The Fragrance of Awareness

Why Everything Begins to Appear Beautiful

Long-term meditation reshapes perception not by adding new qualities to reality, but by stripping away the distortions that once filtered it. What was previously judged as ugly, tragic, or unjust begins to reveal a quiet radiance beneath its form. The world does not change; awareness does. Beauty ceases to depend on preference. It becomes the natural scent of existence when the mind grows still enough to notice.

When thoughts slow and habitual interpretation dissolves, perception rests directly on what is. The ordinary becomes luminous because there is no longer resistance to what appears. A cracked wall, a wrinkled face, or a moment of loss can shimmer with the same grace as a sunset. Meditation gradually erodes the reflex that divides life into categories of like and dislike, pleasant and unpleasant. What remains is an intimacy with reality so complete that even pain acquires a certain sacred texture.

Beauty, in this sense, is not sentimentality; it is clarity. The mind that no longer insists on how life should look begins to perceive how extraordinary it already is. Awareness witnesses decay and creation as one movement. The tears of grief and the laughter of birth flow from the same source, both radiant with the light of consciousness itself.

This transformation of perception is not a psychological trick; it is the awakening of the senses to their original purity. Meditation returns vision to its natural state; unburdened by personal story, untouched by grasping. To the silent witness, everything breathes with equal dignity. The beggar and the saint, the chaos and the calm, all belong to a single wholeness that can only be described as beautiful beyond reason.

When the veil of self-interest lifts, beauty ceases to be an object and becomes the very field of being. One no longer seeks it. One lives as it.

Morgan O. Smith

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∆∞Ο and the Nondual Nature of Enlightenment

Inspired by the work of Alexander Ngu and Amaya Odilon Kosso — “Intelligent Transformation: General Intelligence Theory” (2024)

Humanity has long searched for a bridge between consciousness and cosmos, between the ineffable pulse of awareness and the measurable rhythms of reality. Alexander Ngu and Amaya Odilon Kosso may have drawn that bridge with their revolutionary General Intelligence Theory (GIT), proposing a universal abstraction known as ∆∞Ο;  the triarchic principle of the infinitesimal (∆), the infinite (∞), and the finite (Ο).

Their insight dismantles the old notion of equality as the foundation of understanding. The equal sign, they argue, limits the sensitivity of thought to the subtler play of transformation. Equality is static — it implies stillness between two mirrored sides. Transformation, however, is alive. It breathes through every exchange, allowing one form to become another without contradiction. ∆∞Ο is the language of that breath; the patternless rhythm by which energy becomes matter, idea becomes awareness, and self becomes all.

If you’ve read any of my past work, you’d know that my main focus is spiritual enlightenment. The moment I read their paper, I could conceptually see how their work may apply to my personal direct experience of The All. Though I could be jumping at this prematurely, my intuition said otherwise. I got the same feeling when I first discovered Bill Harris’ work regarding low-carrier frequency brainwave entrainment, Marko Rodin’s work in Vortex Based Mathematics, and my teacher and colleague, Ken Wilber’s work in Integral Theory. So far, I’ve never been wrong.

The spiritual implications are profound. The infinitesimal (∆) reflects the fleeting pulse of perception; each thought, sensation, or breath that rises and dissolves. The infinite (∞) mirrors the boundless consciousness in which those movements occur. The finite (Ο) represents the manifest world, the circle of appearances that seems to contain experience. The realization that ∆, ∞, and Ο are not separate but continuous is the essence of enlightenment. Awareness awakens to its own structure; the one relation that holds all opposites in seamless reciprocity.

This triarchic model suggests that intelligence, in its most universal sense, is the self-recognition of transformation. Every shift of perception, every oscillation between thought and stillness, is the cosmos contemplating itself through the medium of form. The so-called “theory of everything” becomes not a formula etched in numbers, but a recognition that everything is the formula; a living geometry of being that reconciles complexity, dimensionality, and spatiality in one infinite act of awareness.

Spiritual awakening, through this lens, is not an event within time but the cessation of all resistance to transformation. The individual dissolves into the very process that sustains existence; a process that requires no computation, no passage of time, no distance traversed. Enlightenment, therefore, is not achieved; it is realized as the zero-point of transformation, where the infinitesimal and infinite converge in perfect immediacy.

Ngu and Kosso’s ∆∞Ο does more than redefine intelligence; it redefines reality itself. It reveals that consciousness and existence are not two domains awaiting reconciliation, but one relational field eternally transforming within its own awareness. The ancient mystics called this unity Brahman, Tao, or the Absolute. The scientists now call it General Intelligence. Both are describing the same ineffable truth: that the universe is awake, and you are its knowing.

