What is innocence?

Innocence is a state of unbroken wonder.

A state of discovery.

A state that still holds the oneness beyond the veil.

Innocence is a genuine not knowing and is truly reserved for children.

Some children don’t even get to enjoy their innocence.

Most cultures initiate children into adulthood to break this innocence in a mindful way.

Like in the Garden of Eden, it is the taste of knowledge and of duality that brings us into the realm of Reality.

Because in our innocence, reality was still a fact, we just were protected from it.

But when does innocence become fantasy?

As we grow and gain exposure to the world, we are educated and made aware of facts of reality that exist.

The denial of this reality to stay in a self proclaimed innocence is well… a delusion.

It’s bypassing and fantasy.

It’s not that you didn’t know.

It’s that you didn’t want to know.

It’s not that you didn’t see.

It’s that you didn’t want to see.

You wanted to stay in your fantasy bubble avoiding the reality, (many times painful and complex) of the real world.

The end of innocence occurs the first time the fantasy breaks.

This can be through education or life events, abuse, losing someone, divorce, sickness, an accident, drug use, giving birth, sex.

Many many ways.

But someone invested in maintaining a state of innocence, will continually not see reality in favor of their lens of …fantasy.

A starting gate rescuer / fawner will more likely maintain this delusion because it reinforces the idea they have created for themselves as a good person.

This is an extreme pedestalization pattern.

Instead of one thing, they have pedestalized the world itself.

Pedestalizing the whole world and when that breaks will bring a very dark night of the soul.

The shadow of all the things they ignored creeping out of the darkness to show them they haven’t been so innocent all along.

The claim of innocence is also an incredible way to avoid taking responsibility for one’s own behavior.

“Oh but I didn’t know!”

No you benefitted from not knowing.

Would it surprise you that privilege is closely tied to this fantasy.

Judgment and moral superiority follow closely behind.

Of course this is all ok.

It’s a path that unfolds for some people.

The antidote however, is to begin to notice all the ways you avoid and to be with everything that is True.

Specifically not to only be with things you like, make you happy, feel pleasurable or comfortable.

To feel what needs to be felt so nuance, paradox and complexity can enter.

And only here the richness of an adult life can actually begin.

What is innocence?

Innocence is a state of unbroken wonder.

A state of discovery.

A state that still holds the oneness beyond the veil.

Innocence is a genuine not knowing and is truly reserved for children.

Some children don’t even get to enjoy their innocence.

Most cultures initiate children into adulthood to break this innocence in a mindful way.

Like in the Garden of Eden, it is the taste of knowledge and of duality that brings us into the realm of Reality.

Because in our innocence, reality was still a fact, we just were protected from it.

But when does innocence become fantasy?

As we grow and gain exposure to the world, we are educated and made aware of facts of reality that exist.

The denial of this reality to stay in a self proclaimed innocence is well… a delusion.

It’s bypassing and fantasy.

It’s not that you didn’t know.

It’s that you didn’t want to know.

It’s not that you didn’t see.

It’s that you didn’t want to see.

You wanted to stay in your fantasy bubble avoiding the reality, (many times painful and complex) of the real world.

The end of innocence occurs the first time the fantasy breaks.

This can be through education or life events, abuse, losing someone, divorce, sickness, an accident, drug use, giving birth, sex.

Many many ways.

But someone invested in maintaining a state of innocence, will continually not see reality in favor of their lens of …fantasy.

A starting gate rescuer / fawner will more likely maintain this delusion because it reinforces the idea they have created for themselves as a good person.

This is an extreme pedestalization pattern.

Instead of one thing, they have pedestalized the world itself.

Pedestalizing the whole world and when that breaks will bring a very dark night of the soul.

The shadow of all the things they ignored creeping out of the darkness to show them they haven’t been so innocent all along.

The claim of innocence is also an incredible way to avoid taking responsibility for one’s own behavior.

“Oh but I didn’t know!”

No you benefitted from not knowing.

Would it surprise you that privilege is closely tied to this fantasy.

Judgment and moral superiority follow closely behind.

Of course this is all ok.

It’s a path that unfolds for some people.

The antidote however, is to begin to notice all the ways you avoid and to be with everything that is True.

Specifically not to only be with things you like, make you happy, feel pleasurable or comfortable.

To feel what needs to be felt so nuance, paradox and complexity can enter.

And only here the richness of an adult life can actually begin.