Work ‘I’s: Sparks of Consciousness

Work ‘I’s: Sparks of Consciousness

In its simplest form, a Work ‘I’ is a reliable word or thought that activates a higher, more conscious state. Our Fourth Way School Glossary defines it as, “Any word or thought that assists one to make efforts in furtherance of an aim to awaken.” When a Work ‘I’ appears in a positive form it can also be something awe inspiring that evokes consciousness or, on the other hand, it can appear as a shocking incident that propels us into a higher state.

Some of these “sparks” of consciousness can originate from a word (Intellectual Center), a feeling (Emotional Center), an impulse to move (Moving Center), or a Sensation (Instinctive Center), that is intentionally transformed through self-remembering into a tool of awakening. When my aim to awaken is strengthened and connected to these sparks, they begin to light the fire of dormant Higher Centers. The more frequently and consistently these sparks of consciousness are generated, the more possibility I have of conscious evolution through self-observation and effort.

One must support the Work ‘I’s so as not to defeat the will of third eye. — The Teacher

For example, on my keyboard that I am using to type this post, there is a key that sticks, which I often need to go back and correct because it does not type the letter. By assigning significance to this happenstance – that is, connecting consciousness to it – I can frequently and consistently raise my state each time it happens. Because I have set an aim to remember myself when this occurs, this innocuous mistake activates the effort to be present and brings about higher possibilities.

Another way I think about this is to imagine the human machine as a smart phone (hardware) and the downloaded Apps (software) as groups of Work ‘I’s selected to be aligned with the aim to awaken. These Apps are flexible and can assist me to organize and balance my inner world while at the same time they are adaptable and can connect and transmit information to the outer world.

The Teacher has given exercises to insert consciousness into our conversations. For instance, for a period of time it was an exercise to avoid using the word “very.” The simple measure of success for this exercise was did the avoidance or the usage of the word create Presence. If I were with another student and they noticed me using the word, they would help me to remember myself and both of us could have a moment of Presence. When I was with non-students, the invisible effort to avoid the word “very” would bring more attention to the conversation and give me the opportunity to self-remember when I heard myself or the other person speak the word.

Work ‘I’s can also mysteriously arise and stir within me a higher state – a gift. Whether these ‘I’s come from within me – a seemingly random result of accumulated efforts – or from higher influence, what the Fourth Way calls C Influence (Celestial Influence), I try not to miss this quiet, voice that stirs in my heart. Because these are gifts, they are therefore unreliable. I simply record and observe them with gratitude.

Angels can hear our thoughts. They can also give us thoughts, such as work ‘I’s. — The Teacher

In the Glossary under the files section on this page, there is a list of the Thirty Great Work ‘I’s. These can be used as triggers to create presence. Making Work ‘I’s act brings Presence to our daily lives. We “taste” while dining, we “hear” when listening to music, and when we are worried about the past or future, we remind ourselves with the word “now.” Try each of the Thirty Great Work ‘I’s for two or three days and see which ones assist your aim to awaken.

The best Work ‘I’ is the one that works most. — The Teacher

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St. John Theologian in Silence, (Detail) Russian Icon, 1694