Structure focuses energy

Personal transformation, on the journey to greater consciousness, is the “change in form” of who we are. This change of form requires energy. Working to change our beliefs, our old patterns, our awareness of subtle energy, etc. etc. requires focusing energy to make the change; often a significant amount of energy over an extended time. And structure is a potent way of focusing energy so we can effectively and efficiently transform.

We can recognize how structure focuses energy in such things as crystals, sacred geometry, music, sacred structures such as pyramids and cathedrals, and the flow of energy along the structure of earth’s lay lines.

In organizations structure is used to focus the energy of groups of people to achieve a particular goal or objective. These structures include simple things such as: project plans that clearly specify what a group of people are striving to achieve; agendas that engage people meaningfully in meetings and decision-making; roles and responsibilities that allow people to focus on a specific aspect of work and know that other people will look after other parts of a project; and timelines that specify when energy needs to be focused.

In sacred rituals or ceremony structure outlines how things are to be done, what will happen, and when. The structure creates the platform through which spirit works, and is often derived from guidance by the spirits involved, or from long standing and proven traditions. Within the structure participants know when and how to contribute to the ceremony. Mastery of the structure and practice of ceremony leads to potent energetics.

Structure, on the other hand, can become rigid, dogmatic and “anal”. When the structure becomes the endpoint, rather than a tool, then it looses its capacity to assist in the focusing of energy, and preoccupation with following the structure begins to consume energy.

Many of us seem to have a love / hate relationship with structure. We recognize the value and benefits of structure and yet we rebel against it. This is especially true when structure brings us face to face with the need for self discipline, self responsibility and commitment. This inner tension often arises because we know that a structured and committed approach to our spiritual practice and inner work, through self discipline, will indeed lead to transformation and parts of us (those that will be “changed in form”) would rather not.

Unfortunately there appears to be a growing misunderstanding of “flexibility”, “freedom”, “spontaneity” and “being in the flow” as a rationale for rejection of structure. This has resulted in a “free form” approach in which we can experience a lot of interesting activity, but with very little focused energy or transformation.

In our spiritual practice and personal transformation we face the choice of utilizing structure to focus energy and work diligently as if we were building a pyramid, or settle for a pile of rocks.