Walk Like Royalty

In his book, The Sovereign Soul, Phillip Gowins describes a meditation exercise involving seeing others and oneself as royalty. He introduces the exercise by asking those meditating to imagine how a sovereign who takes responsibility for all it governs sees the world around them. He then asks us to see others as this sort of royalty, as well. He says, “You must glimpse the fundamental reality that you are a sovereign soul, royalty, a king or a queen. Then you will know how you should see others, and how others should see you. So, walk like a king. Walk like a queen. Walk like a sovereign soul.” What would occur in our world today if we started to regard one another with the same courtesy and respect, despite any differences we may have?

The first step would be for everyone to realize that they are indeed royalty. They must understand and accept that they are royalty, and therefore have immense power and responsibility. The power of the monarch is vast. The royalty, after all, is the figurehead of the state they govern. A royal is seen with high respect and reverence. At the same time, though, one must understand that the powers of a monarch have a distinct directive. Each individual has a responsibility to the world around them. A king or queen looking at their world realizes what it is that their lands need, and that it is their responsibility to provide that. A responsible sovereign settles disputes, provides for their governed, and regards their own non-essential desires as less important than the essential needs of those around them. This balance, I believe, would be the most difficult part to achieve.

The next step, once this is achieved, is for everyone to see each other as the sovereign that they are. As previously stated, a royal gains a certain amount of respect in the eyes of others. Therefore, if everyone is royalty, then everyone should be treated with that level of respect, and everyone should treat anybody they meet with that same level of respect. This somewhat emulates the “Golden Rule” that we are taught as children – treat others as you wish to be treated – to a higher degree. Rather, treat others better than we would wish to be treated and regard one another with a mutual respect and understanding.

Of course, achieving this mentality in everyone is virtually impossible. There will always be someone who prefers to see themselves as more important than others, as “higher” than others. There will be those who accept the power of the monarch without regarding the responsibility. There will even be those who can see the sovereign soul in others but cannot find it in themselves. But think of the world we could live in if this was a possibility. A world based on mutual respect for all, regardless of age, ethnicity, place of origin, or personal views sounds like a world that I would want to live in. If we take our own steps towards seeing the sovereign soul in ourselves and others, and pave the way for others to do the same, perhaps we can work toward this sort of world as a goal.