Living Paradox: A Practice for These Times

Amy Terepka
Jun 29
3 min read

Multiple things can be true at once, even seemingly opposing things. And this email is an invitation into living paradox as a spiritual and relational practice.

One example of living paradox is Time.

In our 3D experience, time is linear, progressive, measurable and predictable. And also, there's extensive evidence in quantum physics that time is an illusion. It's always relative, born of our unique experiences and perceptions. Time isn’t bound to past, present, and future. It’s much more fluid and multidimensional than we tend to realize.

Both of these are true.

And to hold too tightly to just one of these truths limits the fullness of your experience as both a human and a cosmic being.

When we intentionally engage with living paradoxes, we stretch our capacity for nuance and mystery. We become more comfortable with the texture of life, the subtle layers beneath the surface.

We become more integrated and less polarized within ourselves, and therefore create more unification in the collective consciousness.

We become more open to understanding other people's experiences and points of view. And we open to the utter wonder and complexity of being a spirit, inside of a body, on this earth, flying through space.

I am someone who loves to find threads of truth from many different perspectives. I love being able to go under the surface of opposing viewpoints to find resonance. I ask myself why something that feels essential to me might not matter at all to someone else, and what I might learn from that gap.

And don't get me wrong, I am definitely not always open-minded and curious when I'm being triggered, and definitely not always open to seeing other sides.

But, it's a practice of mine that I will always explore. Because I think it's part of what will heal our world, and heal the divisions, judgements, shame and pain within our own bodies and psyches.

So earlier this week, I wrote out a few of these I'm holding right now:

Things are dire right now, and there is still beauty and hope and possibility for awakening and love.
It’s important to be with and tend to your feelings of grief and anger. And, it’s just as important to hold a steady vision of a world rooted in beauty, care, and true freedom for all.
Aligned physical actions in the material world to stop injustices are the most important thing we can be doing right now. And, prayer, visualizing the highest outcomes, and living our lives as a prayer of joy and love and kindness is the most important thing we can be doing right now.
Your actions, thoughts, and prayers matter. They ripple out and impact the state of the collective. And, it’s ok to feel helplessness at the enormity of the situation, to not always feel empowered, and to not force positivity.
Yes, the collective needs your attention. And, you must fill your well, tend to your sensitive system, and follow threads of beauty and peace in yourself.
It’s important to understand what’s happening in the world and not bypass your feelings around it. And, it’s not helpful to anyone for you to stay locked in a state of fear or desperation, or feed the story of despair.
It’s wise to acknowledge and prepare for a real possibility of danger in your community. And, equally wise to shift away from mental thoughts + stories that spiral into doom, cynicism, apathy, or hopelessness.
You are the only one who can know the truth of your personal experience of this moment, and it is sacred to align with this inner truth and follow your heart-path. And, you also don’t know what you don’t know. You can't always see your blind spots or your own shadow. And sometimes your biggest offering is humility. Listening to other voices and opinions, and opening to the wider truths carried by the forces of Life.
The medicine of your soul, who you are as a distinct individual, and what you offer the world is of utmost importance right now. And, you are but one aspect of the wider consciousness of life, and to feel yourself expand into that humility and interconnection is of outmost importance right now.