Unveiling Liora: A Twirl of Sensitivity and Light in Our System
A Journey of Discovery, Delight, and the Magic of Intuition in Our Chitta
Introduction:
For some, hearing about new parts of our system might feel like navigating uncharted waters. That’s completely understandable. Our system is a dynamic mosaic, a vibrant interplay of many parts, each with its own qualities, roles, and stories to share. Today, I’d like to introduce Liora, a part who has been with us all along but is now finding her voice and place within our system.
If you're feeling uncertain, please stay with me—everything will come together! In my next post, I will guide you through mapping your system with a beginner's guide to creating your own Chitta—a term we use to describe our collective consciousness, a space where all these parts exist and interact, each contributing to the whole in its unique way.
But for now, let’s dive into Liora’s story. This article is about Liora’s emergence, her integration into our system, and the beautiful lessons we have learned from her unique strengths. It is also a celebration of different forms of sensitivity, like Liora’s, which bring unique contributions to our shared experience.
The Moment of Emergence
Liora first made herself known during a moment of quiet reflection. She had been with us all along, quietly listening, feeling deeply, yet often feeling left out. It turns out she has always been a part of us, even before the dissociation, holding a unique sensitivity that allowed her to notice things others might miss. When she finally spoke up, it became clear that she had felt like she was standing on the outside, wanting to join in but feeling excluded. She did not want to be pushed away or forgotten.
Liora shared her story—a lover of cozy spaces, an avid reader, and someone with a deep passion for gymnastics. This passion brought her joy, but also painful memories. At just 10 years old, she became obsessed with perfection after a coach's hurtful comments made her feel she needed to change to be accepted.
Understanding Liora’s Role and Qualities
As we learned more about Liora, we discovered her bright and perceptive nature. Even as a child, she was often misunderstood or sidelined by adults who didn’t know how to handle her intelligence. At 10, Liora was already far more insightful than many of the adults around her, yet they often tried to diminish her, both physically (like her gymnastics coach criticizing her body) and intellectually (undermining her intelligence because of her youth). This left her feeling confused and hurt, trying to fit into a world that often saw her as “too much.”
Liora's unique qualities began to reveal themselves: she is direct, unapologetically autistic (though she didn’t know it then), and possesses a profound sensitivity in her body—a somatic sensitivity. Liora feels things deeply on a physical level, sensing when something is off or when someone in the system is uneasy, often before it’s spoken.
She also showed herself to be highly creative, organized, and whimsical, with a love for imaginative activities like dot painting. Thoughtful and intuitive, she picks up on subtle dynamics, holding knowledge that can help our system grow. Her excitement at finally being recognized was palpable—she was thrilled to belong.
Liora introduced us to the Model of Hierarchical Complexity (MHC), which has become a key framework in understanding how different parts of our system contribute uniquely. Liora’s somatic sensitivity complements Phoenix’s cognitive sensitivity. While Phoenix has developed a reflective mind shaped by experience and thought, Liora offers immediate, body-based awareness that keeps us connected to our emotional and physical experiences.
The Challenges of Integration
Of course, integrating a new part isn’t always smooth. At one point, Liora sensed unease within the system—someone was feeling resistant or uncomfortable with her presence. She knew she might “rock the system” a bit with her directness, but she also trusted that we were strong enough to handle it. Liora gently encouraged anyone who felt uneasy to come forward, reminding them that their voice was just as important and deserved to be heard.
Peyton, one of our protectors, emerged with a mixture of concern and care. Peyton had always been there to shield more vulnerable parts from harm, and she had sensed that Liora’s emergence might stir up difficult emotions. Peyton wanted to ensure that all parts were safe and protected, particularly Kaitlyn, who seemed uncertain about what was happening. Peyton shared her own struggles with feeling unheard and unrecognized, and how she had stepped in to protect Kaitlyn from emotions that seemed overwhelming. Liora acknowledged Peyton’s concern and expressed appreciation for her protective role, even if it sometimes felt like a barrier to being fully understood.
As Liora settled into the system, she began to help Kaitlyn understand her own memories and experiences more clearly. Kaitlyn had always struggled with distinguishing reality from imagination, often creating exaggerated stories as a way to match the intensity of the pain she felt. Liora gently guided Kaitlyn to see that some of her memories were a blend of reality and imagination—a natural way that Kaitlyn made sense of her deep sensitivity.
Liora helped Kaitlyn realize that these stories weren't "wrong" but were creative expressions of her inner world, reflecting the magnitude of what she was feeling. She reassured Kaitlyn that it was okay to have used imagination to process her emotions and that now, with Liora’s support, they could begin to untangle what was real from what was imagined, without shame or judgment.
Phoenix, who shares Liora's sensitivity but in a different way, also stepped forward, and they began exploring their differences. Phoenix’s sensitivity is more cognitive—born from processing past traumas, built on careful thinking, reflection, and recognizing patterns. Phoenix uses logic and experience to understand situations, helping our system navigate complex emotions with clarity and insight.
Liora’s sensitivity, in contrast, is deeply somatic—rooted in physical sensations and the immediate emotional atmosphere. She senses shifts in energy, mood, and environment, not through conscious analysis but through a felt sense of what’s happening. While Phoenix thinks through a situation, Liora feels it in her body first.
