The Spiritual Freedom Found in Paradox
Living as human beings, we are constantly invited into the dance of paradox.
You need a job to gain experience, yet you need experience to get a job. You must spend money to make money. The only constant in life is change.
The most profound paradox I’ve come to embrace is what I call: “one hand on Spirit, and one hand on Earth.” It is through this balance—being rooted in the physical world while also reaching into the unseen—that we discover true freedom.
There is no denying the endless violence, injustice, and suffering we witness in this world. Part of being human is allowing ourselves to feel it fully—to grieve with a mother who holds her child for the last time, to sit beside a friend whose heart has been broken, to cry quietly in the dark after scrolling through images of kids caught in genocide. It is being unable to control the stream of tears when love is lost, and aching with the helplessness of knowing we cannot fix it all. To be human is to allow these moments to break us open, reminding us of the depth of our compassion and the truth of our interconnectedness.
Yet alongside this tenderness for the human experience, we are invited to place one hand on Spirit—to remember that, even when life feels unbearable, there is a greater unfolding beyond what our minds can understand. It is in this paradox—feeling deeply while trusting fully—that the heart learns its most profound lessons. To live with one hand on Spirit and one hand on Earth is not to ignore the pain, but to allow ourselves to be softened, transformed, and held by something far greater than ourselves.
Living the Paradox in Daily Life
The dance of paradox isn’t something we master overnight—it’s a practice. We return again and again to the balance of Spirit and Earth, breath by breath, moment by moment. One way to begin is through reflection and gentle inquiry.
Here are a few journaling prompts to guide you:
Where in my life do I feel pulled between Spirit and Earth?
What situations cause me to resist paradox, and how might I soften into them?
How can I honor my very human emotions while also trusting the wisdom of Spirit?
What would it look like to live with “one hand on Spirit and one hand on Earth” today?
Take your time with these questions, and allow whatever arises to flow onto the page without judgment.
And remember: living in paradox is not about finding perfect balance—it’s about honoring both truths at once. Your humanity and your divinity are not separate; they are two strands of the same thread.
I offer this reflection in deep gratitude to Ram Dass, whose teachings continue to ripple through the hearts of so many people, myself included.
