Dancing Between Duality: Navigating a World of Opposing Perspectives

Duality. This word has come up so many times over the years of my own personal spiritual exploration, & I’m sure those reading this have become all-too-familiar with the emphasis found on this term too. It is said to be the nature of this physical realm: the contrast of perspectives, the existence of something within its polar opposition. & it’s presence seems to tinge almost every stance that this world has to offer, both in the material & metaphysical realms- for it seems that we as humans have a hard time grasping a concept without another to compare it to in our minds.

Spirit/matter. Good/evil. Darkness/light. The relationship that exists within God & humanity. Free will versus divine fate. Restoration of nature versus the advancement of technology. Emotions versus logic. Liberal or democrat. In the more recent news within the past year, pro-vax or anti vax… I’m sure you can imagine many more, but these are just some that initially come to mind.

It is hard not to see it manifested everywhere you turn- each side yelling to be heard with what seems to be very little listening truly being done, with pressures from both extremes to PICK A SIDE ALREADY. Right? Surely, your viewpoints must fit into a specific category.

Or, perhaps, we’re all missing a very crucial piece to the puzzle altogether. A higher truth, a middle way, a realization that both perspectives are two sides held within the same coin.

In a world that screams to choose either/or, I digress, that what we should be doing is integrating both sides to hold a new perspective altogether. To give birth to a truth that, rather than dividing people in traits that are combative to the other, it finds a way to pull from one another & complement each other’s view points as the entirety that it truly is.

You see, while we are caught up in debate on which stance is ‘right’, I think that there is truth to be found not only in every person’s individual perspective, but even more so, a higher perspective that may be being overlooked as all of this is happening too. & maybe what we are really being asked to examine is where & how each one may be found within the other- or better yet, where does each one meet in the "grey area"? Of course, we are understandably limited to our scope & range of sight, as we can only comprehend things from a singular human viewpoint at any given moment.

In my opinion, life is so much more fluid than we allow ourselves to truly be at times. Circumstances arise, perspectives change, old narratives die, new understandings are brought to light & so it continues... Yet, all too often, we are raised to judge & categorize others & find our 'niche' to fit into society's unspoken standards. "If you are this, then you cannot be THAT, too!"

Who's to say… it isn’t simply ALL of it at once? The universe in all its order & chaos, an intricate design expressing itself through each of our own unique hues, as we paint the canvas that is life through our shared experiences. Consciousness cannot possibly be pinpointed into a singular thing, it is simply all that is existing, has existed, all that will be. When we meet each form of expression with acceptance, despite how different it may look from our own, the masterpiece in the making becomes clearer & we're able to see the beauty interplaying in each contrast.

I find that when you put yourself in a definitive box of perspectives without much wiggle room to adjust, it creates rigidity & barriers in the space where compassion & understanding could exist otherwise. & while labels are necessary at times for us to compartmentalize an idea or trait in order to better understand it, they can also create limitations; after all, nothing is absolute.

Every single being in this universe is having their own personal experience: a mosaic of their own soul blueprints, upbringings, pivotal connections, ingrained conditionings, all the while walking their own journey Home- & as we all coexist throughout humanity’s evolution (whether that be in harmony or hostility), the same is true for our unique opinions & beliefs. This is the gift that is perspective. Giving each other the necessary room to voice & honor our differences ironically allows us to find common ground that highlights our sameness.

All in the one, one in the all.