What is the illusion?

Phoenesse — Fri, 06 Feb 2026 18:46:45 +0000

6 ways we fool ourselves

It’s popular to say, especially in spiritual circles, that this world we live in is “an illusion” and we need to “wake up”. But what does this really mean? And if it’s true, then how do we wake up from this illusion?

Like, can we simply go somewhere else and leave the illusion? Does it work to go live in the country, on a mountaintop, or deep in the forest?

Actually, no.

Why not? Because eventually, we will run into the same difficulties we had before. For the source of the illusion is inside us. Which means, if we don’t like the world we’re living in, we’re going to have to look within.

There are, in fact, several ways we can consider this illusion. And our understanding will vary, depending on how deep we go. So let’s get into it.

Adapted from Pathwork lectures #159 and #162, as well as chapter 7 from After the Ego: Inner and outer experience.

All essays | Get a Better Boat • Living Light

We Can Heal | After the Ego • Blinded by Fear

Real. Clear. series | Holy Moly • Finding Gold • Bible Me This • The Pull • Pearls • Gems • Bones • Nutshells

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More | Walker • Word for Word • Living Light • Spiritual Laws • Keys

Finding the right way to struggle

Phoenesse — Tue, 03 Feb 2026 12:28:02 +0000

Life can be a real struggle. What’s important to realize is that our struggle can either be healthy and constructive, or it can be unhealthy and therefore destructive.

Perhaps we’re familiar with some religion or philosophy that tells we need to “give up the struggle.” While such a teaching may be true, we too often misunderstand this to mean we should give up, or give in. That we should become passive and not stand up for ourselves. That we should let go of our goals and our desire for fulfillment.

Such an approach takes us down a wrong road to becoming a sloth. It leads to indifference and stagnation, and even makes us beat ourselves up for wanting more from life.

Worse yet, such an attitude causes us to not improve the conditions in our life—in ourselves and in the world around us—that we have the ability to make better. And in a way, that’s downright cruel.

A healthy struggle, by contrast, doesn’t wear us out. For when we take a healthy approach to our struggles, our efforts are not futile and our energies don’t become exhausted. When we struggle in the right way, we stop fighting against ourselves…