Episode 7 – Levels of Physicality: Human Incarnation

This is The Three Petals podcast hosted by Jim Trofatter. The Three Petals is dedicated to exploring the threefold journey of spiritual awakening, where awareness, embodiment, and mutuality intertwine to create a vibrant, transformative life and represents a new paradigm for enlighten living.

In each episode, we’ll delve into what it means to truly inhabit our human experience, while opening our hearts and minds to the infinite nature of consciousness. Whether you’re completely new to this path or have been on a spiritual journey for years, The Three Petals will offer insights, practices, and compassionate guidance to help you deepen your connection with yourself, others, and the world at large. The Three Petals: Where the Infinite meets the Intimate.

Part 1: It’s Only Real If I Can See It

Sarah’s a no-nonsense, straight-shooting, proudly rational person. She doesn’t waste her time with abstract concepts like non-duality, cosmic consciousness, or universal oneness. If she can’t measure it, dissect it, or put it under a microscope, it simply doesn’t exist. To her, reality is a cold, hard, and beautifully mechanical arrangement of atoms following the laws of physics, and everything, can be explained by science, logic, and a well-placed eye-roll at mystical nonsense. Sarah walks outside and marvels, not at the sacred interconnectedness of all living things, but at Newtonian mechanics in action. A bird flaps its wings. That’s aerodynamics and evolutionary adaptation, not some poetic metaphor for freedom. Love? Just neurochemical responses, dopamine, oxytocin, and serotonin doing their thing. Of course, sometimes, late at night, she wonders if there’s more to this whole “reality” thing than just atoms bouncing around in the void. Then she shakes her head, mutters “confirmation bias” under her breath, and goes back to watching a documentary about quantum mechanics, which, frustratingly, seems to suggest reality isn’t as material as she thought.

Hello and welcome to The Three Petals, a podcast dedicated to exploring the synergy of three essential aspects of spiritual awakening: awareness, embodiment, and relationality. I’m your host Jim Trofatter and I’m glad you could join me today. In today’s episode we’re going to focus on one of the foundational aspects of this journey: physicality and embodiment. We’re used to the sensations of our physical body, but on the incarnationl side of the dual-non-dual equation, there seems to be a lot more going on at more subtle levels of physicality than we realize. Today, we’re going to explore what it means to be a body on planet Earth. The map we take through these physical layers will somewhat follow the map through the levels of awareness and intelligence we explored in the last episode, but today’s exploration will be to define those levels as physical aspects of our body-mind. A subtle but distinct difference.

Part 2: The Physical Body

If we strip away all assumptions of subtle bodies, energy fields, or any spiritual dimensions, what remains is the biological fact of being a physical body, an organism that has evolved over millions of years within the delicate and complex biosphere of Earth. From this perspective, we are complex living systems, finely tuned by evolutionary pressures to survive, adapt, and propagate within a planetary environment that shaped every aspect of our existence. Our bones, muscles, and organs are not random but precise adaptations to the forces of gravity, atmospheric composition, and the availability of food sources across millennia. Our lungs breathe the oxygen produced by forests and phytoplankton, our bones are formed from minerals recycled through the soil, and the very water in our cells has cycled through countless living organisms before us.

Our senses, sight, hearing, taste, touch, and smell, developed to interpret patterns of information crucial for survival. Eyes evolved to detect wavelengths of light emitted by the Sun, fine-tuned to navigate an environment filled with predators, food sources, and social cues. Our skin, the largest organ of the body, is sensitive to temperature changes, alerting us to danger or comfort, responding to shifts in climate that our ancestors faced for millions of years.

Within this framework, we are earthly creatures, deeply embedded in the planetary network of life. The body, in its structure and function, is a direct expression of Earth’s ecology, no more separate from it than a tree is from the soil. Our existence is entirely interdependent with bacteria, plants, and other animals, our internal microbiome alone contains more bacterial cells than human ones. There is no “outside” to nature; we are not visitors on this planet but living extensions of it, temporary configurations of carbon, water, and proteins shaped by the same evolutionary processes that formed every life form before us. If nothing else, to exist as a physical body is to be an intricate, intelligent manifestation of Earth's evolutionary masterpiece, one that continues to unfold in every breath, heartbeat, and movement.

