Lessons From My Cat
Meet Tigerlilly
Tigerlily doesn’t see her reflection in the glass. One could assume she lacks consciousness but in fact, she lacks “self-consciousness”.
Humans, able to see their own reflection, can only see it in the first place because of an act of division from self...an alienation…that gives rise to two: the mirror and the one appearing in it. It gives one a false sense of wholeness or identity (I am that), but it is a deception. We are in fact a much greater mystery.
Working with the mirror, we can cultivate awareness of this deception and can reverse this alienation and reunify two (or more) back to One.
The first thing we work with on this path of Mirror Meditation is to understand the image, our idea of self. Interestingly, many people get stuck here before even taking a step. The thought of looking at one’s self and being present with one’s self in the mirror is simply too much. The judging, self-hating mind arises with the challenge.
But if you can defeat this voice, this 1st inhibition, you are through the looking glass. So our work starts there.