The Untethered Soul
The Journey Beyond Yourself
By Michael A. Singer
Review by Angela Hutchinson
We all have that constant, internal chattering; our inner voice. It can, quite literally, drive a person mad, or maybe it just goes off on tangents that are incredibly time consuming. Author Michael Singer describes this inner monologue we all experience in a fresh and thought provoking way. “When energy builds up inside, you want to do something about it. That voice talks because you’re not okay inside, and talking releases energy. You will notice, however, that even when you’re not particularly bothered by something, it still talks.”
Singer informs us that we are not that voice; rather, we are the ones who witness the voice and everything else that takes place in our lives. It seems to release us from the obligation of listening to this incessant narration of our lives. He writes that this voice talks in circles and, when objectively listened to, is meaningless.
You start your journey toward inner peace by just noticing the voice, realizing it isn’t you. “When a thought is created in this state of awareness, instead of getting lost in it, you remain aware that you are the one who is thinking the thought. You are lucid.” Staying aware is the key to exorcising the chatter and finding peace and presence in the moment regardless of external circumstance. When you stop getting lost in the inner talk, increasing amounts of energy that were previously wasted, come forth and now can be used in a positive and life affirming direction. “When you’re filled with this energy, you feel like you could take on the world. When it is flowing strongly, you can actually feel it coursing through you in waves. It gushes up spontaneously from deep inside and restores, replenishes, and recharges you.”
Suffering comes from the blockage of energy within. We can actually feel the decreased energy as anxiety or depression. If we continue to witness our thought process, instead of following the chatter into oblivion, we can become aware of the core pain and begin to heal through simply becoming mindful of where our blockages are.
It is very easy to be drawn into the powerful pull of the drama and fear. When we can stay centered in our true selves, we will find “heaven on earth”.
The author reminds us, however, to appreciate the opportunity for growth that our blockages present. “When a blockage gets hit, it’s a good thing. It’s time to open up internally and release the blocked energy. If you let go, and permit the purification process to take place inside, that blocked energy will be released.” When we face our inner difficulties, we extricate ourselves from a life of adapting to the pain and self protection. We free our souls, writes Singer, “…by untethering yourself from the bondage of your psyche, you actually have the ability to steal freedom for your soul. This freedom is so great it has been given a special name---liberation.”
As we become healthier and more at peace, we approach a border into something more. There is more that life provides, but we have blocked ourselves from experiencing. “When you approach the barrier areas of your thoughts and emotions, it feels like going into an abyss….what is really there are the walls that are blocking the infinite light.” Going past our comfort zones helps to gain clarity about current issues. It zeros in on core pain. Seeing the blockage clears the path to healing.
This sort of journey is about inner healing, which in turn gives you a greater sense of yourself and less dependence on others or your environment. Life is always a work in progress and things will come up, but when we witness these events and not resist them with chronic chatter, we can free ourselves from their power. The author states, this is the spiritual life. We stay in the moment and balance our lives.
“As you let go and willingly release the physical, emotional, and mental aspects of your being, Spirit becomes your state. You don’t claim to understand what is happening to you; you just know that as you go further and further back, it gets more and more beautiful.”
There is much to the utethered soul; I feel the reader must experience Singer’s words first hand to truly understand it’s value. It is a gentle book that is significantly helpful in understanding the inner psyche and the search for peace of mind and the path toward God. The untethered soul is a recommended read for those enduring life’s journey, silently suffering. Life is more than adapting to your environment; it is about journeying toward the light and experiencing each moment as if it were your first. The author is to be commended on his knowledge and his compassion.