BEYOND ILLUSION: USING SPIRITUAL MODALITIES TO UNMASK YOUR HIGHER SELF
Cover Art © Meryl Merlin via Canva.com
Take a moment to pause and listen to yourself; listen to your mind; listen to your body. What information are you sensing? Has it been a while since you checked in with yourself? If you are sensing exhaustion deep within, then gift yourself the opportunity to sip some tea and read this little diddy written just for you. You know the exhaustion I'm talking about. The kind that doesn't come from a long run or a late night, but from the slow, relentless effort of pretending to be someone you're not. Laughing at jokes that sting. Biting back the truth to keep the peace. Shrinking yourself so others feel comfortable. It's draining because it's a lie and your soul knows it. What if the very thing you've been running from (your raw, unfiltered, flawed, honest self) was actually your greatest source of power? Not the loud, aggressive kind of power, but the grounded, unshakable kind that lets you walk through life without needing anyone's permission. Spirituality isn't about floating away from reality; it's about finally landing in your own skin. And there are practical, ancient, and deeply effective tools to help you do exactly that. Let's talk about how to use them while allowing grace for ourselves during the journey.
Most of us are walking around wearing a version of ourselves that was crafted to please, protect, or perform. We laugh when we want to cry, say yes when every cell screams no, and chase achievements that leave us feeling strangely empty. This mask, however necessary it once seemed, is the very thing blocking us from our authentic power. True power isn't about control, wealth, or dominance; it's the quiet, unshakable alignment between your soul's truth and your daily actions. Spirituality, far from being an escape from reality, offers a practical toolkit of modalities such as meditation, shadow work, breath, movement, and more in order to gently peel back the conditioned layers. In this article, we'll explore how to use these spiritual practices to step into the person you actually are, why doing so is essential for your mental and emotional health, and how living authentically becomes the greatest gift you can offer the world.
Without authenticity, we suffer from fatigue, resentment, and meaninglessness. Stepping into authentic power allows you to make decisions from clarity, contribute unique gifts to the world, and experience genuine peace. Discover what lies within stillness, explore what nothingness holds when you finally take the chance to be still and allow for nothing. This is a marathon, not a sprint, but I promise you this journey is worth taking. Every single step is purposeful and full of magic.
What is the “Authentic-Self”?
You may hear this term get tossed around frequently, and perhaps you feel you are pretty authentic - but deep down, this work is always in motion. Your true authentic self is the part of you that existed before societal conditioning, fear, and false identities came along and mixed with your core values, intuition, and soul signature. Powerful does not mean aggressive; it means being unshakable in your truth, resilient, and able to act with love and boundaries.
Signs you’re living inauthentically:
people-pleasing, chronic self-doubt, feeling empty after achievements, feelings of stagnancy or being “stuck.”
There is no right or wrong way to dive in and embark on a journey of self-discovery, but here are some helpful tools to get you started. Simply align yourself with whichever tool resonates with you and dive in! Keep in mind, there are many more than what is listed in this article. The suggested tools listed are gentle ways of dipping your toe in the water of spirituality while allowing your conscious mind to easily integrate the inevitable changes experienced from the work you will embark on - allowing integration and taking your time is critical as this will prevent burnout or feeling overwhelmed.
Meditation & Mindfulness
Daily sitting practice, body scans, or awareness of thoughts without attachment. Stillness silences the inner critic and social noise so you can discern your authentic voice from fear-based chatter. Let go of the expectations of what “meditation” should be and allow for it to be whatever works best for you. We meditate everyday without realizing it. When you drive from one place to another and allow your mind to drift off, that is meditation. When you’re taking a shower or washing the dishes and find yourself “daydreaming,” that is meditation. Now that you are aware of how often it happens, you can start doing it on purpose and with intention. Keep in mind, this takes practice and time. Allow yourself the grace to move into a place where stillness is comfortable. This can be a difficult process for folks who choose to remain physically active as a distraction from the thoughts the subconscious mind is trying to address by raising it to consciousness. When we spend our life repressing thoughts and memories and are shifting into a place of willingness and mindfulness, the thoughts can seem overwhelming. This leads us into our next process of journaling.
