Why can we so easily lose ourselves in anger at a driver who cuts us off, in worry about a conversation that hasn't happened yet, or in the opinions we defend as though our life depends on them? Gurdjieff called this loss of self identification—the involuntary fusion of our attention with whatever captures it. When identified, we become what we observe. In this state, we have a limited perspective and a reduced ability to control our actions.  Identification isn't occasional: it is our default state and the primary mechanism that keeps us asleep.This session explores how identification operates in everyday life. What becomes possible when we begin to notice that we are identified? Can we find a different relationship to our thoughts and feelings—not by suppressing them, but by developing the capacity to observe without merging? Together we will investigate this core concept of the Work and why Gurdjieff taught that struggle against identification was essential. No previous experience with these ideas is necessary—only a willingness to question who and where you are.

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RSVP appreciated but not required: info@gurdjieffasheville.org