Unlearning Domestication: Reclaiming Our Freedom with Toltec Wisdom

In the teachings of Toltec wisdom, there is a profound call to “unlearn” the domestication that keeps us bound to limited perceptions of ourselves and the world. Domestication, in this sense, is the process by which society molds us, imposing beliefs, rules, and expectations that define who we are “supposed” to be. The Toltec path offers insights into reclaiming our true essence, moving beyond domesticated thinking to live with freedom, awareness, and purpose.

Understanding Domestication

From a young age, we are domesticated to think, feel, and behave in specific ways. Our beliefs are handed to us by our family, culture, and institutions that dictate what is “good” or “bad,” “right” or “wrong.” We’re rewarded when we conform and often punished, subtly or overtly, when we don’t. Over time, these beliefs create layers of self-perception, hiding our true nature beneath a mask of roles and expectations.

The Toltecs, an ancient civilization in Mexico, understood this process deeply. They taught that domestication disconnects us from our innate wisdom and limits our ability to live freely. According to Toltec wisdom, reclaiming our true self begins with an act of unlearning.

Unlearning: The Path to Freedom

Unlearning domestication is not about rejecting everything we’ve learned, but rather about examining what serves our true essence versus what keeps us bound. It’s a practice of courage and radical self-awareness, requiring us to question the beliefs that unconsciously rule us.

The Toltec path offers us tools to navigate this unlearning:

Awareness: Becoming aware of the beliefs we carry is the first step. Many of these beliefs operate in the background, like invisible threads shaping our actions and thoughts. By paying attention to our habitual reactions and inner dialogues, we can start to notice where we are still governed by domesticated thinking.

Intention: Setting the intention to reclaim our freedom is powerful. Intention is like planting a seed that, over time, grows into a tree of inner strength. With intention, we can begin to question our beliefs: Do I truly believe this, or was it taught to me? Does this belief limit me or liberate me?

Self-Mastery: In Toltec wisdom, self-mastery involves taking responsibility for our thoughts, emotions, and actions. It means cultivating an inner authority, so our decisions are rooted in our true essence rather than in a desire to conform or seek validation.

Practicing Forgiveness: Domestication often brings guilt and shame, especially when we realize how much of our lives have been controlled by others’ expectations. Forgiveness is the practice of letting go of judgments against ourselves for believing these stories. It’s a way of softening the layers we’ve built around us, inviting us to reconnect with who we are beneath the conditioning.

Moving Beyond the Illusion

One of the most liberating insights from Toltec wisdom is the idea that life itself is a dream. Our beliefs, our stories, and even our sense of self are part of this dream. By unlearning domestication, we don’t lose ourselves; instead, we wake up to a truer, freer expression of who we are.

When we unlearn domestication, we begin to recognize the unity beneath the illusion of separation. We see that the stories dividing us are just that – stories. And as we let go of the layers that obscure our essence, we reconnect with the deeper truth of our being.

In the Toltec tradition, this journey is often called “becoming a warrior.” A warrior in this sense is not one who fights outward battles but one who bravely ventures into the depths of their own conditioning to liberate themselves from the mental prisons of domestication. It’s the warrior’s journey of undoing, a return to our original, unbound nature.

Embracing Our True Essence

Unlearning domestication is a lifelong journey, a process of continuously peeling back layers and discovering who we are beneath the masks. As we let go of domesticated beliefs, we align with our truth, unfiltered and unbound. We embrace a more authentic way of being, one where we no longer need approval to validate our existence.

Toltec wisdom reminds us that beneath all the stories, we are beings of love, freedom, and infinite potential. As we unlearn domestication, we remember that our essence was never lost – it was simply hidden beneath layers of beliefs. Through this path, we find our way back to ourselves, reclaiming a life of freedom, purpose, and true connection.