Morgan O. Smith

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The Wild That Waits Beneath the Surface

Between the cracks of a hardened exterior, something untamed begins to grow. What appears rigid, guarded, and impenetrable often hides the very pulse of life yearning to break through. Beneath the layers we construct to survive—defense mechanisms, cultivated personas, rehearsed identities—there exists a terrain untouched by conditioning. A wildness that remembers.

This is not the chaos of recklessness, but the primal intelligence of what is unfiltered and true. A force that doesn’t ask permission to bloom, yet waits patiently for silence, for softness, for the moment the surface begins to fracture. Then, without warning, the wild arrives.

Those fractures are not failures. They are doorways. Every heartbreak, every moment of doubt, every dismantling of certainty is a thinning of the veil—a soft opening. And what comes through is not ruin but rebirth.

What is wild has always been whole. The mind may resist it—accustomed to order, craving control—but the heart knows its rhythm. The body remembers its language. And once touched by it, you no longer strive to be “put together.” You begin to trust the spaces where things fall apart.

Growth doesn’t require perfection. It demands honesty. And the most fertile soil is often found not in polished appearances, but in the broken places where the untamed is allowed to root.

Let the wild speak. Let it stretch through the fractures of who you thought you had to be. That’s where life gets real. That’s where healing begins.

Morgan O. Smith

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Inner Demons Turning Divine

What if the aspects of ourselves we fear the most are not meant to be exiled, but embraced? What if the so-called demons lurking in our psyche are merely misunderstood fragments of divine potential? This idea challenges conventional narratives of good versus evil, offering instead a profound opportunity for transformation.

The concept of demons often conjures images of malevolence and chaos, forces to be battled or suppressed. Yet, what we resist only persists, festering in the shadows of our subconscious. These “demons” may not be enemies to conquer but rather exiled parts of ourselves calling out for integration. They represent unmet needs, unresolved traumas, or unexpressed desires—the raw materials of our awakening, waiting to be alchemized into wisdom.

Consider anger. It is often labelled a destructive force, but beneath its surface lies a potent energy capable of fueling change. Anger can signal where boundaries have been violated or where injustice has been witnessed. When examined with awareness, it transforms from a blind rage into a catalyst for courage and action. The same applies to fear, envy, or despair. These emotions hold a mirror to the places where we feel disconnected from our true nature. Rather than condemning them, we can engage with them as messengers, seeking the divine spark hidden within their depths.

Spiritual traditions across cultures recognize this transformative potential. In Hinduism, Kali, the fierce goddess, embodies destruction and creation simultaneously. She is terrifying in her form yet revered for her power to dismantle illusion and birth truth. Similarly, Tibetan Buddhism offers practices for transforming wrathful deities into benevolent guides, illustrating that even the most frightening forces can reveal their sacred essence when approached with reverence.

On a personal level, this alchemy requires radical honesty and compassionate inquiry. When we cease to judge our inner demons and instead seek to understand them, we discover their hidden gifts. Shame may reveal a yearning for authenticity, while doubt might lead us to question limiting beliefs. By shining the light of awareness into the shadow, we liberate these energies and integrate them into our wholeness.

The path of transformation is not about erasing darkness but about learning to dance with it. Every demon holds a seed of divinity, and every shadow, when embraced, becomes a source of light. By acknowledging this, we dismantle the illusion of separation within ourselves and open to the vast, unified potential of our being.

Let us not fear our inner demons but recognize them as divine initiators, guiding us toward deeper self-knowledge and spiritual growth. Their presence invites us to reclaim the parts of ourselves we have abandoned, making us more complete, compassionate, and alive.

When we learn to see through the eyes of love, nothing remains unworthy of redemption—not even our darkest shadows.

Morgan O. Smith

Yinnergy Meditation, Spiritual Life Coaching & My Book, Bodhi in the Brain…Available Now!

https://linktr.ee/morganosmith

The Catalyst for the Ego’s Demise

The experience often referred to as “ego death” is not the obliteration of the self, but rather the dissolution of its illusions. The ego, a construct woven from the threads of identity, attachment, and fear, functions as a survival mechanism. It clings to roles, titles, and the narrative of separation to sustain its existence. Yet, this clinging obscures the deeper truth of who we are—a boundless consciousness that cannot be confined by labels or stories.