Part 3: The Energetic or Subtle Body

The energetic or subtle body is the aspect of our being that governs the flow of life force energy, often referred to as prana, chi or ki. Unlike the physical body, which is made of tangible matter, the energetic body is more subtle and fluid, forming an intricate web of currents and fields that sustain vitality and balance. Many ancient traditions understand that the body is not just a physical structure but an interconnected system where energy must flow freely to maintain health and well-being. When this energy is vibrant and unobstructed, we feel alive, clear, and aligned. When blocked or stagnant, we may experience fatigue, emotional heaviness, or even physical illness and weakness.

The subtle body is believed to contain energy centers and pathways that distribute life force throughout our system. In yogic traditions, the major energy centers are known as the chakras which are seven primary energy hubs or wheels aligned along the spine from the perineum at the base of our torso to the crown of our head. Each chakra governs a different aspects of our being, from survival instincts to emotional expression to spiritual insight.

In Chinese medicine, energy moves through meridians, invisible channels that transport chi throughout the body and influence organ function. These systems provide maps for understanding how energy moves and interacts within us, explaining why practices like acupuncture, qigong, and breathwork can help restore balance and vitality. When the subtle body is in harmony, energy flows smoothly, nourishing the physical, emotional, and mental bodies.

Just as the physical body can experience tension, fatigue, or illness, the subtle body can also fall into energetic disharmony. Emotional stress, trauma, and even environmental factors can create blockages or stagnation in the flow of prana or chi, leading to feelings of exhaustion, anxiety, or disconnection. Many people unknowingly carry energetic imprints from past experiences and traumas, which can manifest as repetitive emotional patterns, unexplained heaviness, or difficulty feeling present in the body. Overactivity in certain areas, such as excessive mental energy or emotional turmoil, can also create imbalances, leading to restlessness or difficulty grounding. Becoming aware of these energetic fluctuations is the first step toward restoring flow, clarity, and inner alignment.

Maintaining a balanced energetic body involves conscious practices that regulate and enhance the flow of life force. Breathwork such as pranayama, meditation, movement practices like yoga and tai chi, and energy healing techniques such as Reiki help clear stagnation and restore vitality. Simply spending time in nature, engaging in deep relaxation, and paying attention to the body’s subtle sensations can help support a more fluid energetic system. By cultivating a healthy relationship with the subtle body, we begin to experience greater resilience, emotional stability, and an enhanced connection to both our inner world and the environment around us. Over time, as we develop sensitivity to these energies, we gain a deeper understanding of how life force moves within and through us, allowing us to live with more ease, presence, and vibrancy.

Part 4. The Emotional Body

The emotional body is the layer of our being where feelings, moods, and emotional patterns reside, shaping how we experience ourselves and the world. It acts as a bridge between our inner psychological landscape represented as our mind and our physical form, influencing everything from posture and muscle tension to heartbeat and breath. While emotions are often thought of as fleeting mental states, they are deeply embodied experiences that manifest tangibly within us. They provide feedback as to how we should interact with our environment. Consider how joy lightens the body, making movements more fluid and open, while grief or sadness often create a heaviness, a physical sinking into ourselves. Anger arises when something invades our personal boundaries or space and fuels the power center in our gut so we can our body ready to protect ourselves. Every emotion has a corresponding physiological expression, demonstrating that the emotional body is not an abstract concept but a real, living system interwoven with our physical existence.

When emotions arise, they do not remain confined to the mind; they are felt throughout the body in profound ways. Fear may cause the stomach to tighten, the heart to race, and the muscles to prepare for fight or flight. Stress can accumulate in the shoulders and neck, leading to chronic tension or even physical pain. On the other hand, relaxation and feelings of safety allow the body to loosen, the breath to deepen, and energy to flow more freely. Over time, unprocessed or repressed emotions can become stored in the body, leading to long-term physical discomfort or health issues. This is why body-centered practices, such as yoga, breathwork, and somatic therapy, are often so effective for emotional healing; they engage the emotional body directly, allowing suppressed emotions to surface and integrate rather than remain locked in tension or illness.

