We are untamed. We may think we are civilized, cultivated, and controlled. Thankfully, we are not.
Being untamed doesn’t mean that we must dance in the streets or otherwise draw attention to ourselves. Untamed is an internal condition, not a behavioral one. It’s not about external actions and appearances. It’s about shifting our orientation toward self-sovereignty.
The heart, mind, and body demand liberation. Living with a constrained, constricted heart is like a large wild cat of Africa confined to a small, barren cage—pacing endlessly in purgatory. Neither alive nor dead. Living with a negative, dark mind is like spending every day in darkness. Living with a poorly maintained body is like driving an old clunker instead of a luxury vehicle. The spirit yearns for open space, sunshine, and a dependable, comfortable vehicle in which to explore this only life. Denying ourselves these basic assets creates a mediocre life experience.
The process of domestication is one of neglect, negativity, and fear from a culture that seeks supporting members. We are persuaded to follow the customs, beliefs, and expectations of the cult, and to distrust our own innate wisdom. That is how society works, and that is why the heretic is considered most dangerous. In many ways, we have created our own enslavement, as we try to fit in to a society that doesn’t fit us.
Society shaped us. But liberation is an inside job. Alone.
Inside and alone is nothing to fear, and yet it’s scary. We often define and value ourselves based on outside situations and people, and so we are used to that. For that matter, freedom may feel frightening because we aren’t sure what we may lose in the process. The four walls of a cell are confining, but they may also feel predictable and protective.
When we deny the true nature of life—that life can only be experienced inside and alone—we neglect our own best interests. There is no one else to please or serve. Each of us is a one-person Universe, parallel playing with other people’s perception of their own Universe. When we make internal accommodations that don’t suit us, no one cares but our own unfulfilled self. No one is hurt but our own contracted hearts. The comfort zone is painful, unpleasant, and uncomfortable. Dissatisfaction and mediocrity are the natural outcomes of a tamed existence.
We gain nothing by avoiding inside and alone. We may as well face ourselves with interest and attention. We will find nothing as horrible as those unnamed insecurities and fears to which we unconsciously cling. As we face the knots of fear, they will untangle, one by one. As we eliminate each one, we will be confined by one less misunderstanding.
As we practice our true nature—untamed, fearless, and free—we may dance in the street if we feel like it. And sometimes we feel like it.
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