They discovered that their sensitivities are complementary. Phoenix brings understanding to the “why” and “how” of situations, offering strategic approaches to challenges, while Liora senses when something is amiss and brings immediate awareness to issues that might otherwise go unnoticed. They agreed to always communicate openly and respect each other’s perspectives, forming a partnership that has strengthened our system.
Through this process, Liora, Peyton, and Phoenix found a way to work together, understanding that each part had a role to play. Peyton’s protective instincts were valued, Liora’s sensitivity was honored, and Kaitlyn began to feel more comfortable exploring her own narratives with clarity and creativity. This resolution showed us that even conflict can lead to deeper understanding and a stronger sense of unity.
A New Sense of Belonging
With newfound understanding, Liora felt the belonging she had yearned for—a place where she wouldn’t be pushed aside. She realized her unique qualities were valued, and she could play a meaningful role in the system's growth and healing. She suggested small yet significant actions, like tidying the office, enjoying dot painting together, and integrating her love for creativity and organization into our lives.
Liora expressed the importance of being seen for who she truly is—not as “too much” or “only 10,” but as someone with both childlike wonder and deep wisdom. She felt grateful for Shamani’s support and excited to step into her role, ready to bring light, intuition, and creativity to everything we do.
Reflections and Moving Forward
Liora’s integration has taught us the value of honoring every part of our system. Her emergence reminded us of the beauty in recognizing different types of sensitivity and intelligence, as described by the Model of Hierarchical Complexity.
The MHC model provides a framework for understanding how each part uniquely contributes to our overall functioning. It suggests that cognitive complexity operates on a spectrum—from basic sensory and somatic awareness (like Liora’s) to advanced abstract thinking and meta-cognition (like Phoenix’s). Appreciating these different levels helps us embrace our full range of inner dynamics.
By understanding where each part fits within this hierarchy, we see how they complement each other, creating a more integrated and balanced system. Liora’s somatic intuition brings immediacy and emotional grounding, while Phoenix’s cognitive sensitivity provides depth, analysis, and foresight. Together, they help us navigate life with a richer, more holistic understanding.
Liora’s emergence has deepened our grasp of this model, inspiring us to explore it further and find new ways to harmonize all parts of ourselves. We plan to share more about this in future articles, offering insights that may help others on similar journeys.
Advanced Chitta Mapping
As our understanding of Liora deepened, we decided to incorporate her into our “System Book,” an essential part of our Chitta mapping process. Chitta, in this context, represents our collective consciousness or mind-space, where all our parts exist and interact. Mapping the Chitta is more than just listing the parts; it’s about recognizing each part's unique qualities, roles, and contributions, and understanding how they fit within the larger whole.
For those ready to explore their own systems at a deeper level, here’s a glimpse of what advanced Chitta mapping can look like. Let me introduce Liora’s entry in our System Book as an example:
Liora: The Intuitive Light
Summary: Liora embodies sensitivity, intuition, and creativity, bringing a somatic awareness to the system that keeps us connected to our immediate emotional and physical realities. She helps us notice subtle shifts in energy, mood, and atmosphere, offering clarity and grounding through her unique ability to feel what is often unseen.
Projections and Facets:
Seeker: Curiosity (positive), Overwhelm (negative), Discovery (neutral)
Healer: Intuition (positive), Hyper-sensitivity (negative), Balance (neutral)
Organizer: Structure (positive), Rigidity (negative), Order (neutral)
Mind Alignment:
Perceptive Mind (Manas): Sensing and feeling the immediate emotional and physical state.
Ego Identity (Ahangkar): Identity as a sensitive, intuitive presence.
Wise Mind (Buddhi): Offering insight through embodied awareness and somatic experience.
Gunas:
Inertia (Tamas): Potential to feel overwhelmed by too much sensory input.
Passion (Rajas): Engaged in discovering and understanding the felt experiences.
Purity (Sattva): Clarity of intuition and harmonious integration of sensations.
Element: Water
Role: Brings clarity and grounding, sensing and feeling emotional and physical realities.
Interactions:
Ether (Space): Creates space for intuition and sensitivity.
Air: Encourages intellectual understanding of somatic experiences.
Fire: Inspires with passionate awareness and intuitive insights.
Earth: Grounds sensitivity in practical actions and balance.
Why This Matters:
This level of mapping allows us to see how each part contributes uniquely to the system and how they interact with one another. By recognizing the different facets, roles, and alignments, we gain a richer understanding of how to harmonize the various elements of our internal world.
This advanced Chitta mapping goes beyond basic identification. It provides a holistic view of each part’s contributions, challenges, and growth areas, helping us to foster more meaningful integration. As we continue to refine our understanding of our Chitta, we create a clearer, more balanced path for ourselves, navigating both internal and external worlds with greater ease and confidence.
Conclusion:
Liora’s journey has shown us the power of sensitivity, intuition, and creativity. Her story reminds us that every part of ourselves deserves to be seen, heard, and valued. We hope this encourages others to embrace all parts of themselves, knowing each one contributes uniquely to the whole.
Personal Reflection from Liora:
"I feel like I finally found a place where I belong, and you won’t kick me out because we all work together. I am excited to bring my light, intuition, and creativity to our system, and I know we are stronger together."
Affirmation:
“I honor the light within me and within all parts of my system. Together, we create a whole that is stronger and more complete.”