Just as the physical body has habits and postures, the emotional body has patterns that develop over time. These patterns are shaped by past experiences, childhood conditioning, and even ancestral influences. Someone who grew up in a stressful or unsafe environment may unconsciously carry a habitual state of hypervigilance, where their nervous system is always on high alert. Others might have developed emotional armor, tightening their bodies in response to past pain, creating a rigid stance that prevents them from fully feeling or expressing their emotions. The emotional body, in this sense, is a record of our life experiences, storing both wounds and joys, often without our conscious awareness. However, just as muscles can be stretched and retrained, emotional patterns can also be rewritten through self-awareness, therapeutic work, and intentional emotional release.

Bringing balance to the emotional body involves cultivating emotional intelligence, learning to recognize, process, and express emotions in a way that keeps energy moving rather than stagnant. Developing a healthy emotional body means learning to be present with emotions as they arise, rather than suppressing or over-identifying with them. The goal is not to eliminate emotions but to allow them to flow naturally, just as the body breathes in and out without holding onto air. When we become attuned to our emotional body, we develop a deeper connection to ourselves and others, fostering greater emotional resilience, authenticity, and inner harmony as well as developing deep empathy for others’ pain and suffering.

Part 5: The Mental Body

The mental body is the layer of our being where thoughts, beliefs, and cognitive processes shape how we interpret reality. It is the seat of intellect, analysis, memory, and reasoning, allowing us to make sense of the world through logic, language, and conceptual understanding. It is concerned with perception and meaning-making, how we organize information, categorize experiences, and form our personal worldview. This aspect of our being is constantly active, processing data from both our external environment and internal reflections, shaping how we respond to life. Whether we are problem-solving, making decisions, or simply engaging in everyday thinking, our mental body is continuously filtering and structuring our experience.

Our mental body does more than just think though, it frames our entire reality through the lens of beliefs and conditioned patterns of thought. The way we perceive ourselves, others, and the world is largely determined by our mental conditioning, which develops over time based on personal experiences, education, culture, and societal influences. For example, if someone grows up believing they are not capable of success, this belief may unconsciously dictate their choices, reinforcing a limited sense of self. On the other hand, someone who has developed an expansive, growth-oriented mindset will likely approach life with curiosity and confidence. The mental body acts as an interpreter, continuously shaping our internal dialogue, the narratives we tell ourselves, and the way we emotionally react to situations.

While the mental body is an essential part of human intelligence and functioning, it can also become overactive, leading to excessive thinking, rumination, or mental rigidity. Many people today experience chronic mental activity, where thoughts race endlessly, creating stress, anxiety, and difficulty being present. When the mental body dominates, people may become disconnected from their emotional and physical bodies, relying solely on rational understanding while neglecting intuition, feeling, and embodied experience. This can lead to intellectualization and feeling ungrounded, where emotions and deeper truths are analyzed rather than felt, making personal growth and healing more difficult. An overactive mental body can also trap individuals in rigid belief systems, making them resistant to new perspectives or deeper levels of awareness beyond logical reasoning. This is where physical grounding exercises can help slow the thought process. When we focus on our physical bodies, our minds tend to become quieter.

Expanding the mental body can involve exposing ourselves to new ideas, engaging in critical thinking, and challenging limiting beliefs that no longer serve us. However, true balance comes when the mental body works in harmony with the emotional and physical bodies, allowing us to think clearly while staying connected to feeling, intuition, and present-moment experience. When integrated, the mental body becomes a powerful tool for discernment, insight, and creative exploration, rather than a rigid controller of our reality.

Part 6: The Spiritual Body

At the deeper levels of our being the work of differentiating one body from another body becomes more difficult because these bodies are very subtle. There may also be confusion about which body you are in because many times esoteric systems conflate one body with another depending on what they want to focus on and emphasize. In addition, the ability to “prove” the existence of these bodies relies on subjective experience more than objective analysis meaning that my interpretation of a subtle body may not match another’s description even though we are experiencing the same thing. Let’s explore some of these more subtle bodies.

