We come to the  last chapter of our exploration of The Wellness Workbook.  I hope you have found some things of value and interest and worth some more thought.  Wellness is a journey we are on for our whole life.  There are detours, forks in the road, potholes and there are stunning vistas, discoveries and adventure along the way.  Enjoy the ride!!
   So, Wellness and Transcending - what does that mean?  It's going to mean a lot of different things to different people.  A simple explanation is when all the energies of life that were seen as separate, including us, are in a moment experienced as one energy. 
   Perhaps you have experienced something like this already in your life.  It may have only lasted a second, but don't ignore its significance!  Some time when all thoughts of problems or concerns were gone, your sense of being separate disappeared and you were lost (or found!) in a state of timeless connection with everything.  Some might call it being in the zone - physical activity might bring it on.  Music, nature, creating art, meditation and prayer are triggers.  How about a very real synchronicity, or when a solution just popped into your head without your working on it.  A connection with something outside of yourself - this is a transcending experience and can be a part of your spiritual wellbeing. 
   Not everyone is interested in pursuing such an experience (and actually, if you TRY for it, it is sometimes elusive!).  Some will find their spiritual wellness in their participation with an organized religion.  Others have a vague sense of something beyond our physical world and maybe are not sure where to start to develop this experience.  The Wellness Workbook gives a few places to begin in describing 4 Theories.
   Theory 1 - Everything is connected because everything is one.  Our current scientific thinking begins to describe this in practical ways that may be more palatable to the Western mind.  But Eastern and indigenous peoples' thought has followed this path for millennia.  Our connections and one-ness are complete at the very atomic, energetic level and all actions and even thoughts have an impact on us an others.  Healing can happen across the miles and across the room.  And our responsibility for our thoughts and lives is important to contribute to the wellbeing of our neighbors and our planet, as well as ourselves. 
   Theory 2 - We Shape our Own Reality.  We have come to understand in science that our observation of a particular event has an impact on the process.  That is, our energy patterns influence reality!  Our thoughts are energy and they have a real impact on our overall wellbeing.  As has already been discussed in previous chapters, what we think is critically important!
   Theory 3 - Everything is in Process.  The Greek philosopher Heraclitus said, "You can't step twice into the same river."  Your life today isn't the same as yesterday - or even as an hour ago.  We are in a constant process of moving toward or away from our highest wellbeing, on a physical, mental and spiritual level. 
   Theory 4 - Falling Apart & Falling Together.  Sometimes it is necessary to have things break down in order for us to rebuild a stronger, more balanced and healthy presence.  Old things must be cleared out to make room for new things.  A sickness in body or mind or a lost relationship can be a transformative event. 
   There are ways to encourage and cultivate a relationship with transcendence.  It begins with an openness to our processes and to being very aware and here in the present moment.  We mostly are not going to be able to 'think' our way to transcendence.  It tends to be a much more right brain activity - accessed through creativity rather than logic. 
Meditation, music, art, movement, dreamwork and being in nature are ways we might begin.  Daily practice will cultivate strength, flexibility and resilience in our spiritual selves just as exercise does for our muscles. 
  This is the ultimate uniting of all our other wellness chapters.  It allows wellbeing and healing to happen, sometimes in spite of what we're physically doing in our daily lives!  Quoting the end of The Wellness Workbook, "Finding a center, a home, a place of balance, makes anything possible. The universe, from this perspective, is viewed as friendly, and our place in it is experienced as blessed." 
   May you continue your journey to wellness and encounter many  blessings along the way.