|
The Search for Self-Fulfillment
By CHRISTAL FROST
Contributing Writer
TRAVERSE CITY – Throughout time, humankind has addressed the same question, in one variation or another, “Why am I here?” or “What is my purpose?” It has seemed an unfaltering necessity for our species to define itself; our past, our purpose, our tendencies, our futures. For many, such definitions have been answered by religious or spiritual values, or by establishing faith in a Higher Power. For others, an evolutionary clarification of metabolic structure and survival of the fittest has been sufficient to justify one’s existence. No matter if you are a Darwinian thinker, or you attend Mass each week, chances are you have thought such a phrase, or uttered the same loaded question at some point in your life. In the past decade, however, another explanation of self-purpose has been fueled by the teachings of such individuals as New York Times Bestselling author, Eckhart Tolle. I was able to speak with local enthusiast Jennifer Tavana about the “New Age” thinkers approach to finding life’s purpose. (Tavana is described as a personal development instructor, medium, spiritual channel, and hypnotherapist.) Insider: When did you realize you had abilities? Tavana: “When I was in high school I had an uncanny ability to know what people were feeling, and to be able to help them solve problems. I just thought I was intuitive. Later, in my mid-20s, I was involved in an accident with a woman on a motorcycle. I was the first person to help her before EMS arrived. After she got into the ambulance, I collapsed from shock. When I got up, everything was different. I went to a psychiatrist and insisted I was schizophrenic. She asked me what the ‘voices’ were saying. That’s when I told her she could move her Monday 9 a.m. appointment to noon, and that would solve her scheduling conflict, which is exactly what I heard. When I told her that, she said, ‘Brilliant.’” Insider: So what is it, exactly, that you do? Tavana: “My job is to help people recognize their fear, so it can dissipate and they can experience fulfillment. The definition of fear is ‘the illusion of the absence of God and Love.’ They say, ‘there is nothing to fear but fear itself.’ Fear truly is an illusion our spirit uses to diversify the human experience. Fear is not bad, because it creates varying experiences, but when you can see the fear for what it is, an illusion, all you see is love.” Insider: How does that differ from therapy? Tavana: “As a hypnotherapist, I am trained to use the basic psychological approach as in traditional therapy, but the spin here is that it takes you outside of a very small cause and effect, because you’re not relying on your memory to take you back to the cause of the problem. Someone in therapy may have an extreme fear. They may go months trying to figure out where it came from and how to fix it. With my practices, you talk to your Higher Self and you’re told how old you were when the problem started, the circumstance that created the problem, and who was involved. You’re also told what belief is causing the problem, and how to change it. It literally cuts years of therapy into potentially one dialogue for a specific problem.” Insider: What exactly is one’s Higher Self? Tavana: “The Higher Self is the part of your spirit or consciousness that is not physical, whose job is to help you evolve. Evolution has many different definitions, but in this context we’re talking about helping you experience a grander version of yourself, which also makes life easier and brings joy. With your Higher Self, you get to see a different perspective on the problems you are having, as well as learn specific techniques and tools to resolve the problems.” Insider: How do you handle criticism stemming from the frauds in your line of work? Tavana: “Use your logic and follow your instincts! Just as with any field, there are people with very little integrity. Shop around, like you would with any other profession. If your dentist asks you for $25,000 for a filling, you probably wouldn’t do it. Use that common sense when dealing with people in my profession.” Insider: Many religions look down on your practice. It has even been coined “neo-paganism.” Can one’s religious beliefs fit into these practices? Tavana: “Absolutely. What we’re dealing with here does not exclude anything. The difference is that is takes everything in your religious foundation and brings it to a new level. The only thing that stops people from trying is fear. And fear always keeps people from true joy.” Jennifer Tavana can be reached at (586) 255-6685 or at The Higher Self Bookstore on Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. She is also available for over-the-phone readings, in-home sessions and group sessions. To learn more, go to www.jennifer.etherealclearing.com.
Last Updated: 7/27/2009 11:33:30 AM EST
|
