Introduction
On August 22, 2015, during a summer of deep connection and inspiration, I recorded a reflective video about icebergs while living at a cabin on the outskirts of Norways capital, Oslo.
At the time I was exploring the concept of “The Norwegian LightWarrior,” sharing thoughts through reflective videos and venturing into blogging. This recording, “Life is an Iceberg”, one of several from that season, captures the clarity and insight I had at that stage of my journey, seeing myself as an iceberg.
Now, nine years later, I find that the reflections still hold water—offering truths that continue to resonate, both timeless and deeply relevant. What follows is a transcript of that video, slightly adjusted for clarity, to preserve and share the essence of this iceberg insight of mine.
The Vastness of it All
[Video Transcript]
“It’s truly remarkable when you pause and observe nature—all of it, everything within and around it, including us. We are a part of nature, not separate from it. Here I sit at the cabin, taking it all in. There are trees, grass, distant voices mingling with the wind. I see flowers and vegetation, the earth underfoot, rocks scattered about, and buildings blending into the landscape. It’s a lot to describe, yet at the same time, it feels like everything.
In front of me stands a big tree—a magnificent presence. We could say this tree is everything there is about a tree. But that’s not entirely true, is it? A tree is much more than what we see above the ground. Beneath the surface, there’s a vast root system, likely larger than the visible portion of the tree itself. What I see, then, is only a fraction of the whole. The idea that I see the entire tree is an illusion—a comforting one, perhaps, but a limited view of its reality.
This isn’t just true of trees. Think of an iceberg. What we see above the water is striking, but the real bulk of it lies hidden below the surface, out of sight. They say about 10% of an iceberg is visible, with the other 90% submerged. This holds true for so many things—trees, icebergs, even the simplest objects we interact with daily.
Take a cup, for instance. I hold it in my hand and think, “This is a cup.” But is it just a cup? The answer is no. It’s glass, or porcelain, or plastic, depending on its material. Within it are molecules, atoms, air. Beyond its physical makeup, it represents labor, profit, and intention. It’s a tool, a creation with meaning and purpose far beyond its physical form. So even something as seemingly straightforward as a cup contains layers and connections we don’t immediately consider.
Now let’s turn to us—humans. We look in the mirror and say, “That’s me. This is everything there is of me.” But is it? What we see is only the part of ourselves that is tangible, physical, and visible—a part of us that exists at a lower frequency, manifesting as organic matter. Yet there’s so much more to each of us. We radiate energy. We are connected to our personal histories, to humanity’s shared history, and even to the earliest life forms that crawled from the oceans millions of years ago. Our roots, our unseen foundations, stretch further and deeper than any iceberg or tree.
When you look in the mirror next, consider this: How much of you are you not seeing? What does the part of you that isn’t visible look like? How does it function? How expansive are you, really?
Sitting here in the Norwegian countryside on this late sunny afternoon, I reflect on this like a philosopher with his stone. The philosopher’s stone isn’t a physical object; it’s something internal. Like the iceberg, you might see only 10% of it, but the rest is vast, incomprehensibly so.
This brings me to the path of the light-warrior, a realization that we start with what we know—our visible 10%—to uncover the greater reality. We begin with the tools at hand, using what we already understand about ourselves to access the deeper parts of our being. Revelation, clarity, enlightenment—these are not gifts someone else can hand to you. They must be discovered within.
The ego plays a role in this. Some say the ego should be discarded, but I believe it must first be understood and engaged with. Your ego must decide to let go of itself—it’s a choice only it can make. The soul doesn’t destroy the ego; the ego must understand its purpose and find alignment with the soul. Until that happens, the ego is not your enemy but a necessary guide, a tool to navigate the waters of self-awareness.
When you begin to explore the hidden 90%, you’ll find tools for enlightenment, a better physical life, and perhaps even the betterment of mankind. But these tools aren’t found in anyone else’s 10%. They reside within your 90%, waiting to be discovered. My 90% is mine to explore, and yours is yours. Together, our discoveries may ripple outward, but the journey begins within.
So, don’t fear the hidden parts of yourself. The unseen 90% doesn’t wish to destroy the 10% you know. Your ego need not fear your soul; they’re not in opposition. The soul doesn’t seek to harm the ego—it seeks to work with it, to integrate it. Any perspective suggesting otherwise misses the larger picture.
On this Sunday afternoon, with coffee in hand and the beauty of Norway surrounding me, I offer this thought: Life is an iceberg. Let’s not just admire the visible tip but explore the vastness beneath. Let’s use our tools, imperfect though they may be, to uncover what lies within. And as we do, let’s share in the peace and love that comes from understanding the greater reality.”
Closing
The journey of self-discovery begins with what we know—the visible 10% of ourselves. This part, though small, is vital. It’s the starting point, the key to unlocking the vast, hidden 90% that lies beneath the surface. Transformation and growth come through engaging with this known portion of ourselves, using it as a tool to defragment, heal, and explore the deeper layers of who we are.
If there is “spirit,” in any form or understanding, if there are metaphysical concepts, tools, or even so-called superpowers, they can only be accessed through this process of going below to rise above. The esoteric possibilities for a LightWarrior are not external gifts—they are buried within the hidden 90% of our being. They are only accessible to you through the deliberate engagement with the 10% that you can see and know.
This is the path—a deeply personal journey of discovery and transformation, where the work we do with what is known opens the doorway to the profound potential waiting within.
Listen to a deep-dive episode by the Google NotebookLM Podcasters, as they explore this article in their unique style, blending light banter with thought-provoking studio conversations.
