Guest Author - Andrea Gardiner, Ph.D.

The brain receives 400 billion bits of information per second, yet we are only aware of 2000 bits. These 2000 bits of information represents the conscious movements that serve our thoughts in any given moment. So where are our thoughts in any given moment? If you ask a psychologist or anyone else that works in the field of the human mind, they will tell you that is most often either in the past or in a worrisome future. Under these conditions we're bound to miss guidance that might be coming our way.

One of the major emotions that show up quite often in the time traveling mind is that of guilt. When we constantly turn our attention to a time where we are not, the mind will tend to analyze this past or future moment. In all this analysis, things that are perceived to be "not right" will play itself out. This type of judgment usually leads to guilt. So let's explore the concept of guilt for a bit and see just how it robs us of our awareness in the moment, and thus intuitive guidance.

What is guilt?
Guilt is the emotion of remorse that we use to judge and berate ourselves when we perceive ourselves of doing something wrong. There are a few assumptions wrapped up in the idea of guilt, the first of which is the idea of right and wrong. Guidance and intuition (which comes with awareness) does not come from a place of right and wrong. It simply just is. A second assumption carried by guilt is the idea of judgment. Along with this is the notion that things are final and complete, a sort of endedness if you will. What is overlooked or not understood is that there are many fields of possibilities in which all probable realities get to play themselves out. Even within a single probable reality you can never get it done as long as there is new NOW moment to be aware of.

Where does guilt come from?
The emotion of guilt is actually a gross distortion of an age old tool mankind developed during his evolution. This tool is the art of reflection. As mankind evolutionary moved away from the rest of creature hood and more into the awareness of choices, (hence The Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil), reflection became a great tool in the learning arsenary. In order to advance in the art of decision making, the human being would reflect on earlier decisions that were made and their outcome. They would then use this reflection to make the new decision. What a wonderful thing, this means that no past experience would go without purpose and could be used to make a more desirable NOW!
In addition to developing the art of reflection, a value system also needed to be given to the choices that the evolved man would now be making. Desirable or wanted would become "good" or "right", while undesirable or unwanted would become "bad" or "wrong". These distinctions are not of the Spirit, they are of the ego mind. When these distinctions are combined in the ego mind with reflection, then emotions such as guilt and all it counterparts start to emerge.

What to do with this pesky guilt
So is guilt necessary? Absolutely, positively not! Is it still present and alive in society today? Of course! So where can you begin? Although I am telling you that guilt is not necessary it doesn't make it unreal, just like many of undesirable emotions that we may encounter. So rather than trying to stamp out guilt, start by using it as an alarm that alerts you to a mind wandering into thoughts that are not to your advantage. By doing this you diffuse charge behind the emotion and empower yourself. Also you are using your awareness of the now moment that is necessary to develop your intuition. Now you can get back to the art of creating more of those newer, fresher, better Now moments.