As I melded with effusive wildness of Costa Rica, I unearthed an answer. We humans can re-connect to our natural aliveness by opening to a force that is more powerful than our programming, more compelling than our collective conditioning. The force that can liberate us is universal life energy, primal life force. This unbridled exuberance abounds everywhere around us—and within us. Fortunately, cultural conditioning cannot control primal life force. This raw creative energy is free and innocent of all human concepts and beliefs. Primal life force doesn’t follow its own drumbeat; it is drumbeat.

Primal life force is more fundamental, more basic, than our human psychological and cultural creations. In reality, this power provides lifeblood, essence and juice that sustains and supports entire human culture currently existing on planet. Primal life flow is natural energy source that literally runs our human creations.

Several years ago, a wall of red-hot lava streamed down side of a volcano on Big Island of Hawaii cutting right through a village located between volcano and ocean. So intense was temperature of boiling lava, its radiant energy vaporized wood and cement foundations of human structures before lava physically touched foundations. All traces of village and human habitation were annihilated in wake of lava inferno as it made its way to sea.

Modern science doesn’t know a way to stop power of Goddess Pele, impassioned expression of spirit of volcano. The human structures were not as real, fundamental or substantial as energy of volcano. Human concepts, beliefs and paradigms trying to overlay and dominate nature are no match for raw, creative primal power of natural vigor.

The vibration of original vitality, passion and excitement is strong enough to melt our collective granite heart. Just as primal life force vaporized not-so-solid foundations of Hawaiian physical structures, primal life force can dissolve foundations of psychological structure that makes us think we need to control and feel separate from other life in order to get enough energy to survive.

One key to becoming fully revitalized is to reconnect with universal life force in such a way that we are not only fed by it, but also transformed by it. If we resonate with abundant aliveness all around us, divine alchemy will transmute us into experience of being that eternal essence of life energy. When we become one with universal life force, we are able to draw our very sustenance, supply and security from our own source within. We are sovereign, self-generating, in terms of where we get our energy. Sourcing our own energy, we then have enough personal power to melt crystallized granite heart within ourselves and our culture. And until we walk with authentic sovereignty of natural vitality, we won’t have courage and strength to go out and love with true spirit and fulfill our core purposes on Earth.

Another crucial aspect of message I received from wildness of Costa Rica is that to be successful on our quest, we humans need to open to this primordial energy through direct, pure, spontaneous, innocent and fresh means. We cannot approach this enterprise from an old paradigm or model. For, if we seek natural, organic vitality in an unnatural, nonorganic way, we won’t uncover pure source we seek. To approach aliveness in a sequential, methodical, linear manner prevents us from contacting its basic nature. This natural aliveness does not exist within framework or box in which we currently exist as a society. Pure, free life expression lives outside of our cultural conditioning, underneath it, behind it—beyond it.

We can reclaim our natural power only if we approach challenge in a manner that is new, wild, free, unexpectant and in-the-moment. If this alive space is sought in any way that is familiar or known, it won’t be found. Where we’re going and what we’re looking for isn’t located on any existing cultural map.

The way to natural vitality is uncharted because very finding of this energy transforms us and our universe to such an extent that no previous map, blueprint or paradigm is relevant. By very nature of goal—aliveness—the path to goal remains fresh and spontaneous, impossible to document or plan.

No methodology, technique or structured approach can ever remain valid for any period of time—or even a second time—to assist us in reaching this vibrant state. This space, once achieved, once embodied, once lived, is so free, transforming, creative and constantly changing that any existing map, chart or way won’t take us there a second time. Strategies previous to this moment take us to old places and old experiences. Really cool, but not current. Pleasant, but not present. Potent, but not profound.

To undertake this odyssey in most advantageous way, my inner coach suggests a simple, direct, personal approach. To rekindle our fire of aliveness, we can open to peak moments in our life when we experienced a strong connection to vibration of raw, creative primal life flow. Many of us can’t think of—or remember—a time when we did merge with this basic life force. Fortunately, it doesn’t matter that our memory of our true nature is blocked by our mind. We can employ our intuition as a guide, instead of mind. Our intuition knows where and how to access this vibration of vitality. Our intuition knows how to remove or go around any barriers or denial. Behind our veils of fear, dismissal, distraction, invalidation and misinterpretation are hundreds of firsthand encounters with this universal fire. Within each of us lies a treasure house of direct personal experiences readily available for enhancement and transformation of our everyday life.

The heart of Costa Rica radiated one primal message: “Go for juice, electricity. Forget form.”

If whatever is happening in moment looks and sounds right, but doesn’t feel intuitively right to you, then it’s not right. It isn’t what you’re meant to be doing at that moment—it isn’t what is spiritually appropriate or indicated for you to be doing at that precise time.

In regard to any situation, key question to ask yourself is: “For me, in moment, is there passion, aliveness, heart?”

If there is not, then you are not in right place, no matter how convincing outer appearance might be. Let it go.

The spirit of Earth urges: “Move on. Stay open. Keep flowing.”

In an Arizona canyon twenty years ago, a venerable Hopi medicine man named Medicine Cloud shared a keen observation with me: “Everything you need to know about life you can learn from streams and clouds.”

I now know what he meant.

"Now as an adult, I long for honest, expressive relationships with co-workers and employers-and playful, truthful relationships with friends and lovers. But my own unconscious behavior sabotages openness and intimacy I so deeply desire. I try to get people to talk about themselves without revealing anything about myself. I pretend to not know information that I do know. And I look for attention and love from other people by getting sick and playing helpless and spacey."

The Ex-Flower Child

"At first my new job delivering flowers was right up my alley. I enjoyed time driving gave me to be with myself. Then management changed our original agreement and required that I work more hours and drive longer distances for less pay. Running on my childhood programming, I kept my resentment to myself and became moody. I felt like a victim, taken advantage of, powerless. I pouted and whined to myself. When I talked to boss, I was angry and copped an attitude. It wasn't long before I got fired."

Who's You Who Makes You Do?

What do YOU do to try to make friends, stay safe, fit in, be loved? Until we undo these conditioned strategies, decisions we made when we were children run all aspects of our lives in present: from relationships and health to finances and work.

You can easily discover automatic behaviors that are running you. Scan through your life. Make a list of challenges you encountered throughout your life. What are specific, unique problems you had to face at your home, school, college, job-and with your parents, relatives, friends, teachers and co-workers? What personal strategies did you develop to get yourself through challenges of your journey? Are you still using similar tactics? Are these approaches successful?

Intuition to Rescue

The good news is that when you identify past programmed strategies that don't work in your present life, you can create new strategies that do work. The once necessary kid tactics that kept you safe and balanced-like training wheels of a bicycle-can be discarded. You are now capable of keeping yourself balanced and safe using guiding wisdom of your intuition and acquired life experience.

Successful Alternatives Surround You

Exciting and playful alternative strategies are all around you. Lots of people have discovered original, creative ways of dealing with situations similar to yours. Fresh ideas and models are demonstrated in lives of truly happy and successful people. With keen eyes and perked ears, you can glean fun and compassionate life strategies from biographies, interviews, TV, movies, books, news, magazines and advice columns. Seek out a mentor, shaman or other personal advisor. Let your intuition guide you to an inspiring workshop or professional coach.

Good luck. Have a good time creating new approaches to life that work!

After what you've been through, you deserve it!