
Workshop description
Level 5: Ego workshop
A part of spiritual maturity is losing the ‘fascination of being me’, stop hiding or trying to impress other people. How much you care about what others think of you is a measurement of how free you are.
In essence, the Ego workshop trains you on how to give and receive constructive criticism from close friends and community. This is an intense training that requires disciplined preparation before and during the course.
Level 5 has entered its 2nd generation and is now a much improved new training. The theory has evolved to be more accurate and subtle, and offers better solutions for how to cope with the specific ego archetypes:
- Alice too big
- Alice too small
- Poison ivy
- Hummingbird
Ego and spiritual practice
It’s the most painful but also one of the most important steps in what we call a true spiritual growth process. To really stop suffering, we must deeply understand how the small limited image of ourselves (ego) is distorting our views and actions. The ancient non-separateness teachings are now being backed up by neuro-science.
Realising that we don’t exist as the thoughts in our head and resting in the mystery of being nothing in particular, allows for a deep relaxation and expansion of consciousness. Without that, we become overly self-concerned with “ourselves” and all the limiting and even selfish behaviour that this can create.
Level 5 runs contrary to the current “selfie” pop culture of “I’m fabulous!” or “I’m perfect the way I am!” Those thoughts can be misused to justify almost any selfish behaviour. Spiritual practice is about lessening the attachment to the assumed self-image… Not strengthening it.
Our lives can be complicated by destructive beliefs and habits. We are often not aware of such patterns or deny their presence. Reality checks from community and friends can greatly speed up the disbelieving in our separateness. The end result of good practice is usually a reverting back to a more natural and innocent state of being.
“Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom.” – Aristotle
An intense training
This workshop takes a hard look at your destructive beliefs and habits. It provides powerful tools to move beyond them by learning how to give and receive constructive feedback through working in groups.
Although it may feel uncomfortable when we get to see our blind spots, it allows us to grow so much faster because it keeps us in touch with reality. In the long run this process of honest feedback is a lot less painful than continuing our self-destructive behaviours.
However, the Ego Workshop is not for people who seek feeling good all the time. It’s a confronting and intense training that requires a high level of emotional maturity in all participants, as well as quite some preparation and discipline before and during the course. You’ll be instructed on how to prepare in the weeks leading up to workshop start.
In order to create more fire under the pot and confront us with the ways we try to distract ourselves, we will also be exercising every morning, eating only one meal a day and spending a lot of time in silence.
What you’ll learn in Level 5 gen 2
- Theory on how the ego layers are formed, structured and translated into four ego archetypes: Alice too big, Alice too small, Poison ivy and the Hummingbird
- How the ego image distorts thoughts and actions
- How to conduct ego research on others and how to listen to both sides of the story before drawing conclusions
- How to hold an “ego court”
- How to give constructive feedback with loving intentions
- How to receive constructive feedback without knee-jerk defense
- Tools to help conduct the emotional pain of receiving constructive criticism
- A “healing ceremony” for each ego archetype
- Tools to counter your ego patterns at home
- We’ll look into addictions and distractions operating in your life (food, money, sex, power, all drugs – including tobacco, alcohol, caffeine) and you’ll be guided on how to transcend and clear these out
An experienced team of certified facilitators leads this workshop. We follow the copyrighted structure originally designed by TNT founder Alexa Vartman.
Prerequisites
- Passed Level 2
- Individual approval by The New Tantra
- Open to anyone 18+, regardless of sexual orientation, gender or relationship status
Repeaters are invited to join Level 5 gen 2 for half price. You’ll learn a whole bunch of new theory, get invited to join the “healing ceremony”, and your “ego court” will be optional.
Contact us for any questions. Sign up below to one of our upcoming trainings.
Upcoming dates
Every year, TNT combines Level 5, 4 and 3 in one retreat. You may book the workshops separately but ideally a combination of two or three will give you the most benefits.