Releasing Blocked Energy Patterns for Spiritual Freedom

In this conversation with Michael Singer, the author of Living Untethered, we delve into the profound, often overlooked, mechanics of inner experience. The core thesis isn't merely about managing thoughts and emotions, but about understanding the fundamental nature of consciousness itself. Singer reveals how our deeply ingrained patterns, or samskaras, act as invisible tethers, blocking the natural flow of vital energy--what he calls shakti. The non-obvious implication is that true freedom and spiritual growth come not from actively seeking positive states or suppressing negative ones, but from the courageous act of releasing our resistance to reality, both internal and external. This exploration is crucial for anyone seeking to move beyond habitual suffering and unlock a deeper, more resilient sense of self, offering a path to a constantly available wellspring of inner peace and unconditional love.

The Hidden Architecture of Inner Experience: Beyond the Three-Ring Circus

Most spiritual teachings, and indeed much of our everyday experience, focus on the content of our consciousness: the sights, sounds, thoughts, and emotions that vie for our attention. Michael Singer frames this as a "three-ring circus"--the external world, our internal thoughts, and our emotions. The immediate implication, as he points out, is that our consciousness is constantly being pulled outward, distracted from its source. This constant distraction, he argues, is the very mechanism that keeps us tethered, preventing the natural, unimpeded flow of shakti, the vital energy that animates us.

The deeper consequence of this constant distraction is the creation and reinforcement of samskaras. These are not merely bad habits; they are blocked internal experiences, impressions that we resist rather than allow to pass through. Singer explains that when an event or sensation is uncomfortable, we use our will to resist it. This act of resistance prevents the experience from flowing through our consciousness and out of our system. Instead, it gets lodged within, creating a pattern that will influence our future perceptions and reactions.

"The problem is that the consciousness and this goes very deep the consciousness will tend sometimes to not be comfortable to not be open to feel some resistance to what it's experiencing."

This resistance is the root of much of our suffering. We aren't suffering because of the external event itself, but because of the internal blockage we created around it. This blockage then dictates how we perceive and react to future similar situations, creating a self-perpetuating cycle. The conventional wisdom often suggests managing these thoughts and emotions--trying to think positively or suppress negativity. However, Singer argues this is like trying to force more hot air into a tethered hot air balloon; it won't ascend. The real work lies in identifying and cutting the tethers--the samskaras.

The Unseen Tethers: How Resistance Locks Us In

The concept of samskaras is central to Singer's framework for understanding why we remain "tethered." He posits that our senses are designed to bring experiences into our consciousness, where they are meant to flow through like a river into the ocean. This pure experience, he suggests, enriches us. However, when an experience triggers discomfort, we instinctively resist it. This resistance is not a mental decision but an energetic one, a blocking of the natural flow.

"That act of resistance keeps the impression that got made the outside came in made an impression on your mind it keeps it in your mind it keeps it there you know that you walk away the rattlesnake crawls away but it didn't crawl away inside of you you're still scared why are you scared there's no rattlesnake because you kept it you kept it in your image."

This lodged impression, this samskara, then becomes a filter through which we experience the world. It’s not the rattlesnake itself that causes ongoing fear, but the stored impression of the rattlesnake that we refused to let pass. This has profound implications for how we navigate life. We might believe we are reacting to current events, but often, we are reacting to the echoes of past, unreleased experiences. This explains why certain situations or people can trigger disproportionately strong emotional responses--they are hitting a nerve, a stored samskara.

The consequence of holding onto these samskaras is a constant expenditure of energy to keep them suppressed or contained. This is the energy that could otherwise be flowing freely as shakti, leading to feelings of vitality, joy, and unconditional love. The conventional approach of trying to "fix" or "manage" these patterns often fails because it doesn't address the root cause: resistance. Instead, it can inadvertently reinforce the samskara by giving it more attention. The real advantage, Singer implies, comes from a radical acceptance of what arises, allowing it to pass through without resistance, thereby releasing the energy it consumed.

The Spiritual Heart: Piercing Through Blockages for Unconditional Love

Singer introduces a crucial distinction between the "lower heart" and the "spiritual heart." The lower heart, he explains, is conditional, opening and closing based on our samskaras and external circumstances. It’s the heart that opens to someone who fits our stored patterns of comfort and safety, and closes when they deviate or trigger old wounds. This is the heart that experiences love based on specific conditions being met.

The spiritual heart, on the other hand, is accessed by releasing these samskaras. As we practice not resisting our internal experiences--thoughts, emotions, and sensations--the blocked energy (shakti) that was being used to hold them back begins to be released. This is the process of transmutation. Instead of expressing as anger, fear, or embarrassment, this energy, when allowed to flow freely, transforms into higher states.

"The energy that was behind it pushing this some scar this pattern out of the way all of a sudden it starts to feel shakti that's called transmuting the nature of the energy it was expressing itself as anger as expressing itself as fear expressing itself as embarrassment or guilt."

This released shakti can then "pierce" through the blockages, rising to a higher chamber within the heart. This is the spiritual heart, a state of pure, unconditional love that, once realized, remains constant. This is the ultimate untethered state--not a temporary fix or a managed emotion, but a fundamental shift in being. The advantage here is profound: a constant, unwavering source of love and energy that is independent of external conditions or past imprints. This state of being is the ultimate competitive advantage, as it provides an inexhaustible inner resource that external circumstances cannot touch.

Key Action Items

• Practice Witness Consciousness Daily: Dedicate at least 10-15 minutes each day to simply observing your thoughts, emotions, and sensations without judgment or the urge to change them. This is the foundation for releasing resistance. (Immediate Action)
• Identify and Release Low-Hanging Fruit Samskaras: Choose one small, recurring annoyance (e.g., traffic, a minor inconvenience) and consciously practice accepting it without resistance. Notice your internal reaction and gently let it pass through. (Immediate Action)
• Reframe Negative Self-Talk: When a negative thought arises, instead of suppressing it or fighting it, consciously choose to introduce a more positive or accepting thought. For example, if you think, "I can't handle this," try, "I can handle this," or "This is a moment to practice acceptance." (Daily Practice, builds over weeks)
• Utilize Mantras Strategically: When overwhelmed by difficult thoughts or emotions, shift your conscious focus to a chosen mantra (e.g., "I can handle this"). This is not about suppression but about redirecting your consciousness to a higher vibration. (As Needed, strengthens over months)
• Embrace Discomfort for Growth: Actively seek out situations that trigger mild discomfort or resistance. Practice accepting the reality of the situation and allowing the associated emotions to arise and pass without needing to "fix" them. This builds resilience. (Ongoing Investment)
• Cultivate Acceptance of External Realities: Apply the principle of accepting reality to unavoidable external circumstances (e.g., weather, unexpected delays). Recognize that resisting what you cannot change expends energy that could be used more productively. (Long-term Payoff: 6-12 months for noticeable shifts)
• Explore the "Spiritual Heart" Practice: As you become more adept at releasing samskaras, consciously allow the released energy to rise within your heart center, observing the transformation without trying to control it. This is a practice that pays dividends over years, leading to a permanent state of unconditional love. (Long-term Investment: 1-3 years for profound realization)