A Guide to Self-Realization

By Nathalie Strassburg

Self-realization is the process of unifying our consciousness into a harmonious whole. This guide is based on the sixty-four lessons from the I Ching that we can master to expand our awareness, discover our authentic self, realize our inner truth, and live our unique destiny. When we balance our physical, emotional, spiritual, and mental aspects we become more self-empowered, and can achieve greater self-fulfillment.

 

The paperback and hardcover formats of the book are also available, and recommended for a better reading experience. Following the Preface and Introduction, the book includes an Overview of the spectrum of ourselves, archetypes, roles, skill, spheres of awareness, principles, the learning spectrum, numbers, geometry, feminine and masculine expressions, self-realization, needs, relationships, and transformation.

 

The book is then organized into four aspects: Physical, Emotional, Spiritual, and Mental. Each section contains the numbers, geometry, spheres of awareness, principles, traits, abilities, skills, and the learning spectrum. Each aspect has sixteen lessons. The sixty-four lessons in the learning spectrum are the lessons we can master to be an individual that takes empowered action, capable of empowered responses, based on empowered perspectives, and empowered thinking. They are tools that cultivate inner truth, emotional intelligence, and mental freedom that allow us to embrace whatever happens in life. Each lesson has a theme with an introduction, feminine and masculine expressions, and a spectrum: affirmation, wisdom, compassion, contemplation, investigation, sensation, observation, and visualization.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Nathalie Strassburg
• Release date: Sep 26, 2023
• ISBN: 9781998980604

Nathalie Strassburg

Nathalie Strassburg is a South African designer, artist, author, gardener, and human transformation enthusiast. She is trained in art, digital design, marketing, NLP, Life Coaching and has more than twenty years of freelance design experience specializing in branding. Nathalie is passionate about self-realization, enlightenment, and inner peace. She has traveled extensively, currently lives in a small village in South Africa growing a food forest, creating new art, writing new books, and engaged in various creative projects. Nathalie is best known for her Intuitive Geometry art which is based on a method she developed after a vision she had during her mid-thirties. She published the book Intuitive Geometry – Drawing with overlapping circles in 2021. Original artworks and prints are for sale, and art may be commissioned. In 2023 she published A Guide to Self-Realization which is based on the sixty-four lessons from the I Ching that we can master to achieve greater self-fulfillment. For more information, art, images, designs, books, and other resources visit www.nathaliestrassburg.com

Book preview

A Guide to Self-Realization

Nathalie Strassburg

Copyright © 2023 Nathalie Strassburg (DOB 12 NOV 1979)

All Rights Reserved.

This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the Author, except for the use in brief book reviews.

Paperback: 9798857000908

Hardcover: 9798857014073

eBook: 9781998980604

For more information, art, images, designs, books, and other resources visit www.nathaliestrassburg.com

Contents

Title Page

Copyright

Preface

Overview

Introduction

The I Ching

The Four Aspects

Elements of Self-Realization

The Spectrum of the Self

Spheres of Awareness & Principles

The Learning Spectrum

Numbers & Geometry

Feminine & Masculine Expressions

The Spectrum of Self-Realization

The Spectrum of Needs

The Spectrum of Relationships

The Spectrum of Transformation

The Physical Aspect

1 Instinctive Self

Instinctive Self Learning Spectrum

Union (2)

Presence (20)

Exploration (35)

Focus (16)

Simplicity (23)

Expression (8)

Gathering (45)

Discerning (12)

2 Tribal Self

Tribal Self Learning Spectrum

Delight (46)

Intuitive (57)

Harmony (50)

Committed (32)

Integrity (18)

Resourceful (48)

Embracing (28)

Sharing (44)

The Emotional Aspect

3 Emotional Self

Emotional Self Learning Spectrum

Emotion (36)

Equality (37)

Desire (30)

Freedom (55)

Elevation (22)

Knowing (63)

Change (49)

Empathy (13)

4 Rational Self

Rational Self Learning Spectrum

Silence (24)

Balance (42)

Endeavor (21)

