay, what would I need to do to make it happen? Maybe the best way would be to push NASA towards doing a manned mission to Mars, and position myself to be one of the astronauts. Okay, so that's vaguely plausible on first investigation. Do I really want to do it? Not that strongly. Sure, it'd be cool, but deep down there's plenty of things that I want more that are easier to achieve."

In summary, I think that "whatever one wants" is not as fickle as it first sounds, as, in the darkworker mindset, I'd be weighting up the strength of the desire against other desires. Weak, shallow, short-term desires would be weeded out pretty quickly. Going hiking on Mars would be a shallow impulsive desire to me, but I can imagine a deeper desire like exploration or strategic conquest that might get a darkworker there.

[invisiblehouses]

This article makes me wonder: do you consciously choose to be a light- or darkworker, or do we each have a natural polarity within which we will achieve the best results (at least until that point where we must integrate the other)?

I ask this because I've told myself for years that I'm a lightworker. Okay, I didn't use the word "lightworker" because I only heard that term here about a year ago, but I was basically convinced that I was a generous, giving person whose main concern was for others.

However, I'm starting to wonder if perhaps I've been deluding myself, due to a (limiting?) belief that light=good and dark=bad. My ability to create my life as I'd like to experience it (power) has mostly hovered on the low end of the spectrum. Is this because I'm telling myself I should operate from one polarity, when my natural state is the other?

I'll admit it: my energy tends to flow towards myself. I give lip service to the idea of helping others, but the action side of the equation has always tended to not amount to much--I've been a light worker more than a lightworker. "What's in it for me?" is a question that crosses my mind more often than I like to admit.

Now...if the polarity chooses you, here's my major hangup: does being a darkworker necessarily entail being a selfish jerkass? Do I have to act like Gene Simmons? Do I have to start voting a certain way? Can you be a darkworker and still be polite, kind and loving towards others?

If you choose the polarity, how does one make the shift to lightworker? Do you sit yourself in a corner and say, "You're going to get out there and perform generous acts, and you're going to do it until you damn well like it"?

[st33med]

I honestly don't care for the labels. I feel like it binds you to making limiting decisions upon oneself, as if it were some 'code'. Even drinking water is technically 'darkworking' because you serve yourself a glass/bottle of water!

I say, do whatever resonates deeply in you. Darkworking isn't 'evil' or 'egotistical' in nature. And lightworking doesn't mean you sell yourself to others.

[MidasGirl]

Originally Posted by rekcuF

From my understanding, when darkworkers begin to integrate their shadow self, they still do it for selfish reasons yea? For example a darkworker doing philanthropy is doing it to make himself feel better or whatever other selfish reason. But because the deed itself is lightworker-ish it benefits many people as a whole and increases his power as well.

Or do darkworkers suddenly start caring about other people when they've reached a certain level? Based on my experience its almost impossible to have this kind of shift all of a sudden. But I'm not polarized in any direction yet so maybe I'm wrong.

Everybody does what they do for selfish reasons. Even altruistic people do their "selfless" acts for selfish gain. This is where I feel these labels lead to separation instead of Oneness, people who consider themselves lightworkers being convinced they're being less selfish than darkworkers. Or of higher integrity or something.

To bring in Hitler (somebody had to at some point), perhaps the most famous darkworker, he is also said to have been a vegetarian and supposedly was loved by his dog, tee hee. So was he a darkworker or a lightworker?

[Cado]

Originally Posted by invisiblehouses

Now...if the polarity chooses you, here's my major hangup: does being a darkworker necessarily entail being a selfish jerkass? Do I have to act like Gene Simmons? Do I have to start voting a certain way? Can you be a darkworker and still be polite, kind and loving towards others?

Being a darkworker means honoring yourself. If acting polite and loving is the sincerest expression of who you are you couldn't be a good darkworker by doing otherwise.

If you choose the polarity, how does one make the shift to lightworker? Do you sit yourself in a corner and say, "You're going to get out there and perform generous acts, and you're going to do it until you damn well like it"?

Polarizing is like pulling teeth when you begin. You gradually shift your disposition through thought, energy, and action.

So you're partly right, getting out there and helping people would help push you in the right direction but if it's all you did you'd eventually think, "this is stupid" and hang it up. I imagine you would want to be as happy and excited as you could be to help other people. You'd probably wanna take time out of your day just to generate those feelings and bask in them until they started flowing automatically.

When I chose darkworking that's essentially what I did. I placed the focus on myself as often as I was able and I conjured the energy to back it. I read up on objectivism, I searched for a darkworker's perspective on popular topics like the LOA, and so on. I knew it was part of me when someone wrote a blog post saying that eating meat was wrong and my gut reaction was, "so?" That's significant because it meant that I no longer felt an inclination to honor the constructs and limitations others have placed upon themselves. The question isn't, "is that right or wrong?" it's "what will I do?" My heart is my guide and I have no commitment to act unless it moves me.

[Cado]

Originally Posted by Steve Pavlina

How powerful is he?

I don't know. I do know I've gotten more benefit out of the tools he's provided than anything else I've used and I'm in a completely different place as a result. That's more than enough for me to lend weight to his words.

[NSS]

Originally Posted by MidasGirl

Everybody does what they do for selfish reasons. Even altruistic people do their "selfless" acts for selfish gain. This is where I feel these labels lead to separation instead of Oneness, people who consider themselves lightworkers being convinced they're being less selfish than darkworkers. Or of higher integrity or something.

To bring in Hitler (somebody had to at some point), perhaps the most famous darkworker, he is also said to have been a vegetarian and supposedly was loved by his dog, tee hee. So was he a darkworker or a lightworker?

That depends on his intentions of being a vegetarian and loving his dog I guess. Darkworkers can be vegetarians if they really feel it benefits their health/body. And everyone needs some kind of connection to be happy so he could have loved his dog to make himself feel better.

Or he could have been a lightworker (a ****ed up one though) and really believed that killing jewish people was to the benefit of the world. Based on Steve's original articles I think polarity is more about your intentions and the energy you send out than your acts. Two polarized people can do the exact same thing with different intentions/energy and thats what makes them dark/lightwworkers.

I'm not too sure about the everyone does everything for selfish reasons part. Part of me believes that but another part wants to believe that there is a balance and there are selfless people out there.

I find this dark/lightworker topic really fascinating for some reason. Maybe I should do a 30 day trial for it and see where it leads.

[James81]

Originally Posted by rekcuF

That depends on his intentions of being a vegetarian and loving his dog I guess. Darkworkers can be vegetarians if they really feel it benefits their health/body. And everyone needs some kind of connection to be happy so he could have loved his dog to make himself feel better.

Or he could have been a lightworker (a ****ed up one though) and really believed that killing jewish people was to the benefit of the world. Based on Steve's original articles I think polarity is more about your intentions and the energy you send out than your acts. Two polarized people can do the exact same thing with different intentions/energy and thats what makes them dark/lightwworkers.

I'm not too sure about the everyone does everything for selfish reasons part. Part of me believes that but another part wants to believe that there is a balance and there are selfless people out there.

I find this dark/lightworker topic really fascinating for some reason. Maybe I should do a 30 day trial for it and see where it leads.

LOL @ your username!