The spiritual body is sometimes conflated as the soul but it is subtly different from the soul. The spiritual body is often described as a subtle energetic layer of our being that connects us to higher states of consciousness and universal awareness. It is not necessarily you in an individual sense but rather the aspect of your being that is attuned to the infinite, the divine, or the unmanifested ground of existence. It serves as a bridge between your finite human experience and the vast, non-personal field of consciousness, allowing for spiritual insight, transcendence, and connection with universal truths. This body is often associated with experiences of unity, enlightenment, or non-dual awareness, where the boundaries of the personal self dissolves into a sense of oneness with all that is. In non-dual traditions, it is understood as pure presence or being, the witnessing awareness that exists beyond form. The spiritual body carries a sense of deep, abiding truth, something more fundamental than thoughts, emotions, or even life circumstances. 

Many people go through life without consciously recognizing their spiritual body, identifying solely with their thoughts, emotions, or material existence. However, moments of stillness, meditation, or deep connection, whether through prayer, nature, art, or love, can provide glimpses of something beyond the ordinary self. These experiences often bring a sense of expansion, peace, or timeless presence, as if the usual boundaries of identity momentarily dissolve. For some, this awakening happens gradually through dedicated spiritual practice, while for others, it can arrive unexpectedly, through personal hardship, deep surrender, or profound beauty. Regardless of how it occurs, awakening to the spiritual body often shifts one’s entire perspective on life, bringing a recognition that there is something vast and mysterious within, guiding and sustaining our existence.

Recognizing the spiritual body is not about detaching from the world or rejecting the human experience, it is about living with a deeper awareness of who we truly are. When we acknowledge and cultivate this dimension of being, life begins to feel more connected, more meaningful, and infused with a sense of purpose. This doesn’t mean abandoning the physical, emotional, or mental aspects of existence; rather, it means aligning all layers of our being with this deeper truth. When the spiritual body is integrated, life is no longer just about survival, achievement, or personal identity, it becomes an expression of something much greater, a dance between the finite and the infinite, between being human and being something beyond.

Part 7: The Soul 

The soul, on the other hand, is often described as the core essence of your individual identity, the unique, timeless spark that carries the imprint of your personal journey across lifetimes, according to many spiritual traditions. Unlike the spiritual body, which connects you to the universal, the soul is the thread of continuity that weaves through the tapestry of your existence, anchoring your deeper purpose, lessons, and the qualities that make you uniquely you. It is seen as the eternal witness of your experiences, holding not only the memories and imprints of your current life but also the echoes of past lives, ancestral wisdom, and the soul’s innate blueprint. While the soul is considered eternal and unchanging at its core, it is also capable of growth and evolution, refining itself through cycles of birth, death, and rebirth, and through the rich tapestry of relationships, challenges, and personal triumphs.

What makes the soul particularly profound is its deeply personal nature. It is not an abstract concept or an impersonal energy but a living, breathing essence of who you truly are beneath the layers of ego, personality, and conditioning. The soul is often linked with passion, longing, love, and the quest for meaning, those ineffable qualities that drive us to seek connection, purpose, and fulfillment beyond the material realm. It carries the yearning for connection with the divine trying to satisfy the ache of separation that it feels, and the joy of reunion when we touch moments of profound presence or spiritual awakening. Unlike the spiritual body, which dissolves into the vast ocean of universal consciousness, the soul retains a distinct, luminous signature, a spark of individuality within the greater whole. In this way, the soul bridges the paradox of being both eternal and evolving, both one with the infinite and yet uniquely itself, carrying the story of your existence through the great mystery of life.

So, to distinguish the Spiritual body from the Soul, the key differences are: the Spiritual Body is a universal, non-personal connection to the divine or cosmic consciousness, like an antenna tuning into the infinite while the Soul is the personal, eternal essence that carries your unique identity, purpose, and evolutionary journey, your "signature" in the universe. In essence, you might think of the spiritual body as the vehicle for accessing higher states of awareness, while the soul is the traveler, carrying the story of your individual existence through space, time, and beyond. We’ll look at the soul in much more detail in a later episode.

