When you perceive things directly, you perceive them correctly! Want an example? When you first meet anyone, you have no choice but to perceive them correctly. You will be relying on your own self to mirror them back to you. That is an amazing fact. Sadly, the chance to perceive them directly is gone after the first meeting. Now the Law of the Smoke Screen prevails. (I just made that up.)

The Law of the Smoke Screen says that because you are sensitive and intuitive, you will immediately begin to accept their smoke screen as yours. You will obediently let it filter what you say and do to that person. And they will be doing the same thing to you.

Families are especially good at this. I accepted my mother’s smoke screen most of my life. I perceived that she wanted me to be good and behave any time I was around her. I began doing this in infancy and continued until one fine day my husband said wryly, “When she says Froggie, you jump!”

Ah, he had snuck in a truth that I was suddenly ready to hear.

My relationship with her changed. It was a change for the better for me, but seemingly not for her. She wanted my docility more than she wanted my direct perception.

Of course, I do the exact same thing to people. We are all caught in the same trap.

I have been writing about what Vernon Howard called “The Situation.” He said the solution is always to see the situation clearly. I think that is what I began this essay saying. Vernon Howard was a time saver, a life saver and an initiator of higher consciousness. That should be the job of any spiritual student and not to anyone but themselves.

The springboard to higher consciousness is always just to see clearly what is going on and how it makes you feel. You can stop using smoke screens only when you see how deadly they are to the development of the inner child. The child knows without knowing how. And it feels good.

Vicki Woodyard