We’ve all heard of a sphere of influence, but what is a sphere of reference? I define it as the circle of our consciousness that holds how we feel and think about things. It holds our beliefs, preferences, and prejudices. It is the filter through which we see the world. It is the gatekeeper to what is possible for us.

We all look at the world through a filter. It was built by many variables, such as experience and what we were told. It was then shaped by how our perception and logic interpreted all of it. We all have unique perspectives on things. It’s why you can have 10 people observe one thing, each telling a different story. Not because they’re lying but because the filter they observe the world through automatically screens things out, leaving an altered view of what is left.

Why is this important in metaphysics?

Often it is this sphere of reference that prevents us from moving forward. You can see it come into play when someone learning to meditate hears from someone else that getting to a particular state of mind requires meditation for more than ten minutes. That person then checks the known information contained in the sphere of reference and says, “I can’t do that. Therefore, I will never get there.” The energy of that denial is sent out to the Universe which then responds with, “Obtaining the ability to meditate for that level is not on the priority list.” Energy is then directed to support your thought of never getting there.

The point of spiritual development or development of any kind is, well, development. To continue growing, changing, and building skills and confidence. Assessing our progress and, if called to, help others along the way.

What can prevent that progress is our sphere of reference. It affects everything. Some people are excellent at compartmentalizing, separating one thing from another in their minds. A prime example of this is about some of the mob members who helped to build Las Vegas. They could murder someone on Saturday night and still go to church on Sunday morning. Another instance of this is a healer and psychic I know who says he loves all people. At the same time, he strongly supports a political candidate, which clearly shows he is very selective about who he even considers to be people. I’m not going to open that can of worms, but it shows you how the sphere of reference works. It allows us to have conflicting thoughts and beliefs working at the same time.

We get very comfortable in our spheres. It seems to contain all the knowledge we need. If someone tries to expand our sphere with more information that threatens to put a kink in how we look at the world, we reject them and their ideas more often than not. I worked with a man who grew up with a father who was racist. He was white, and everything in his world was also white. My co-worker lived with his father until he went to college, and then his sphere of reference, the rules he had always lived by, imploded.

His personal experiences contradicted what his father had always taught him about other races and other places. It was then that his own sphere of reference expanded. When I met my co-worker, he was in his fifties and still challenging the thoughts, feelings, and beliefs that were instilled in him from his childhood. Another habit we humans have is lumping things together. It makes categorization easier for us. It’s this kind of generalized thinking that can sometimes lead to genocide. “All of this race is, fill in the blank, which makes them the perfect target.”

It is in our best interest and that of our clients to be aware of our biases. No one is perfect, and that is not an expectation. This is a call for a deeper understanding of ourselves. It is an opportunity for you to question everything you hold true. Every thought that you think about something significant to you write it down and ask yourself, is that true? If it isn’t, then what is true? If you can’t tell, think about it and see how it feels in your body. Does it feel good or not so good? That is how you determine an answer. This is not an easy process, but it can be worth the work.

We use our sphere of reference for everything our entire lives. We couldn’t function without it, but it can also limit how we view ourselves, others, our world, and the worlds beyond ours. We can experience many things in metaphysics, but only if we believe we can and take the steps to make that happen. I once heard a shaman speak who said that he has, on at least two occasions, physically levitated as he meditated. Is that true? I don’t know. Is it possible? I believe it is. Is it possible for me? I don’t think so, but that is what my sphere of reference, which includes my logic, tells me. I also believe that the Universe is infinite and that anything is possible, including me levitating while meditating. See what I mean about contradicting statements? I’m sure you’ve got some as well.

The point is not to ferret them all out. That would probably take me the rest of my life. It’s about finding the ones that might be blocking your progress, stalling your manifestation, and preventing you from helping someone who needs you. Everything surrounding you should be checked from time to time to make sure they are still part of the plan for your highest and best. If not, it might be time for you to check what’s in your sphere of reference?