Ego death is not an event brought about by force, but a consequence of profound surrender. It arises when the conditions are ripe, often catalyzed by deep meditation, spiritual awakening, or transformative life experiences. These moments of clarity reveal the ego for what it is: a temporary construct, a shadow cast by the mind in its attempt to define the undefinable.

The catalyst for this unravelling often comes disguised. It may appear as a crisis—a moment when the identity we have constructed no longer holds up against the weight of reality. It may manifest as awe, where the boundaries of self dissolve in the face of something greater than the mind can grasp. Sometimes, it is the gradual erosion of ego through years of contemplation and self-inquiry, as if the winds of awareness slowly wear away the stone of selfhood.

The process of ego death can feel terrifying. The ego perceives its dissolution as annihilation, a threat to its very existence. Yet, for the one who witnesses this unravelling, it is liberation. What is revealed is not a void, but fullness—an infinite presence, free of the limitations imposed by the ego’s grip.

Paradoxically, the ego’s demise does not result in the loss of individuality, but a clearer expression of it. Freed from the distortions of fear and attachment, the individual becomes a unique channel for universal consciousness. Actions flow not from a sense of lack or separation, but from wholeness and authenticity.

This death of the ego is not a single moment, but an ongoing practice of letting go. It requires vigilance and a willingness to face the shadows that linger in the mind. Each time the ego asserts itself through judgment, resistance, or attachment, it offers an opportunity to recognize its presence and release its hold.

The catalyst for the ego’s demise is ultimately the realization that it was never truly alive. It is a phantom, a mirage that dissolves when illuminated by the light of awareness. In its absence, what remains is not emptiness, but the unshakable truth of being—a truth that was always present, quietly waiting to be revealed.

Morgan O. Smith

Yinnergy Meditation, Spiritual Life Coaching & My Book, Bodhi in the Brain…Available Now!

https://linktr.ee/morganosmith

The Subtle Distinction

Peak Experiences vs. Spiritual Awakening

The landscape of spiritual growth is vast and often misunderstood. Many conflate spiritual peak experiences with spiritual awakening, yet these are distinct phenomena. A spiritual peak experience, whether catalyzed by meditation, psychedelics, or moments of profound awe, is an intense, fleeting encounter with an elevated state of consciousness. While these moments can feel transformative, they are often temporary and lack the enduring shift in perception that characterizes a true awakening.

A spiritual awakening, in contrast, is a fundamental reorientation of one’s inner world. It is not simply about feeling interconnected or glimpsing higher states of being—it is about a deep, unshakeable realization that dissolves the boundaries of self, often leaving the individual profoundly changed. This shift is challenging to articulate and even harder to cultivate intentionally.

When someone describes an extraordinary experience induced by psychedelics, they are often recounting a peak experience. These moments may break through the ordinary, offering glimpses of unity or clarity, yet they seldom transcend into awakening. Psychedelics can open doors, but walking through them—truly integrating the lessons into a lasting transformation—is a rarer and more demanding process.

True awakening can occur with or without external aids, but it is exceedingly rare. It arrives unbidden, often accompanied by profound shifts in understanding and perception. Unlike peak experiences, awakening isn’t just a momentary insight—it is an enduring transformation of consciousness. Moreover, even fewer awakenings culminate in spiritual enlightenment, a state of being that transcends duality entirely.

Enlightenment, often romanticized, is not an experience but the dissolution of the experiencer. It is the culmination of awakening, where the distinction between self and other evaporates, and one rests fully in the infinite. However, reaching this state requires not only grace but profound surrender and integration over time.

The journey between peak experiences, awakening, and enlightenment is a spectrum. Each step has value and serves a purpose, yet conflating these stages can obscure the nuances of spiritual growth. Understanding these distinctions invites us to approach the path with humility and clarity, appreciating the profound while striving for the transcendent.

Morgan O. Smith

Yinnergy Meditation, Spiritual Life Coaching & My Book, Bodhi in the Brain…Available Now!

https://linktr.ee/morganosmith

A Moment of Gratitude and Reflection

There are times when life offers us a mirror, moments when we are asked to pause and consider the path we’ve walked. Recently, I experienced one of those moments—a recognition of my spiritual journey that has deeply moved me. After a reflective interview process that explored the winding road I’ve travelled and the transformative experiences that shaped my understanding, I was honoured to be included in Passion Vista’s “Circle of Excellence.” Passion Vista is an internationally renowned magazine, reaching 1.6 million readers around the world.

