As we set our feet on the path to spring, it is useful to reflect on what inner traits will be important to nurture as the growing season approaches. Keeping a grateful heart certainly jumps to mind and I’ve written quite a bit about that in past columns. Gratitude allows us to be in the flow of the Universal energy and also generates healing vibrations in and around our body.

   Another important inner trait to cultivate is a sense of integrity. Perhaps a good place to begin is with a definition of this word. The Miriam Webster Dictionary defines integrity as, “Moral soundness; honesty; freedom from corrupting influence or motive; — used especially with reference to the fulfillment of contracts, the discharge of agencies, trusts, and the like; uprightness; rectitude.” In plain English, that means consistently expressing our inner values and upholding our principles in all phases of our lives.   

   To accomplish this we need to cultivate an inner moral compass and follow its direction in everything we think, feel and do. By referring to morality, I am not suggesting a specific, written moral code in the manner of an organized religion; instead, I am referring to something less rigid and complex. A moral code can be as simple as treating all other life forms, as you would like to be treated, or using a simple question as a benchmark for your behavior. One such question could be; Is this action I’m taking life-affirming and without harm to another?   

   By following this kind of inner compass, we can be sure that we are on track and doing the “right” thing. It provides the feeling of having a strong rudder in life’s sometimes–stormy seas and gives us the capacity to be truthful and righteous even in the face of challenge. It also means that the Divine inside of you directs your actions, instead of following the external restrictions of a memorized dogma.

   In talking about integrity, Albert Einstein once said that it helps us to live in a manner that “...can give beauty and dignity to our lives.” While this may seem intangible, it really is the very sort of feeling we desire. I would argue that many people have a sense of smallness, or feelings of being insignificant or ineffectual. With these negative feelings driving their actions, they may find that they grasp for riches or recognition in an effort to finally feel “good enough” or “worthy.” They may even resort to emotionally or physically knocking someone else down so that they can feel “superior.” Instead, Einstein suggests that the feelings that we most desire arrive in the practice of living virtuously and behaving with integrity. It bestows a sense of nobility on all aspects of our existence.

   In fact, another definition of integrity refers to a thing’s wholeness, purity or intactness. We use the word in this way when describing a structure’s strength or an untouched tract of wilderness. In this context, the word integrity implies something that is uncorrupted and complete. I would suggest that this provides a further clue for living with integrity.

   This definition adds another dimension to the picture and implies that behaviors reflecting integrity come from an intact, pure or whole place inside of our self. When we have an alignment of our personality’s inner aspects with our moral inner compass, we naturally behave in a manner that is both integrated and more likely to express genuine integrity. To accomplish this requires some inner reflection. We can begin by asking ourselves questions such as: Who am I? or What is most important in my life?, and then listening to our inner voice(s) for answers.

   I would also argue that using spiritual tools are beneficial in this endeavor. For instance, it may be useful to ask in a shamanic journey for a teacher that can help to show you all of your inner self—including your shadow aspects, which may be, as yet, unfamiliar to you. The latter are often the needy, angry, fearful or insecure aspects of our personality. We are, at best, uncomfortable with these aspects and at the worst; we are unwilling to recognize them. It is imperative to examine the shadow, as these hidden aspects of ourselves are the ones that can jeopardize our moral direction and cause us to take actions, which we either regret later or bring us unwanted consequences.

   I call this work, “getting to know your inner Mengele.” I believe that Josepf Mengele modeled the worst possible example of human behaviors. He was the barbarous “doctor” who—in the name of “science”—performed unimaginably heinous experiments on many thousands of men, women and children in the Auschwitz concentration camp. While we might not imagine ourselves capable of such horrendous acts of brutality and torture, the sober truth is all human beings have a capacity for cruelty, deception and, under the right circumstances, even murder. When we recognize this and seek to understand the triggers that could potentially push us into behaving in such a way, we dis-empower the shadow. In other words, we render these urges incapable of unexpectedly snaring us! On the other hand, if we enable these shadow aspects to remain hidden or deny their existence, they grow more powerful and have the capability to catch us unaware. Like sleeper-cell terrorists in our unconscious, they can strike unexpectedly—ruining our plans, hurting those we love and rendering the desired feelings of “beauty and dignity” eternally elusive.