Part 8: The Causal Body

The causal body represents the deepest, most foundational layer of our being. It doesn’t really have a corresponding role in Western mystical traditions. But in many Eastern and esoteric traditions, it is understood as the blueprint of our existence, the level of pure potentiality that holds the essence or seed of who we are. Unlike the physical, emotional, mental, or even spiritual bodies, which operate within time and form, the causal body exists beyond personal identity, beyond the mind, and beyond the limitations of space and time. It is not something we experience in a conventional sense but rather the source from which all other aspects of our being arise, often described as the seed form of one’s existence. It is so basic that it informs the Soul how to be.

In some spiritual frameworks, the causal body is believed to contain the imprints of past experiences, actions, and karmic patterns that shape the course of one’s journey across multiple lifetimes similar to the Soul. Unlike the emotional and mental bodies, which hold transient emotions and beliefs, the causal body is said to store the deeper lessons and soul-level conditioning that influence our evolution. This is why some teachings describe it as the repository of karma, where past choices create energetic patterns that unfold over time. While this may sound deterministic, the causal body is also the realm of transformation and liberation by becoming aware of and transcending our karmic patterns allowing us to open ourselves to new possibilities of growth and awakening.

In many mystical traditions, the Higher Self is synonymous with the causal body, representing the most expansive and unconditioned aspect of our being. While the lower layers of self are shaped by thoughts, emotions, and experiences, the Higher Self is not bound by identity, story, or personal limitations. It is often experienced as a deep, wordless knowing, an intelligence that transcends the mind and operates from a state of pure potential. Some describe encounters with their Higher Self as moments of profound clarity, where answers arise effortlessly, or as a guiding presence that feels both deeply personal and beyond the self at the same time.

While the causal body exists at a subtle and often unseen level, its influence pervades all aspects of life. Developing a connection with this dimension of being requires deep self-inquiry, meditation, and an openness to direct experience rather than intellectual understanding alone. Practices such as contemplative silence, dream work, and surrendering to intuitive guidance can help us attune to the Higher Self and recognize its presence in our daily lives. When integrated, the awareness of the causal body, the Higher self, allows us to move through life with greater wisdom, clarity, and a sense of deep trust in the unfolding of our path. Rather than being driven solely by personal desires or fears, we begin to align with the deeper intelligence that has always been guiding us, one that holds the full potential of our being, waiting to be realized.

Part 9: The Astral Body

The astral body, sometimes called the dream body, is the aspect of our being that exists beyond the physical form yet remains intimately connected to our consciousness. In esoteric traditions, it is often described as the vehicle of awareness that operates in dream states, altered states, and out-of-body experiences. Unlike the physical body, which is bound by material limitations, the astral body is more fluid, responsive, and capable of navigating realms beyond the ordinary waking world. While it is still connected to the individual’s larger energy system, it exists at a subtler frequency, allowing for experiences that feel just as real as physical life but operate under different rules, wheremovement is instantaneous, environments shift based on thought, and interactions occur beyond the constraints of time and space.

Many traditions suggest that during sleep, the astral body becomes more active, separating to explore dimensions beyond the waking state. In this sense, the dream world is not merely a projection of the subconscious but a realm in which the astral body is navigating its own experiences. Lucid dreaming is where one becomes aware that one is dreaming within a dream and then can consciously interact with the environment. It is often considered a direct engagement with the astral body. Similarly, in out-of-body experiences, people report sensations of floating, traveling, or observing their physical body from an external perspective. These experiences, whether spontaneous or induced through meditation and specific techniques, suggest that consciousness is not confined to the physical body but has a subtle vehicle through which it can move and explore beyond material reality.

Various spiritual and mystical traditions describe the astral body as an intermediary between the material and higher spiritual planes. In Hindu and Buddhist teachings, it is often linked to the energy body or subtle koshas, while in Western esotericism, it is associated with the etheric double or luminous body. Many cultures speak of astral travel or soul journeys, where mystics, shamans, or advanced practitioners consciously project their astral body into other dimensions, accessing wisdom, healing, or spiritual insight. In some traditions, the astral body is thought to be the form one assumes after death before moving to other realms, indicating its role in transitions between states of existence. While interpretations vary, the common theme is that the astral body acts as a bridge between different layers of reality, expanding the boundaries of what is normally perceived.

