In our journey of awakening, we encounter a concept known as “aspects.” These are fragments of ourselves—versions of “you” that were created through various life experiences, emotions, and roles across many lifetimes, including the one we’re living now. Some aspects hold memories of joy and strength, while others carry old wounds, limiting beliefs, or patterns.
Think of aspects as specialized parts of you that were created in response to situations or needs. They’re not separate from you, but they often operate on their own, like a role an actor plays in a scene. Here are a few examples:
- The Wounded Child: Many of us have a part of us that carries childhood wounds. Maybe at some point, you felt unloved, abandoned, or criticized. The “wounded child” might still influence your reactions in the present, seeking reassurance or hiding from situations that feel emotionally unsafe.
- The Abuser: It may be uncomfortable to acknowledge, but sometimes we create aspects that reflect the roles we’ve played in lives where we harmed others. This could be an aspect tied to guilt or shame, but when it’s integrated, it offers deep wisdom about responsibility and forgiveness.
- The Priest: If you have had religious or spiritual roles in this life or past ones, you may carry an aspect of “the priest” or spiritual guide. This aspect can bring discipline, devotion, or moral rigidity, but it might also carry burdens of self-sacrifice or dogma.
- The Victim: Another common aspect is “the victim,” born from times when you felt powerless, hurt, or betrayed. This aspect might still show up when life feels overwhelming, reinforcing feelings of helplessness, even when you’re far more empowered than before.
These are aspects that often relate to emotional wounds or past-life experiences, but aspects can also be much more mundane and functional:
- The Driver: When you get behind the wheel of a car, you tap into the “driver” aspect of yourself—an automatic response that knows how to operate a vehicle without overthinking it. This aspect shows up when you need it but doesn’t play a role outside of those specific situations.
- The Cook: Similarly, when you step into the kitchen, the “cook” aspect of yourself takes over. It’s a part of you that learned how to follow recipes, manage ingredients, and prepare meals. You don’t need to consciously think about each step—it flows naturally from this aspect.
- The Handyman: Whether it’s fixing a leaky faucet or assembling furniture, your “handyman” aspect is what helps you get those tasks done. This part of you knows what tools to use and how to troubleshoot problems.
Aspects can be created for all kinds of reasons—some are born out of trauma or strong emotional experiences, while others are simply functional, helping us navigate daily life. The challenge is that some aspects can become stuck in old energy, continuing to act out roles that are no longer needed or helpful. For example, the victim aspect may try to protect you by avoiding confrontation, or the abuser aspect may surface as inner self-criticism. These patterns can limit your freedom and growth.
But here’s the good news: you don’t need to search for or fix these aspects. As you become more conscious, aspects will naturally arise to be acknowledged and released. It’s not about diving into every single experience or memory but about allowing and trusting the process. Through conscious breath and the willingness to let go, integration becomes more of an unfolding than a task. The aspects are all part of the human experience, but the true integration comes when we stop trying to fix or heal each one and instead allow them to return to our wholeness. One of the easiest ways to do this is by using conscious breathing and the presence of your inner Dragon. The Dragon, an internal agent of clarity, helps reveal which aspects are holding you back and what needs to be released.
When an aspect comes up, whether it’s an emotional reaction or a habitual response, you don’t need to fight it or analyze it endlessly. But that is what we often try to do. We think about, we wonder about, we process it. As a great friend of mine, the late Garret Annofsky, would often say with his wonderful grin, “You can do it the easy way, or you can do it the hard way.” Instead, you can take a deep breath and simply say, “Here, Dragon, take this, too.” With that, you let go of the old patterns.
Once an aspect is released, it integrates and the Master in you distills it into wisdom. The experiences and emotions tied up in that aspect are transformed into deeper clarity and understanding. You no longer need to be controlled by the old patterns; instead, they become integrated parts of you that bring valuable insights into who you are.
For instance:
- The Wounded Child may transform into a source of compassion and empathy for others.
- The Priest may shift from rigid dogma to a deeper connection with your inner spirituality.
- The Victim may dissolve, replaced by a sense of empowerment and trust in your ability to create your own reality.
This journey is about welcoming all parts of yourself, recognizing that each aspect, whether functional or emotional, has served you in some way. As we awaken, it’s not about fixing or banishing parts of ourselves; it’s about allowing those aspects to return home and be integrated into the whole of who we are.