Experiencing The Energy Of The Selves In The Aware Ego State

Embracing Our Selves: The Voice Dialogue Manual
By Drs. Hal and Sidra Stone

(Page 9 of 9)

We want to mention one final part of the process which is quite sophisticated and requires real sensitivity to energetic changes. Let us say we have worked with an Action system on one side and a Being system on the other side. We have had the subject stand in the Awareness position and then go back to the "ego chair" which is now the Aware Ego. We may talk a little bit. Then we ask the subject if he or she can feel the energies of the two selves. If this is so, then we ask the subject to bring in the energies associated with the Action self. This gives the Aware Ego a chance to experiment with the two selves. After the Action side is brought in energetically through the Aware Ego, we then ask the Aware Ego to move it out again and in this way the subject returns to the Aware Ego resting between opposites.

We next suggest that the subject allow in the Being state. Then the subject is asked to release this and return to the Aware Ego. We usually repeat this one more time, ending up back in the place of the Aware Ego. Working in this way gives the subject a direct experience of the actual energy of the particular self and a sense of being able to bring this in and exclude it through the newly found Aware Ego. It is generally perceived as a very rich and creative part of the process. It should not be done by inexperienced therapists who have not had some level of training in the energetics of the process.

Some Final Considerations

Voice Dialogue is fun and is not tiring to the therapist. If you feel tired, it is likely that you are trying too hard and your own Pusher is activated. The other possibility is that you are trying to solve the problem. These two often occur together and they are guaranteed to create exhaustion. When every voice that you talk to sounds the same, it means that some aspect of the primary self system is very powerful and is infiltrating every system. One might then say -- Could I talk to the part of you that is in charge of this whole session? Could I talk to the part of you that is observing all this? Could I talk to the part of you that is thinking all the time, even when the other parts are operating?

It is important not to force the work. If the Mind Self is too powerful and is infiltrating every part, then the Mind is what you work with. If the Mind Self can be separated from the Aware Ego, a remarkable shift in consciousness will result. Most important of all, at the risk of redundancy, don't be seduced by the big bang. Honor the Primary Selves and recognize that they need to feel good ahout the process.

In Summary

Whether or not one works with Voice Dialogue, the understanding and appreciation of these different selves gives remarkable insights into ourselves and other people. We have presented something of our personal process, a brief summary of some of our underlying theoretical framework and, finally, a summary of the Voice Dialogue process. From our perspective, the pursuit of consciousness is the number one priority for each of us on the planet and the discovery of the multiple selves that inhabit the psyche and run our lives without our knowledge is the number one task of consciousness. Whatever our theoretical orientation as clinicians, we are all engaged in this task at some level. We hope the ideas presented in this article will be of help in this truly important endeavor.

1Nicoll, Maurice. Psychological Commentaries on the Teaching of Gurdjief and Ouspensky. London: Watkins, 1952.

copyright 1991 by Delos

About the Author

Hal Stone, Ph.D. and Sidra Stone, Ph.D. are the co-creators of Voice Dialogue. They are hopeless romantics and, as clinical psychologists with a combined experience of about 80 years, they are committed to keeping the magic and vitality in relationships. They have co-authored five books. Their latest book, Partnering: A New Kind of Relationship, sums up a lifetime of wisdom. Their books are available at local bookstores or from Amazon.com. www.delos-inc.com