Awakened (51)

Giving (27)

Trusting (3)

Seeing (17)

Acceptance (25)

The Spiritual Aspect

5 Achiever Self

Achiever Self Learning Spectrum

Yielding (15)

Expanding (53)

Wondering (56)

Conserving (62)

Stillness (52)

Liberation (39)

Leading (31)

Remembering (33)

6 Ecological Self

Ecological Self Learning Spectrum

Guided (7)

Transparency (59)

Illuminated (64)

Surrender (40)

Understanding (4)

Devotion (29)

Transmutation (47)

Peace (6)

The Mental Aspect

7 Integrated Self

Integrated Self Learning Spectrum

Observing (19)

Inner Truth (61)

Perseverance (38)

Transcendence (54)

Appreciation (41)

Intention (60)

Joy (58)

Being (10)

8 Holistic Self

Holistic Self Learning Spectrum

Dreaming (11)

Determination (9)

Receiving (14)

Empowered (34)

Play (26)

Flow (5)

Inspired (43)

Creating (1)

About The Author

A Course in Self-Realization

Posters & more

I Ching Profile & Birth Chart

I Ching Calendar

Books By This Author

Intuitive Geometry Overlapping circles spectrum artwork

Preface

I am deeply grateful to all the people who have inspired me. I write because I hope that I can inspire some of us that are ready to see things from a bigger perspective.

To realize something for ourselves is very different to reading, or even thinking about it. When we walk our unique path of self-realization the world can turn upside down. It is filled with magic and mystery. There are great challenges, and not everyone is ready for us to unplug from the homogenized system. To clear ourselves from our conditioning can be a radical path of transformation that many may not understand or appreciate. How we spend our time here is predominantly determined by the beliefs we have about ourselves, and the world. To self-realize is to change the way we see ourselves, and the world, to surrender limiting beliefs, and adopt an empowering attitude. Most of us grow up in an environment of self-neglect and repeating the same patterns unconsciously. We can save ourselves from ourselves. We can program ourselves any way we want to, with fear, or with love. We are capable powerful beings, not victims.

We become whatever we give our time, and attention to.

The world can appear insane at times, and we often choose thoughts, experiences, people, and things that make us unhappy, repeatedly, as if compelled by something else. The something else is the beliefs held in our subconscious mind. It is so consistent and becomes so obvious that it is either totally depressing, or simply hilarious. We would like to assume that it is fundamental to be able to make decisions that bring us joy and happiness. The reality is that without really knowing ourselves, we will choose things we think will make us happy, but they do not. The only way I could make sense of what I was experiencing was to investigate all the things that did not make sense to me. It is this process of discovery that led me to the idea that life is a mental phenomenon, more like a game than anything else. The funny part is that we can be so unaware that we try to cover it up with denial, suppression, and rejection. When we are inauthentic, we can play really well together, it is comical once we have greater self-awareness and become sincerely honest with ourselves. As many leading thinkers have discovered, there is a magical world outside of the caged construct of a closed mind, and we can choose to live in heaven because it is a state of mind.

Compelling Experiences

During early childhood I had visions of moving silhouettes playing out movie scenes on my window, and my body floating in a golden cocoon on a calm ocean. Visions like these gave me a sense of safety while I traveled around the world for nearly two decades. I was the introverted rebel, curiously skeptical about what was going on, confused, distrusting, and wondered why people were so unhappy. I often wrote thoughts down that I did not share, I loved playing games that involved quests, and I started drawing before attending school.

Growing up in South Africa at the time when Apartheid came to an end made me curious to see how other people around the world lived. It was only during my thirties that my pattern of unfulfilling relationships made it obvious that there was something I did not understand about the fundamental dynamics of life. I embarked on an intensive study of life, the mind, the world, and myself to discover that I grew up in an unhealthy family system, and that I was replaying these old, conditioned patterns unconsciously.

While still attending art school I became a freelance designer, specializing in branding. This career allowed me to travel and expand my understanding of the world and different cultures. While I discovered our differences, I was more intrigued by the underlying similarities of the subjective experience of life.

