Why is my symbol a Skull?

The Skull is a symbol of consciousness development.

Consciousness development is a process of growth, of transformation.

In that process, we recognize and leave behind psychological limitations in order to discover and develop our potentials as well as become larger, better and more capable. Without these psychological limitations, you become more authentic towards yourself, you become who you really are.

However, in order to become who you really are, you need to quit being who you are today. Everybody loves the ideas of leaving behind limitations, self-transformation and developing consciousness. But, when the time to effectively leave limitations behind comes, no one wants to drop the bone.

We realize that we were stuck only after the transformation has happened. Before the transformation, we are attached to our limitations because we see them as personality traits that define us.

That’s why leaving limitations behind causes pain. If such limitations are deeply rooted, removing them will feel like you are being torn apart. You are, indeed.

Don’t worry: the Skull remains.

To be brave enough to be yourself, as you really are, is hard as bone. (Watch a video on the Skull here.)

When we follow the path of consciousness development, we lose all the parts of ourselves that prevented us from seeing who we are deep down, who we are in our bones: the Skull.

No matter how many of our parts we leave behind, the Skull, our deepest and truest self is never ever lost.

The Skull is the symbol of those who are free.

With the Skull, we learn that everything is relative, everything must pass and everything transforms itself.

We learn that everything that we fiercely stood for – as if those things were right, as if those things were everlasting – is also relative, also stays behind, also transforms itself.

Therefore, we don’t take ourselves too seriously anymore. We realize that our convictions about ourselves and about life were ridiculous. We learn to laugh at ourselves.

Those who are truly wise laugh at themselves.

Those who are truly wise have no convictions at all.

Tibetan Buddhism brings about a very revealing image: Human beings who are free wear necklaces made out of laughing skulls.