Time as a Spiral: The Sacred Ascent of the Soul

Ben Neil
Oct 5
3 min read

“From Repetition to Revelation: Embracing Time’s Divine Design”

Time is not the straight line we have been taught to imagine. It is a spiral, endlessly circling, endlessly ascending. Just as galaxies whirl into being, seashells unfold their Fibonacci patterns, and DNA twists in its sacred helix, so too does time turn upon itself in a dance of return and renewal. Life brings us back to familiar places, faces, and feelings—not to punish us with repetition, but to give us a higher perspective, a chance to step into the same moment with greater awareness, deeper compassion, and a fuller heart.

When we embrace surrender and non-resistance, we stop fighting the spiral and allow ourselves to be carried by its upward current. Resistance keeps us trapped at one level of the spiral, replaying the same pain in the same way. Surrender, however, is the doorway to transcendence—it allows us to see that each moment of struggle is a sacred invitation to heal, to soften, and to rise beyond the old pattern. Through surrender, we discover that the spiral is not a trap, but a pathway home.

Mindfulness is the key that reveals the spiral’s secret. By grounding ourselves in the present moment, we begin to see the subtle differences between “then” and “now.” Though an experience may feel eerily familiar, it is not the same river, and we are not the same traveler. As the philosopher once said, “No man or woman ever steps into the same river twice, for the river has changed, and so has the man or woman.” What once brought us only pain now brings us the possibility of healing. What once broke us now offers the chance to make us whole.

This is the beauty of duality and balance—that light and shadow weave together, not to bind us in suffering, but to teach us harmony. Each turn of the spiral allows us to see both sides of the coin, to embrace both joy and sorrow, to realize that they are not opposites but companions. The spiral of time lifts us into the paradox where both can exist, where healing comes not from denying one side, but from integrating both into the wholeness of who we are.

As we align with this truth, we begin to notice the threads of synchronicity guiding our steps. People appear at just the right time, signs cross our path, and chance meetings open doors. These are not random. They are the markers on the spiral, the evidence that the universe is conspiring to help us rise higher each time we circle back. What once felt like coincidence becomes confirmation that we are being divinely guided along the upward path of our own becoming.

And yes, there will be moments when it feels as if we are reliving the same painful story. But in truth, we are being given the opportunity to revisit the wound at a higher vibration. The spiral returns us to the old scar, not to deepen it, but to cleanse it. The pain is not punishment; it is preparation. Each return is a chance to respond with more love, more grace, more presence than we could before. Each step is a sacred rehearsal until the soul sings in harmony with its own healing.

The ultimate goal of this divine spiral is not perfection, but presence. It is to bring us to the place where we are fully open, fully healed, and fully here. That is the greatest gift we can give—to ourselves, to one another, and to the world: the gift of being wholly present, with hearts unarmored and souls unafraid. Time’s spiral is the universe’s love letter, calling us not to escape the circle of life, but to rise within it, offering the fullness of who we are.

If you’re interested in reading more about these subjects, I urge you to visit my websites and explore my books from The Initiate Series.