In my early twenties, while living in Thailand, I attended an extended silent Buddhist retreat where I was able to see how information was added to the sense information we experience.

I experienced pain from sitting in a position my body did not understand, for hours, but most of the time I did not move to avoid it. Underneath the stream of pain, I started noticing sensations getting interrupted by thoughts or other sensations. In slow motion I saw how information from my senses were followed by my conscious experience of it happening to me, and I could remain in a place where I was not experiencing the pain I knew was there, like my body was not real. When I left the monastery, I felt different, and it took some time to integrate the experience. I realized that there are degrees of self-awareness, and that at the foundation of awareness we experience sense inputs as if it is happening to someone.

As I expanded my self-awareness, I became sincerely aware that our beliefs and mental projections create our experiences. As a collective we are still in the process of realizing that we can create whatever we want to.

Visions, a Voice, and Intuition

In my early thirties I had several visions and encounters with other worldly beings and energy forms. One vision of a large black and white geometric drawing inspired me to reconsider what I thought I knew and study a wider range of subjects like geometry, optics, physics, biology, history, philosophy, psychology, and spirituality. I was fascinated by ideas like Advaita Vedanta and universal geometric models.

Once, I had a voice with an unknown source ask if I wanted to be a channel. I declined because I had no idea what it would mean, and an inner voice, that I now recognize as my intuition, loudly answered no. Experiences like these made me even more determined to find out exactly what was going on in this world I was living in. I now recognize the visions, insights, and information I intuitively have access to through my inner senses as part of my greater body of consciousness.

I think our intuition is our internal guidance system, and a natural ability we all have that can remain undeveloped. Consciousness is a lot more transparent than I ever imagined. We can feel other people’s intentions, see their emotions, and even know some of their thoughts. It fascinates me and I am continuously working to expand my understanding.

Through this journey I have discovered how information is obscured through my own beliefs and mental projections, and that the only way through this cloud is an open mind, and the desire to transcend ourselves.

Intuitive Geometry

The Intuitive Geometry method is a basic set of principles for using overlapping circles to create and design anything. It took me nearly a decade to teach myself, draw examples, write, and published the book (2021). Intuitive Geometry is not just about drawing, it is about developing our intuition and learning the fundamental structure of life. Practicing the use of overlapping circles affects our consciousness on all levels, and our ability to be more powerful creators in this world.

Overlapping circles have been studied since ancient times. We know that two overlapping circles create the almond shape called the vesica pisces from which we can make basic geometric shapes.

The Intuitive Geometry method includes spirals, waves, and scaling. Once we master the method’s 8 principles (circle, square, triangle, hexagon, pentagon, spirals, waves, scaling) we can apply them intuitively, and draw anything. The method instructions are available online, and the book contains step by step instructions, examples, and art.

Intuitive Geometry - Drawing with overlapping circles spectrum artwork

Transformation, Mindfulness, and Self-Awareness

Over the years I made significant changes to my habits and lifestyle to create greater inner peace, harmony, and joy in my life. I live a peaceful life surrounded by nature, growing a food forest, and dedicating my time and energy to projects, people, and experiences that help me grow in self-awareness. There have been significant changes in my body over the last few years, I feel different, and it is a visible difference. I feel more fulfilled every year as I become more self-empowered.

Mindfulness and solitude have allowed me to gain greater insights into the psychological dynamics of my experience and the world we live in. I realize now how we are casting people into roles based on our own beliefs and conditioning, and then behaving and responding accordingly, mostly unconsciously. We create our futures through projecting ideas, almost like short movie clips, that are used when we make decisions and interact with others. They are not necessarily real but through the subconscious mind they program our expectations and drive behavior. This type of information can become more conscious through greater self-awareness. Greater self-awareness allows us to make better decisions and live with greater harmony, regardless of what we are going through, or what is going on in the world.

Letting go of conditioning and old ideas can be challenging because we believe they are true. Self-realization is the systematic resolution of disempowering beliefs and perceptions, greater self-awareness, integrating our consciousness, and the discovery of inner truth through personal experience.