Journaling (Intuitive & Shadow Work)
Prompt-based journaling, unsent letters, dialogues with your inner child, and more can allow your mind to let go and finally allow words to pour out that you didn’t even know were hiding deep within. If you’re not a fan of journaling (not many people are) you may consider vlogging. Create a video log of you simply chatting away at your camera as it records you - then circle back and watch the video making note of what stands out to you as triggers, a-ha moments, or thoughts you didn’t realize were continuing to take up space and can be finally released. These processes externalize hidden beliefs and desires. Shadow work (facing hidden aspects of self) integrates rather than represses, and true power can begin taking place of these stored feelings. Replacing fear with trust, for example. This process is incredibly beneficial when working through the thoughts continuing to circulate in our mind. If we choose to avoid letting go, we actively choose to remain in one place, restricting anything beneficial to us from coming forward. How can we move forward if we refuse to learn from the past? Look at your thoughts and memories from a different perspective - treat them as information - something to sift through - an event that occurred is filled with information to dissect, take what you learned, grow from it with love and gratitude, and release it. This is such profound work! What can be done in the meantime to support your mind and body while you navigate these opportunities of growth? The answer, my friend, is energy work.
Energy Practices (Reiki, Qigong, or Breathwork)
Learn basic breathwork patterns (conscious connected breathing) or receive Reiki to clear stagnant energy and restore your mind, body, and spirit to your highest optimal vibrational state while you embark on your journey back to self. These are incredible tools to use while working to break through old habits or thought patterns. Breathwork can be a critical tool when anxiety takes over or you feel yourself stuck in the story. Remember, we are looking at past experiences as a tool to heal from, to learn from, all while knowing we are analyzing this information for the greater good of the present moment in order to step into the future with restored strength and sense of purpose. Authenticity lives in the body, not just the mind. Clearing energetic blocks releases trauma and shame held in tissues, freeing spontaneous self-expression. This is a basic explanation of something quite profound, therefore trust is a key component throughout the entire process, throughout life. Trust in yourself. Trust in our higher self. Trust in Spirit and trust in the divine Universal way. You’ve come this far! How great would it feel to know you’re not alone on this path? Connection is one of the greatest medicines. We are meant to have our tribe.
Spiritual Community
Join a meditation circle, find a trusted teacher, or engage in peer sharing groups. Authenticity is mirrored by others. An honest community validates your journey and challenges remaining masks with kindness. Oftentimes we allow undesirable thoughts to circulate in our mind much longer than necessary - we perceive ourselves as “working through it” but when these thoughts occupy so much of our mind for a prolonged period of time, we are no longer “working through it;” rather, we are stuck in the story of it. By connecting and communicating, we allow ourselves the opportunity to gain new insights, new perspectives, which allows us to push through and grow much quicker than if we remain stagnant. This doesn’t mean taking everyone’s advice all the time - it simply means to share and trust in yourself to discern the information or advice provided and choose what resonates within you - choose which next course to take.
Authenticity ends chronic anxiety and depression rooted in perceived self-betrayal as you begin to gain clarity, energy, and renewed joy. Pretending to be someone you think you are supposed to be attracts relationships based on false selves. Authenticity attracts people who love the real you, and repels what isn’t aligned. The world needs your unique medicine, the true aspect of yourself - especially the weird parts! Don’t be afraid to explore what makes you YOU and allow that vibrant soul to come forward. When you shrink, you give permission for others to shrink. Stepping into your power is an act of service and others will happily follow your example because there’s a sense of freedom in that act of bravery - a sense of freedom we all are longing for. Many traditions say the soul incarnates to remember itself; failing to live authentically is failing your soul’s contract.
Start small and allow grace for yourself on this journey of self-discovery, a journey back to self. Pick one modality, try it for a couple weeks, and notice how it feels to act from inner truth rather than outer approval. Remind yourself as often as needed that setbacks are normal; authenticity is not a destination but a continuous unraveling of the false to reveal the real. We’ve worn these masks and navigated this world with all its conditioning for quite some time - our whole lives, so allow yourself time to unravel and rebuild. As you continue to grow into your true self, remember we will always encounter obstacles and challenges in life - this work allows us the awareness that these are simply opportunities for further development rather than setbacks. By truly changing our perspective, we allow the information to be processed in a different light, a light filled with hope rather than disdain.
Wisconsin is full of vibrant communities where you can find spiritual practitioners to support you and guide you along the way. If you’re in the Green Bay and surrounding areas, reach out to us at Runic Apothecary where we offer support and guidance, and hold space for all who seek validation. You are not alone. We proudly collaborate with practitioners throughout Wisconsin and are happy to help you connect with someone right for you when you’re ready.
Thank you for your bravery. Thank you for considering the journey of stepping into your true self. I look forward to our paths crossing someday and hearing all about your story!
And these are my words. -Nicole Terrien
