embodiment: (1) a tangible or visible form of an idea, quality, or feeling (2) the representation or expression of something in a tangible or visible form

transpersonal: denoting or relating to states or areas of consciousness beyond the limits of personal identity

The late John Welwood, who coined the term spiritual bypassing, observed this process as using “spiritual ideas and practices to sidestep personal, emotional ‘unfinished business,’ to shore up a shaky sense of self, or to belittle basic needs, feelings, and developmental tasks.” The goal of such practices, he claimed, was enlightenment.

The path to enlightenment is often followed by spiritual practices that often attempt to eschew the material plane, namely the body and its dense, lower frequencies. The idea is to bypass these aspects of self so as to access a higher Self. This process of realising the Self can be enticing and seductive. However, the actualisation of this process—bringing heaven down to earth—can be often seen as mundane, trivial, inessential, or superficial.

But beyond the surface—in skin, flesh, and bones—there are genes and codes. These microcosmic components of our material structure can be seen to mirror the metaphysical nature of existence, the latter which seem to be out-of-body. There, seemingly outside of us, phenomena exist beyond that which our body’s apparatus can perceive. Somehow, what is inside reflects what’s outside. The inner landscape is akin to the outer realms. The ground meets the sky at the horizon. And we, humans, walk that line at once situated in this body—this ‘I’—as well as being a part of other dimensions of existence: mult-‘I’-dimensional.

in support of cis-humanism

cis- : on this side of; on the side nearer to the speaker. Often contrasted with trans-

transhumanism: the belief or theory that the human race can evolve beyond its current physical and mental limitations

In exploring the notion of a multidimensional being, I have found that, for many who identify as such, there is a sort of dismissiveness to their humanness, the astral or light bodies being favoured over the physical, emotional, or mental bodies . Even one’s perceived soul, oversoul, or soul group are given more attention than the 3D that is what dominates the human experience most of the time (the human mind probably being the very creator/conceiver of time to begin with). The multidimensional being, as it has come to be conceived of, is somehow transhuman.

cisgender: denoting or relating to a person whose sense of personal identity and gender corresponds with their birth sex

As a cisgendered male, I identify as a male which corresponds to the sex I was born with. It’s a choice. It’s maybe contrary to transhumanism, yet I am positing cishumanism here not as an antithesis to multidimensionality, but as a recognisable pole that finds itself on the other end of a thread. Just like my identifying as a male doesn’t mean that I don’t identify with my feminine traits, my identifying as a human doesn’t mean that I deny that I’m multidimensional. I am that, too. And at the source of dimensions, where there is no t(w)o(o), I am.

Perhaps identifying as multidimensional is at the extreme end of a pole. Perhaps identity itself is extreme. No doubt, not identifying as anything feels free. Yet, to be in form there is an opportunity to be in-formed. This in-formation gives cause to a capacity to respond, to be response-able. Following this line of thought, being in a body carries responsibility.

What are we responsible for? In part, our physical, emotional, and mental conduct in/as this life/time. Or, the fine-tuning of energetic frequencies that support basic needs as well as developmental tasks. This is taking care of the multidimensional business of being, human: high functioning, present individuals with a solid sense of self and Self.

multidimensional embodiment = spiritual matter-ialisation

cis-human: denoting or relating to a person whose sense of personal identity corresponds with their birth form and genus

Identifying as cishuman, similar to cisgender, there is a recognition with the form we are experiencing. So does the idea of cishumanism negate being multidimensional? I don’t think so. The incorporation of dimensionality—with its natural limitations—is the human experience at its fullest. And while experiencing humanity, its beauty and fullness may be experienced: you may be-a-YOU-to-FULL.

Full, in this sense, is exploring the fullness of existence that covers the multidimensionality that is beyond the material, 3-D plane. It also covers the material, tangible form from which the ‘I’ finds itself most of the time: the human body. The path to enlightenment can often bypass this material-ness, seeing it as limited and crude. Yet a lack of embodiment can result in repressed, unintegrated experiences—stagnant biographical and transpersonal content which can often be released through very human ways: cognitive, affective, somatic.

We have a body.

It’s made up of palpable and tangible material.

It’s made up of matter.

And it matters.