   However, when we choose to embark on shadow work, we can also find bits of hidden gold. In seeking to discover our darker aspects we also stumble upon all of the other parts of us that were unexpressed. You see our shadow also contains the parts of us that were left behind when we made choices. For instance, if in growing up you felt that you needed to become tough to deal with life, perhaps your precious and tender heart lies in your shadow awaiting rediscovery. If you chose to follow a business career, perhaps the writer you left behind is waiting there—ready to dance a pen across a page!

   World-renowned Jungian analyst, lecturer, and author Robert A. Johnson, reminds us  “to own one’s shadow is whole making.” He also tells us, “No one can be anything but a partial being, ravaged by doubt and loneliness, unless he has close contact with his shadow. The shadow consists of those aspects of your character that belong to you but that have not been given any conscious place in your life.” I would add that once you know who you are in totality, then you truly have free will! The choices you make become fully conscious and aware. Then, should you choose to be a decent and loving person, your actions are more likely to remain consistent with that choice.  

An unknown writer said, “Integrity is not a conditional word. It doesn’t blow in the wind or change with the weather. It is your inner image of yourself, and if you look in there and see a person who won’t cheat, then you know he or she never will.” This is the profound gift that comes from knowing your shadow! To understand how and why you choose what you do—your motivations both conscious and unconscious—is to step up and take full responsibility for your role as a Co-creator of the Universe!

   If you are drawn to a healing profession, I would even more strongly suggest that you do your shadow work. Find and render harmless those things that would interfere with your integrity. Become a healing force by the resonance of your aligned and harmonious being. In so doing, the you that is in relationships, the you that is engaged in financial dealings indeed all of the facets of you—will hold the same vibration as the healer. This will change your life and the lives of those you contact.  

   I recommend using the simple tenet—”Do unto others...” rephrased as a personal affirmation. Try something along the lines of, “I discern right action by asking myself, how would it feel if someone did this to me?” Usually, if we take the time to reflect upon this benchmark, our actions will be more universally favorable.

   This is true even if no one finds out about the choices that you’ve made. After all, as pop culture icon, Oprah Winfrey said, “Real integrity is doing the right thing, knowing that nobody’s going to know whether you did it or not.” Whether your choice is known to others or not, you will reap the profit from your integrity. You will have the feelings of “ beauty and dignity” filling your heart and a mind that is peaceful with “doing the right thing.” These are feelings that are truly priceless and have beneficial ripples that extend beyond our present circumstances.   

   Imagine how different the world would be if more of us made the effort to become congruent and act from a place of integrity. Our financial markets would be sound, our relationships would be more stable, there would be less violence in our world and the Earth’s ecosystems might again be made whole. Now that’s what I call a virtue!

   Definition provided by Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary accessed through Dictionary.com: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/integrity.

© 2009 Evelyn C. Rysdyk

© 2008  Evelyn C. Rysdyk

Evelyn C. Rysdyk, author of the book, Modern Shamanic Living, is a nationally recognized teacher of shamanism, healer & artist in joint practice with C. Allie Knowlton, LCSW, DCSW as Spirit Passages. Featured in the book, Traveling Between the Worlds, interviews with 24 of the world’s most influential writers and teachers of shamanism they are also Executive Editors of the e-magazine for ecospirituality, Spirit Living (www.spiritliving.org)

Since 1991, they have offered workshops across the USA and Canada. In addition, they have worked with hundreds of people in their private shamanic healing practice at True North in Falmouth, ME where they collaborate with physicians, nurses, a psychiatrist and other integrative health care practitioners.

Evelyn and her partner may be contacted though their web site: www.spiritpassges.com.