Michelle Ashen's Key Ideas from Diamond Heart: Elements of the Real in Man
by A. H. Almaas

One of the primary methods used in the Diamond Approach is open-ended inquiry. Rather than following strict dogmas or practices, students are encouraged to explore their personal experiences, feelings, and beliefs deeply and honestly.

The Diamond Approach recognizes that psychological blocks and childhood traumas can hinder spiritual development. By addressing and understanding these issues, individuals can remove barriers to spiritual insight.

Personal experience is highly valued, with the understanding that direct experience (as opposed to intellectual knowledge) is the most reliable source of truth.

In the Diamond Approach, the relationship with a teacher can be a critical component. The teacher provides guidance, feedback, and support, helping students navigate and deepen their personal inquiries.

The approach considers spiritual realization not as a fixed endpoint but as an ever-unfolding process. There's always more depth, nuance, and understanding to discover.

The "theory of holes" is a concept within the Diamond Approach, as developed by A.H. Almaas. It pertains to the psychological and spiritual understanding of deficiencies or "holes" in the individual's sense of self. These holes arise due to certain childhood experiences where essential aspects of our being are not seen, appreciated, or responded to by our caregivers.

When children do not receive appropriate mirroring or positive feedback for their natural qualities or essence (like joy, strength, love, etc.) from their environment, they can come to believe they lack these qualities. Instead of experiencing these qualities, they feel a void or absence – a "hole."

Due to these holes, individuals may develop false beliefs about themselves, thinking they are inadequate, unlovable, or worthless. These beliefs can then become self-fulfilling prophecies, guiding their behavior and interactions.

To cope with these perceived deficiencies, individuals might develop ego structures or personality traits that serve to compensate. For instance, someone with a hole around "strength" might become overly aggressive or dominant as a way to overcompensate.

Within the context of the Diamond Approach, these holes are explored using inquiry. As individuals delve into their feelings and memories, they begin to recognize and confront these voids, leading to a deeper understanding and eventual healing.

As one works through and understands the nature of these holes, there's an opportunity to reclaim the lost essential qualities. Instead of feeling the deficiency, individuals can begin to experience and express their true nature and essential qualities more fully.

The theory of holes offers a framework for understanding how early experiences shape our self-perception and behaviors. By addressing these holes, one can move toward greater wholeness, authenticity, and spiritual realisation.