Diane Wing: Tales of the Unexpected
OMTIMES: Do you have anyone inside the Spiritual/Paranormal/metaphysical industry that had inspired you to become the Professional you are today? If so, who and how?
Diane Wing: My earliest influences were Carlos Castaneda and Baird T. Spalding. They took years to cultivate their knowledge and to experience profound change through exploration and consultation with true masters. Castaneda’s work changed the existing paradigm at the time regarding the nature of reality and what it means to be a spiritual warrior. I recommend reading them in order, as each book builds on the concepts of the previous one. Spalding traveled to the highest mountains and remotest temples to experience the miracles of The Masters of the Far East he talks about in his five-volume work Life and Teachings of the Masters of the Far East. Both of these authors influenced my views of personal power and energetic consciousness. While their work is extensive, reading and assimilating their ideas is time well spent. Additionally, Paul Foster Case and Franz Bardon have enhanced my understanding of spiritual unfoldment (Case) and the Universal and Magickal Laws associated with Hermetics (Bardon). In all of these philosophical explorations, the emphasis is on the inner work required to achieve true mastery and wisdom.
OMTIMES: Do you believe in Gurus? It seems this concept is a little over used and misused; so what is your take and how do you believe it should be changed?
Diane Wing: The concept of “guru” can be dangerous, especially when the leader in whatever tradition or system of belief insists that theirs is the only way and to follow without questioning. There is also the potential for followers to give away their power to someone who they feel knows “the way.” They hope that others have the answers; those who have already treaded on the path we are looking to experience must know the secrets and so may follow blindly. The danger is that their journey is different from yours, and their experience is being filtered through a different set of circumstances and perspectives.
What is relayed by these sources was significant for their path and may not be for yours. No one knows the path you should take better than you know yourself. It is important to explore, to read widely and from various perspectives, to listen, to question, and to ask for advice; then contemplate, consider, challenge, and try this or that. It is important to gather information and to learn as much as possible about the subjects that can help you move forward or that you are interested in.
There is much to gain from knowledge and application of what has been learned. The reality is: the answers and validation you seek are available within you! I joke with my clients and students that I’m building a cult following of independent thinkers, wherein they use healthy skepticism to question the concepts we discuss and dig deep to determine if it is something that speaks to them. Then we go deeper; if it resonates, why does it? If not, why not? And then, most importantly, what can they contribute to the idea that comes from their own unique perspective? In this way, Wing Academy students extend themselves beyond their former state, learning in a way that opens the mind, heart, and soul to new ways of thinking and being. They go through the process of unfolding, shedding and removing old ways of thinking and being in order to reveal their power. In this sense, the individual becomes their own “guru” and is responsible for finding the path that resonates most strongly with their true nature. I strongly encourage the self-discovery process to explore personal beliefs, where the beliefs originated, and question if they are still valid given the person’s current level of development and in the context of reaching their goals.