This acknowledgment isn’t merely a personal milestone; it feels like a testament to the universal journey that so many of us are on—a journey toward understanding, growth, and deeper connection. I’m grateful for this opportunity to share my story, and to bring light to the experiences that have opened my eyes, heart, and spirit in ways I never imagined. This recognition reaffirms the power of dedication and authenticity in navigating life’s complexities.

But no journey is made alone. My path has been illuminated by countless souls—those who inspire, challenge, and walk alongside me. To each of you who has shared a part of this path, whether through words, shared insights, or silent encouragement, thank you. This moment of recognition is as much yours as it is mine, and I hold a deep gratitude for each step we’ve taken together.

In reflection, I am reminded that these achievements are not final destinations but markers of a continuous unfolding. They serve as gentle reminders to stay humble, to stay present, and to remain open to the vastness of what life has to offer.

Thank you for being part of this shared journey.

Morgan O. Smith

Yinnergy Meditation, Spiritual Life Coaching & My Book, Bodhi in the Brain…Available Now!

https://linktr.ee/morganosmith

The Profound Four

The Profound Types of Spiritual Awakening

Awakening is a journey of unfolding consciousness, marked by stages that delve deeper into the true essence of our existence. These stages reveal the profound layers of both our human and divine nature, ultimately guiding us toward the unification of all dimensions of being. Let’s explore the four major types of spiritual awakening, each one a unique path leading us closer to our boundless essence.

1. Awakening at the Human Level

This type of awakening is often the first step into a world beyond the ordinary. Here, we begin to realize that there’s more to life than our everyday identities and experiences. The focus is on self-awareness and understanding our thoughts, emotions, and behaviours from a higher perspective. By transcending the limitations of ego-based identity, we start seeing ourselves as more than just the body and mind. This awakening isn’t about escaping our humanity but embracing it with clarity and compassion. Through this initial awakening, we discover that by knowing ourselves more deeply, we open doors to greater insight and transformation.

2. Awakening at the Human/Divinity Level

As our journey progresses, a deeper layer of consciousness emerges—an awakening that bridges our human experience with divine presence. This stage often manifests as a heightened connection with something sacred within. There’s a sense of moving beyond personal desires and concerns, recognizing a guiding force that interweaves through all aspects of life. We begin to experience profound synchronicities, inner peace, and a subtle but persistent awareness of a universal intelligence operating through us. This awakening is not just about seeing the divine in ourselves but in others, inspiring us to connect and relate in new ways. At this level, divinity becomes tangible, not as a concept, but as a lived experience.

3. Awakening at the Divinity Level

At the divinity level, the barriers between the personal self and the universal self start to dissolve. This stage is characterized by an immersion in the essence of pure consciousness, where we experience a sense of being beyond the limitations of form. It is a state where divine awareness becomes central, and human identity fades into the background. During this awakening, we may feel at one with the cosmos, a single drop in the vast ocean of existence, yet inherently aware of the infinite that lies within. Living in this state can bring a profound sense of peace, stillness, and an unshakeable connection to all that is.

4. Unified Awakening: Embracing the Human, Divine, and Cosmic

The journey culminates in a unified awakening—a seamless merging of the human, divine, and cosmic dimensions. Here, every aspect of our existence is held together in a harmonious whole. We no longer see ourselves as shifting between realms but experience them simultaneously. In this awakened state, the human self, the divine presence, and the universal consciousness are recognized as one undivided reality. This unity brings about a deep sense of equanimity, freedom, and interconnectedness. Challenges and joys alike are embraced as natural expressions of life’s flow. Through this ultimate awakening, we transcend not just ego but the need to define or separate any part of our existence.

Reflecting on the Path of Awakening

Each stage of awakening offers unique insights and transformations. The journey does not unfold in a rigid sequence; rather, it ebbs and flows, allowing us to embody these different aspects of consciousness in our unique way. Spiritual awakening is not a goal but an ever-deepening process. As we awaken to the fullness of our being, we move beyond divisions, experiencing life as a living expression of universal love and wisdom.

Morgan O. Smith

Yinnergy Meditation, Spiritual Life Coaching & My Book, Bodhi in the Brain…Available Now!

https://linktr.ee/morganosmith

Love as the Wildfire That Consumes All

Regardless of the situation or circumstance, love is the force that transforms. Allow it to spread like wildfire, engulfing everything in its path. Imagine every leaf of hate, every hardened trunk of resentment, and every twisted branch of fear ignited, consumed until only ash remains. The ash is not the end, but the beginning—a fertile soil for renewal, a space where new life can emerge, untouched by the old.