Our authentic self is beyond good and bad, does not judge, realizes a greater perspective, and has mental and emotional freedom. We are all capable of the full spectrum of experiences; our body is an expression of our consciousness, like a binary biological computer. Each of us have special gifts, challenges, purposes, and everything is an opportunity to learn and grow. In this consciousness construct that we exist in, every moment is important, and we have the universe’s undivided attention.

May this book serve you well on your journey of discovery, and may it awaken you to the phenomenal gift of experience that life is.

Overview

How to Read this Book

This book is written for anyone who would like to expand their consciousness, grow, be authentically empowered, cultivate inner truth, have greater self-awareness, have a better relationship with themselves, better relationships with others, and achieve greater self-fulfillment.

The overview that follows is a brief explanation of the spectrum of ourselves, archetypes, roles, skills, spheres of awareness, principles, the learning spectrum, numbers, geometry, feminine and masculine expressions, self-realization, needs, relationships, and transformation.

The book is then organized into the four aspects: Physical, Emotional, Spiritual, and Mental.

Each section contains the numbers, geometry, spheres of awareness, principles, traits, abilities, skills, and the learning spectrum.

Each aspect has sixteen lessons. The sixty-four lessons in the learning spectrum are the lessons we can master to be an individual that takes empowered action, capable of empowered responses, based on empowered perspectives, and empowered thinking. They are tools that cultivate inner truth, emotional intelligence, and mental freedom that allow us to embrace whatever happens in life.

Working through the book has a significant effect on our consciousness. We expand our consciousness from where we are, so this book will be a unique experience for everyone. Expanding our consciousness is a gradual process that coincide with daily, seasonal, and annual cycles. It may take time to integrate the information holistically. You can work through the book from the beginning to the end because there is a natural progression. You can also use your I Ching Profile, based on your birth date and location, to navigate the lessons. The book can also be used as a contemplation tool or as an I Ching reference.

To integrate the lessons successfully it is recommended that you initially give each one at least a week. Some lessons can have a powerful effect on our lives, bring experiences to us to help us understand, and test us. Be prepared and mindful of the synchronicities, events, and experiences.

Each lesson has a theme with an introduction, feminine and masculine expressions, and a spectrum: affirmation, wisdom, compassion, contemplation, investigation, sensation, observation, and visualization.

Affirmation

Affirmations are instructions to our conscious and subconscious minds. They enable that which is spoken to become true for us. The more often we repeat them the more powerful they become. Modify them if needed so that they have greater resonance for you.

Wisdom

Wisdom is the gold that we extract from our life experiences. These statements are like seeds that allow us to consider new ideas, remind us, and ask questions so that we can use our own experience to cultivate our personal inner truth.

Compassion

Compassion cultivates emotional intelligence and freedom. They bring acceptance to the experiences we have while we are discovering who we are.

Contemplation

Contemplation is the art of using thought-provoking questions to expand our consciousness.

They allow our subconscious and super-conscious minds to bring new awareness to our conscious mind over time.

Investigation

Investigations are a form of self-inquiry and exploration to discover more about ourselves.

They allow us to find opportunities for our personal development, ways to expand our awareness, and gain new perspectives.

Sensation

Sensations are subtle experiences that guide us to new awareness, develop our inner senses, integrate higher universal truths, and aspire to higher ideals in ecological ways that are unique for each of us. They affect our perspective, the way we feel, and our awareness of what we feel.

Observation

Observations are processes that develop our mental power, and our awareness of the effects of our thoughts.

Visualization

Visualizations empower our mental capabilities and allow us to become more powerful creators in every aspect of our lives. They are initial examples to inspire you to create your own. Modify and expand them as needed to make them feel more powerful. The more often we use them the more powerful their effect will be.

Self-Realization Spectrum Diagram

Introduction

This book is intended as a tool that we can use on our individual path to greater self-fulfillment. Self-realization is the systematic process of unifying our consciousness into a harmonious whole.

This book is structured in a way that