A Bigger Table
Throughout history, humanity has struggled deeply with the presence of “the other”—those perceived as different or outside the bounds of belonging. In nearly every culture, religion, and era, this tendency to exclude has resurfaced in countless forms. Even rituals meant to represent inclusion have been turned into systems of separation. We may find ourselves asking: why do we need someone to be outside the circle in order to feel secure within it? This session invites an honest encounter with our inherited tendencies toward exclusion and a return to a more expansive, inclusive way of being.
Human beings often build identity through opposition. The ego seeks safety in superiority, comparison, and boundaries that separate. But when we recognize this pattern, we can begin to see that the very impulse to exclude is itself a source of suffering—not just for those pushed out, but for those doing the pushing. True liberation lies in seeing through the illusion of separateness, in recognizing that we all belong. A shared table, metaphorical or real, becomes a symbol of healing when it welcomes everyone.
The human ego prefers distinction, comparison, and exclusion—it finds comfort in identifying who is “in” and who is “out.” But the deeper spiritual journey dismantles this tendency. Inclusivity is not just an ideal; it is a practice. We only learn to create a wide table when we acknowledge our own participation in the patterns of exclusion and begin to heal the inner split that sustains them. Unity is not a vague hope; it is a disciplined practice of seeing ourselves in others, including those we have been taught to oppose or fear. Healing begins when we stop exporting our pain and instead take responsibility for transforming it within.
Affirmation
I am learning to see all beings through the lens of belonging.
I no longer need opposition to know who I am.
I commit to the inner work of dissolving separation.
Spiritual Practice
Find a quiet place to sit. Bring awareness to your breath. Let your body settle. Call to mind a person or group you’ve unconsciously or consciously held at a distance. Notice what arises—discomfort, defensiveness, sorrow, resistance. Without analyzing or judging these responses, simply allow them to be present. Breathe with them.
Now, shift attention inward. Ask yourself: What part of me feels threatened by difference? Where do I cling to superiority, to being right, to being safe at the cost of excluding others? Name this with honesty, not shame. In naming, we take the first step toward healing.
As your breath deepens, imagine a shared table. There is space for all—yourself, those you love, those you struggle to accept. Sit at this table in your mind’s eye, not as a spectator, but as one among equals. Let the silence deepen here, and allow this spaciousness to shape your inner posture.
Guiding Questions (Journaling Prompts)
Where in my life have I created boundaries of exclusion, even subtly?
What emotional need might be behind my resistance to inclusion?
Who do I unconsciously place outside the circle of belonging?
How might my personal healing lead to more compassionate connection with others?
What does it mean for me to embody a way of being that welcomes everyone to the table?
Action Step
Notice a small moment in your week when you’re tempted to divide or exclude—whether through judgment, withdrawal, or silence. Instead of following that impulse, choose a response rooted in openness. This could be a pause, a question, or a gesture of hospitality. Let it be an experiment in practicing unity in ordinary life.
Closing Invitation
Stay with the discomfort and the longing. Both are doorways to transformation. The work of healing separation is not abstract—it begins inside you. As you continue to breathe, reflect, and act from a deeper awareness of our shared dignity, you are contributing to the emergence of a more inclusive and compassionate world.