Chapter 7 of The Power of Now is one of the most mysterious and beautiful chapters in the book. Eckhart talks about portals into what he calls the unmanifested. This is the formless stillness that exists beneath all of life. It is not something we can think about or define. It is something we can only experience by stepping out of the constant noise of the mind.
In the video above, I explore these ideas and share how they have shown up in my own life. If something here resonates, the video will take it deeper. You can also find a full video for every chapter of this book here:
Watch the full series on YouTube
Portals into the Unmanifested
Eckhart says there are moments in life when we naturally drop out of thought and into a deeper state of Being. A breathtaking sunset. The quiet after a snowfall. The way a newborn looks at you. In those moments, the mind stops and presence takes over.
He calls these experiences portals because they give us a glimpse of the unmanifested, the formless reality behind everything we see and do. It is not a mystical idea. It is as ordinary as noticing the stillness in the space between thoughts.
For me, I started seeing this in little ways. Sitting quietly in the morning. Pausing to really listen to the sound of the wind. Even just noticing my breath without trying to change it. These small portals reminded me that peace is not something I create. It is something I return to.
Silence
Eckhart talks about silence as one of the most powerful portals. Silence is not just the absence of sound. It has a presence of its own. It is the background to everything that happens.
At first, this felt strange to me. I am used to filling silence with music, podcasts, conversations, or my own thoughts. But when I began to sit with it, I noticed something unexpected. The silence was not empty. It felt alive. It felt grounding.
Even in busy moments, I started noticing the silence underneath all the noise. That awareness became a doorway back to the present moment.
Space
Another portal Eckhart describes is space. Not just physical space, but the awareness of space itself. The space between objects. The space between sounds. Even the space between breaths. The empty space that makes a bowl useful.
For me, this practice showed up in simple ways. Pausing in a conversation to feel the space between words. Sitting in my car without reaching for my phone. Watching a tree move in the wind without narrating it in my head.
Space does not demand anything from us. It invites us to rest in what is already here.
Watch the Full Video
If any of this speaks to you, I hope you will watch the full Chapter 7 video above. In it, I share more about what these portals have looked like in my own life and how they continue to draw me back to the now.
This is part of a full 10-part video series, with one video for each chapter of The Power of Now. If you are walking through this book or returning to it again, you are not alone. We are in this together. You can watch the whole series here: Watch the full series on YouTube
If something stood out to you in the reading or the video, I would love to hear about it. Leave a comment and share your favorite part or any ah-ha moments you noticed.
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