While most people experience the astral body unconsciously during sleep, it is possible to develop greater awareness of it through specific practices. Techniques such as meditative visualization, breathwork, lucid dreaming training, and deep relaxation can help bring conscious recognition to the astral state. Many who work with their astral body report increased intuition, greater sensitivity to subtle energies, and a more fluid sense of identity beyond physical form. However, the goal is not merely to escape the physical world but to understand the multi-dimensional nature of consciousness. When integrated properly, awareness of the astral body can lead to a deeper sense of presence, expanded perception, and a greater appreciation for the unseen layers of existence that shape our reality.

Part 10: The Fragmentation of Self

When we divide ourselves into multiple layers, the physical body, the emotional body, the mental body, the energetic body, the spiritual body, the causal body, the astral body, we may gain valuable insights into different aspects of our being. However, if we treat these bodies as entirely separate entities rather than interwoven expressions of a unified whole, we risk experiencing ourselves in a dissociative way rather than an integrated one. Instead of living as a complete and cohesive being, we may unconsciously split our awareness, favoring one dimension while neglecting or rejecting others. This fragmentation can lead to feelings of disconnection, imbalance, and a struggle to fully embody our existence.

For example, some people become overly identified with the mental body, living almost exclusively in their thoughts, analysis, and intellectual understanding of life while neglecting their emotional or physical experience. Others might overemphasize spiritual transcendence, seeking to escape the messiness of human existence through meditative detachment or non-dual realizations while ignoring their emotional wounds or bodily needs. Conversely, those deeply immersed in the physical body may dismiss emotions, intuition, and energetic awareness as unimportant, cutting themselves off from subtler dimensions of experience. In each case, the lack of integration between these dimensions creates an internal split, leading to cycles of dissatisfaction, stress, or an underlying sense that something is "missing."

True embodied awakening is not about compartmentalizing ourselves into different “bodies” but recognizing that each of these layers is interwoven, constantly influencing and informing one another. The physical body is not separate from the emotional body, as emotions manifest through sensations and tension in the muscles and organs. The mental body shapes the way we experience energy, influencing whether we allow our life force to flow freely or suppress it through rigid belief systems. The spiritual body may reveal our infinite nature, but its realization is meaningless if it isn’t fully embodied and expressed in how we live, feel, and relate to others. Integration means allowing all these dimensions to be present at once, not in opposition to one another but as aspects of a singular, fluid existence.

Rather than seeing ourselves as fragmented pieces that need to be controlled or balanced separately, we can begin to experience ourselves as a unified field of being, one that is both vast and grounded, finite and infinite, deeply human and profoundly cosmic. Different traditions and healing modalities may focus on specific layers, but the ultimate goal is always wholeness. When we stop dissociating between our different “bodies” and instead recognize them as an interconnected, dynamic system, we can live more fully, engage more deeply with life, and experience the richness of existence in a way that is both expansive and profoundly embodied. Awakening, then, is not about escaping any part of ourselves but integrating all that we are into a single, harmonious presence.

Part 11: A Simple Physical Exercise: The Magic Eraser

Let’s do a practice from the iConscious group called the Magic Eraser to help you get a taste of these bodies. Don’t do this if you’re driving or working dangerous machinery. First, find a comfortable position. Let your body settle and feel as if you have roots that extend down into the Earth. Close your eyes if you feel safe to do so otherwise keep your eyes open. Begin by taking a few deep breaths, in through your nose and out through your mouth. Allow the exhales to be just a little bit longer than the inhales. And allow each inhale to deepen your internal contact with yourself.

Start by bringing your awareness to the feeling of your body. Just be with your body and however it feels to you at this time. (Pause about 5 secs). Now bringing your awareness to the sense of energy moving in your body. Try to notice the difference between the physical and the energetic. (Pause about 5 secs). Now bring your awareness to whatever emotions you may be feeling and if you don’t feel any emotions at this time, just stay with whatever you are feeling. (Pause about 5 secs). Now bring your awareness to your thoughts. Just notice your thoughts going by. (Pause about 5 secs)

Now notice the space inside your body. See if you can feel where the space touches the edges of your body. Staying inside your body notice the space around you, the space to the left and the space to the right, the space in of front you and the space behind you, the space above you and the space below you. See if you can feel the layer that your skin represents, the inside from the outside. 

