Perhaps it has become clear from reading this far that the beliefs, opinions, judgments, and agreements that you have preached and defended most of your life are really just a lot of smoke. They have no substance, no “reality” outside of your own personal passion for them. That is not to say that you shouldn't be passionate. When the warrior breaks her human form and lets go of her need to defend or justify her beliefs or actions, she is free to be very passionate about life and all it brings her.

An Apprentice Realizes She Knows Nothing

“Before I began on the Toltec path, I was convinced that I knew a great many things … some of them very grand and special. I knew many facts about many things, and many wonderful theories about other things. Botany, biology, and science fascinated me in college, along with my classes in art and drama. I always considered myself to be properly educated in a well-rounded sort of way.

“It was a great relief and release for me when I reached the point in my transformation when I realized I did not know anything. The first thing I noticed was the changes in the relationship with my parents. They have always been very opinionated, and judge anyone who does not agree with them. As a child and young adult, I was very afraid of their displeasure. Later I just quit relating to them, so I didn't have to deal with their criticism and nagging about my life.

“Letting go of my personal importance about my beliefs allowed me to listen to theirs without judging them. In fact, I realized I was judging them for judging me! Wow. Now I can call and visit them and let them be who they are. I know they are going to dream me however they dream me, and there is nothing I can really do about. The best thing is, it doesn't really matter. Their dream of me has nothing to do with who I am. I just love and accept them, and accept their love, whatever form it comes in.”

The Warrior Never Assumes to Know

Once the warrior understands that there is nothing she really knows, she stops imagining that she can read people's minds. In the old dream, all the humans are trying to keep their truth secret, while they are trying to figure out what the others are thinking. Since one of the rules in the old dream is “Don't ask questions, you might embarrass someone,” everyone learns the trick of assuming the answers.

Nobody stops to realize that their assumptions are very often wrong. When the only way to know the answer is to make it up, the odds are pretty good that you will be wrong. The basic rule in the dream of the planet says that if you embarrass someone, you are a bad person. Your inner judge is in charge of enforcing this rule. The fear of being made wrong and punished by your own judge is actually more important than your concern about the other person's feelings.

The Toltec warrior does not believe her judge, and is very willing to ask questions when she does not know. She will ask people how they are feeling emotionally, if they are pregnant, what size they wear, how long they have been out of work, how they lost their leg in the war, or if they like being a mother. She asks out of love and a desire to know the story, and trusts that if someone is offended, they can take care of their feelings themselves — she does not have to protect them. If they do not want to talk about it, she does not take it personally.