From Pretence to Presence - By Deepak John

Written By: Deepak John

Category: Poetry

Competition: Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026

In the Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026, Deepak John presents "From Pretence to Presence," an evocative piece in the poetry category. This work is a profound exploration of the journey from trauma to healing, invoking themes of self-awareness and spiritual awakening. Deepak's poetic voice invites readers to reflect deeply on their own paths toward inner wholeness. Through his thoughtful verses, he offers a compassionate guide to embracing both the challenges and revelations that come with personal growth.

About the Work

"From Pretence to Presence" by Deepak John is a poignant meditation on the complexities of emotional healing. His poetry delicately weaves themes of energy, trauma, and self-discovery, encouraging readers to confront and release their inner struggles. The work is rich with imagery that captures the ongoing battle between numbing discomfort and pursuing genuine wellness. Deepak's style is introspective and candid, offering a mirror to those navigating their own emotional landscapes.

Triggers keep locating you

Original Submission by Deepak John

FROM PRETENCE TO PRESENCE

Your spirit is on a path to be again whole

The journey you have chosen, its ultimate goal

Energy blocks from past traumatic events

These will your comprehensive force prevent

To show trapped charge, triggers enter your life

These episodes announce where feelings are strife

Your higher-self is demonstrating the internal flow

To identify snared energies and issues to know

To integrate this stuck power is no small feet

The discomfort and hurt you have to openly greet

Reflect and learn, as you traverse through pain

When obstruction clears, your energy moves again

The common approach for most in this situation

No season or freedom exist for internal attention

When ill at ease, get the relevant-quick-pill-fix

Numb dis-ease and stay on hamster-wheel-olympics

Flash tablet answers, the call for help does silence

To dull and ensure you remain on blockage avoidance

This approach is okay I guess if it is only temporary

But compulsive pill-use-tactic is quite ordinary

Without further delay, let’s talk cognitive dissonance

When actions and your belief systems are out of balance

Consciously choose the road to wellness is good

Yet consume fake contrivances to subdue mood

If you asked people on regular anti-depressant

Is it favourable and their life made improvement

The common retort and response I can bet

True healing and relief, these mortals do not get

Ignore, numb or run, triggers keep locating you

Energy must flow, revealing labour you should do

Emotion hates being trapped, it needs release

Triggers continue to prevail, never giving you peace

The next trigger affair on your route, here is the advice

Time and effort to be present you must devise

So many holistic ways exist

That allow time and space for the deep untwist

It is through feeling again you master to be whole

The pleasant the horrid, your total inner bowl

Take off the mask, we are all authentic humans

Live in the here and now, from pretence to presence

________________

Notes

* Personalised trauma. First love and breakup. Or collective trauma. These are trigger events.

* Sit and think, without much thought you can recall big events in your life that caused major shifts in your life. Usually negative, dearmour these. events are there to catapult you into your spiritual awakening or further initiations to learn the lesson or get skills you need on your path

* The trauma creates a charge in the body and this needs to be released and these is released through emotions which usually are negative in this case

* This is the way spirit works, to highlight aspects of your life that are not in coherence, so you can address them. They are causing you pain. Your spirit is bringing these to you so you can move through the pain and release the trapped energy which is sitting in the mental or emotional or even physical body.

* People resist because their mental body has tricked them into believing a different story

* To confront your shadow is hard work and may be too much for some people and they go back into their old patterns. There are enough deadlines and responsibilities to distract you

* The trigger events will keep returning, increasing in size and scale as it is needing to release the blocked charge

* You may be in a relationship that is not good, but you keep staying as you are not learning the lesson. Cognitive dissonance occurs.

* Confrontation avoided is to live in a peaceful lie

* Trigger shows you the trapped charge so you can deal with it

* Trauma may be from unrelated situation. From your youth or different lives. But needs to clear in this experience

* The planet is going through a major shift. You need to address your personal shadows or you will not be able to cope with the planetary paradigm upgrade taking place. Best do so efficiently and timeously. The time is now.

* The shadow aspects need to time and attention to be integrated. Many avenues available like breathwork, ceremonies etc. people don’t have time for this with their busy lives.

* Ignore the trigger and you will be sure to get a bigger one down the line

* Global and personal trigger events will force you to confront and get out of your shell that you are trying to hide in. you need to feel and the shell is your shield from feeling.

* Louder, more present and more prevalent

* Too much ignoring and your nervous system can shut down

* Or psychosis as energy erupts that has been trying to for so long. Mental breakdown, madness etc.

* Not priority because Life in the cube. Partner, kids, house, car, job, medical aid, pension. Nothing outside the cube. Ignore the emotional body.

* Instead in this cube-based-paradigm issues are dealt with quick fixes. Anti-depressent instead of dealing with emotional body, take the pill and shut down the emotional body.

* Shifting material to new age

* Ask people on anti-depressent and ask if it is working for them, most would say it is not. It turns off the alarm so the nervous system can rest. Western medicine is necessary when there is this large alarm going off and the nervous system needs to be calmed.

* Wisdom has been shut off from our culture. We have been shut off from source and nature and ourselves. There is no critical thinking and this is what brings wisdom.

* Most people are on the hamster wheel, in a constant state of hyper or hyporegulation just to keep their life going

* Not all trigger events are large to push you to professional help. Most are small that are affecting your life. Covid was an example of global trigger events. You can only sit with yourself. Consulting psychiatrist at this time would not be entirely helpful.

* Rather trigger event can start your investigating of your reality, what feels right, meditate, recognise cognitive dissonance.

* You ignore facts, information and this does not fit into your paradigm and you dismiss it. This is cognitive dissonance. Belief and action are contradictory because of manipulated mental programs

* Fear is used to target. You will die if you don’t take this thing.

* The purpose of trigger events is to start your journey of self exploration, which leads to self discovery and empowerment so you are back in the captains cabin of your ship

* Patience, the path is not clear and is lifelong path.

* I have choice and awareness to set new boundaries. Empaths can take longer.

* How to start. Differs per soul. Interview practitioners and observe what fits and see what you resonate with. Try art therapy, try anger release, try. Play, explore.

* Create time for yourself so you can design your healing journey. Covid gave us time to do this

* Rephrase trigger events from negative to positive. Same for oppressors who are herding us to dystopian

About the Competition

The Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026 by Hashtag Kalakar celebrates the diverse voices and stories of writers worldwide. This esteemed platform provides participants the opportunity to share their unique perspectives through poetry, short stories, essays, and creative writing. With a commitment to fostering creativity and expression, the competition is a vibrant showcase of literary talent and a testament to the universal power of the written word.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to Deepak John for his contribution to the Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026 with "From Pretence to Presence." His insightful exploration of healing and self-awareness resonates deeply, offering inspiration and hope. We look forward to witnessing more of Deepak's literary journey and the continued impact of his poetic reflections.

About Hashtag Kalakar

Hashtag Kalakar is a creative platform dedicated to providing artists, writers, singers and other creative talents with opportunities to showcase their work and reach wider audiences through competitions, features and creative initiatives.