Now imagine you’re picking up a magic eraser and use it to erase your body, to erase your emotions, to erase your thoughts. Just be present in the space that remains. (Pause about 10 secs) Notice the sense of open, spacious, boundless awareness. (Pause about 10 secs) Stay in awareness of that space and say this to yourself: “I am this space.” And notice if you can feel identity in that vastness. (Pause at least 10 secs).

Now, while maintaining awareness of your boundless nature, begin back of your awareness of your body. See if you can maintain feeling both boundlessness and the boundedness of your body. (Pause about 10 secs) Now bring back your awareness of your emotions and see if you can witness your feelings from the freedom of consciousness. (Pause about 10 secs) Now bring back your awareness of thoughts and notice them passing like clouds in the sky of your own infinite nature. (Pause about 10 secs) Now see if you can notice that there’s no place where your body ends and your emotions begin...There’s no boundary between your emotions and your thoughts...And there’s no place where consciousness ends and your body-mind begins...notice that there’s only one thing happening, and that body, emotions, mind, and consciousness are all just aspects of that one thing. (Pause about 10 secs) Stay in that oneness for a bit and just enjoy the wholeness of it. (Pause about 15+ secs) When you’re ready, slowly move a bit in your body, then slowly open your eyes and as you open your eyes, see if you can maintain that sense of awareness.

Part 12: Closing Thoughts: Embracing Our Wholeness

As we’ve explored in this episode, we are far more than just physical beings. We exist as a dynamic, multi-dimensional system, a seamless interplay of the physical, emotional, mental, energetic, spiritual, causal, and astral bodies. Each of these aspects contributes to the richness of our experience, shaping how we move through life, how we process emotions, how we perceive reality, and how we connect to something greater than ourselves. But the key is not to see these as separate layers stacked upon one another; rather, they are expressions of a single, unified being. The moment we start dividing them, we risk dissociating from parts of ourselves rather than fully embodying the wholeness of who we are. When we bring all of these aspects into relationship with one another we recognizing that no single layer is more important than the whole.

So rather than getting lost in trying to “fix” or “balance” each of these bodies separately, the invitation is to become fully present with all of them, all at once. To experience the physical body not just as flesh and bone but as a conduit of energy, emotion, and consciousness. To recognize that thoughts are not just mechanical brain activity but part of a larger web of awareness shaping our reality. To feel that we are both rooted in this moment and connected to something beyond time and space. When we live from this place of integration, our existence takes on a new depth. Life is no longer a struggle between our human limitations and our spiritual nature, it becomes a dance between form and formlessness, between the seen and the unseen, between being both uniquely ourselves and inseparably part of everything.

So, as you move through your day, consider this: What would it feel like to experience yourself not as separate parts, but as a unified whole? What shifts when you bring awareness to the way your emotions influence your body, the way your energy responds to thoughts, the way your presence is shaped by something beyond words? The path of embodied awakening is not about escaping any of these layers, it’s about embracing them all. And in doing so, we open ourselves to the full spectrum of what it means to be alive.

Thank you for joining me today. If any this resonates with you, I encourage you to subscribe, share this podcast, and leave a review. Until next time, remember: awakening isn’t something you achieve. It’s something you allow.

 Thank you for listening to this episode of The Three Petals. To learn more about Jim Trofatter or this podcast and associated blog go to thethreepetals.online where the words the, three and petals are one continuous string of letters. Contact information is on the website.

The Three Petals Podcast is hosted by buzzsprout.com and the podcast and curated transcript can be found at thethreepetals.buzzsprout.com

To learn more about Trillium Awakening go to www.trilliumawakening.org.

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This episode of the Three Petals was developed in conjunction with OpenAI’s ChatGPT.

This is Jim Trofatter and I hope to see you next time on The Three Petals: Where the Infinite Meets the Intimate