Hate feeds on division, growing thick like a forest of misunderstanding. Yet, fire—pure and unrelenting—brings everything to a singular state, where difference dissolves into unity. In the same way, love has the power to dismantle rigid identities and dissolve the illusions that separate us from others. When you love, you open yourself to the world without conditions. You stop trying to manage what is uncontrollable. You release the need to defend a fixed self and surrender to the flowing, infinite nature of life.

This kind of love requires courage. It demands the willingness to step into discomfort, embrace vulnerability, and face even the shadows within yourself. But as each branch of judgment burns, what is revealed is clarity—a vision unclouded by projection and bitterness. You begin to see the world not as a battleground but as a place of shared experience, where suffering and joy, growth and decay, are all part of the same unfolding.

When you allow love to spread, you release control over where it lands. It may touch those you least expect, and reach places long hidden from sight. It may even burn through your own assumptions about what love should look like. But that is its gift. Love, like wildfire, is indiscriminate—it cannot be contained by preference or limited by attachment. It moves with its own intelligence, revealing truths beyond what the mind can grasp.

In the aftermath, there is only stillness. The forest of illusions is reduced to ash, leaving behind the essence of what truly matters. From this stillness, new growth emerges—not the old recycled patterns of fear and separation but a fresh awareness grounded in presence and peace.

Let love be the fire that purifies and regenerates. Allow every layer of fear to ignite, every doubt to dissolve, and every sorrow to be consumed. Stand in the flames, trusting that what burns away is only what no longer serves. What remains, after all is said and done, is freedom.

Morgan O. Smith

Yinnergy Meditation, Spiritual Life Coaching & My Book, Bodhi in the Brain…Available Now!

https://linktr.ee/morganosmith

Facing Your Own Shadow

The Gaze of Disowned Shame

There’s a moment in the journey of inner awakening where the light of awareness turns inward. A place often shrouded in secrecy, where the parts of yourself you’ve hidden away become unmasked. What’s revealed can be unsettling — the shame, guilt, and self-rejection that haunt the depths of your psyche. Encountering this inner entity, stripped of its disguise, becomes an intense confrontation: you face your own shadow.

Yet, when you meet this shadow, it does not recoil, flinch, or fade away. It simply observes you, raw and unmoved, reflecting the energy you’ve poured into rejecting it. For many, this experience feels like staring into an unbroken mirror, one that reflects not just the image you’ve created for the world, but the essence of what’s been buried, judged, and cast away.

When people speak of self-acceptance, it’s easy to imagine embracing the pleasant or polished parts of one’s persona. But the journey of true self-integration calls for embracing what is most despised. The parts labelled as unworthy, inadequate, or unforgivable become the gateway to your deepest transformation. Until then, they stare back with unblinking eyes — patiently awaiting recognition.

But why is this encounter necessary?

The disowned aspects of yourself hold immense power. They are reservoirs of energy locked behind the walls of judgment and fear. Every time they’re denied, they exert their influence unconsciously, driving reactions, decisions, and emotional patterns. The paradox is that the more they’re pushed away, the more they define your behaviour.

To stare at your shame is to feel its immensity. But beyond the discomfort, there is a subtle alchemy taking place. Each moment of presence, without rejection or justification, melts the rigidity of these self-imposed barriers. The shame becomes less monstrous. The guilt becomes less consuming. And in its place emerges a profound understanding: these shadows are not enemies but wounded parts of your psyche yearning for reintegration.

Facing your shame isn’t about confronting a malicious force. It’s about witnessing a fragmented self, desperately wanting to be seen and acknowledged. When fully embraced, these darkened corners of the mind cease to resist, and their power transforms into clarity, strength, and authentic self-expression.

This act of presence is not about seeking remorse or forgiveness. It’s about witnessing without the need for resolution. It’s about being so fully present that you pierce through the veil of judgment and glimpse the raw humanity of your being. That which once seemed abhorrent softens under the gaze of true self-compassion.

Ultimately, this process reshapes your sense of identity. No longer chained to a cycle of rejection and self-criticism, you stand free, more whole, and more alive. The shame that once stared back unrelentingly, feeling no remorse, becomes a quiet reminder that every part of you — no matter how dark — serves as a key to your liberation.

Morgan O. Smith

Yinnergy Meditation, Spiritual Life Coaching & My Book, Bodhi in the Brain…Available Now!

https://linktr.ee/morganosmith