You ARE the Universe: Awakening to your Inner Power
We often look outside ourselves for meaning, for guidance, for something to complete us. The world around us - the cosmos, nature, relationships - seems vast and separate, an external reality we must navigate. But what if the key to everything we seek is not “out there” but within us?
Two profound quotes invite us to reconsider our perspective:
“The universe is not outside of you. Look inside yourself; everything that you want, you already are.” — Rumi
“You are not in the universe, you are the universe.” — Alan Watts
These words point toward a truth that mystics, philosophers and spiritual teachers have long understood: we are not separate from existence. We are existence itself.
The Illusion of Separation
From the moment we are born, we are conditioned to define ourselves as individuals - separate minds, separate bodies, separate lives. This illusion of separation creates a sense of longing, a belief that fulfillment lies somewhere beyond our grasp. We seek love, wisdom, abundance and purpose as if they are external treasures to be found.
But Rumi’s wisdom reminds us that everything we desire is already within us. If we long for love, it is because love is our nature. If we seek wisdom, it is because we already hold the seeds of understanding. The universe is not a distant force - we are the universe experiencing itself.
You Are the Cosmos in Motion
Alan Watts expands on this idea, urging us to shift from the notion of being in the universe to being the universe. The same energy that moves the tides, forms the stars and breathes life into the forests flows through you. Your thoughts, emotions and dreams are as much a part of the cosmic dance as the orbits of planets.
When you inhale, it is the universe breathing.
When you love, it is the universe expressing connection.
When you create, it is the universe manifesting through you.
This realisation is not just poetic - it is profoundly transformative. It dissolves fear, scarcity and limitation. You are not a small being struggling in a vast cosmos; you are the cosmos, limitless and complete.
Tapping Into Your Inner Universe
If everything we seek is already within, how do we access it?
1. Silence the Noise – Through practies that help you feel grounded and present. Whether it is meditation, moving your body, creative arts, time in nature, enjoying a warm cup of tea. Anything that helps to quiet the distractions of the external world so you can tune into your true essence.
2. Trust Your Inner Knowing – Learn to speak the language of your body, tune into the subtle cues and messages it sends. Tend to your inner parts with curiosity and compassion. Your intuition is the voice of the universe within you. Listen to it.
3. Embody Wholeness – Instead of searching for fulfillment outside yourself, act as though you already are everything you need - because you are! You are a living and breathing miracle, you do not have to prove your worth. BEing here is enough, you are enough.
4. See the Divine in Everything – If you are the universe, so is everything else. Approach life with awe and reverence. This broader perspective adds a touch of magic to all of the mundane. Turn everyday moments into a ritual, self-care becomes a sacred act.
Perhaps the most liberating truth is this: there is nowhere to go, nothing to achieve, no missing piece to find. You are already whole. You are already everything. The universe is not separate from you - it is you.
Look within.
And watch as the universe unfolds effortlessly through you.