No matter what I write, I am aware that something well written will be an easier read than something poorly written.
Hence, when I saw this article on Digg, I thought it was worth linking to. http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/george-orwells-5-rules-for-effective-writing/
In my enthusiasm for writing (and the time I'm taking for writing outside of paid work is fairly new for me), I forget some of these rules. The simpler, the better, as this is.
Survival of Consciousness
Survival of Consciousness...Life after Death... esoteric phrases with concrete answers, according to the Forever Family Foundation's "Proof of an Afterlife?" conference this past weekend in San Francisco.
I happen to be a believer of survival of consciousness. I have had enough experiences to realize that there is more to life than our human body and it's mechanical actions. There is more out there than just us humans.
In fact, I believe that we are having a human experience, as part of our greater existence as souls or spirits... or as our "mind". Many of the scientists at the conference spoke of our mind, as being separate from our brain. Whatever you may call it - soul, spirit or mind - I have no doubt that we are greater than our human bodies.
I happen to be a believer of survival of consciousness. I have had enough experiences to realize that there is more to life than our human body and it's mechanical actions. There is more out there than just us humans.
In fact, I believe that we are having a human experience, as part of our greater existence as souls or spirits... or as our "mind". Many of the scientists at the conference spoke of our mind, as being separate from our brain. Whatever you may call it - soul, spirit or mind - I have no doubt that we are greater than our human bodies.
And this weekend, we heard from such renowned scientists as Fred Alan Wolf on quantum physics, from Gary Schwartz on his scientifically valid experiments with mediums and from Jim Tucker on his verifiable research on reincarnation. Although the presenters didn't always agree 100% on everything, they did seem to agree on one thing: that there is more to life than what we can see with our eyes. Whether they are energy particles, spirits, ghosts, or repetitive near-death experiences, there is something more than meets the eyes. They have moved past the "does it exist" in their research and are now moving into the "how does it exist" or "how does it work" in their research. We were reminded that mainstream science worked with atoms before they could see them, and are now working at the nano-molecular level (I think I got that right) even though there is much that can't be seen.
After all the scientific talk, I came out of the conference realizing we are each a small part of a greater existence. I felt surreal as I noticed an individual walking across the street and, through a shift in my own persective, saw that she was a minute part of the energy that surrounds us. I sensed the energy around us - the humming and shifting - and could visualize those molecules becoming denser and slowing down until they form a human. I know that isn't exactly how it works, but this abstract knowing was definitely surreal.
And on a greater level, I realize that our purpose here is for our souls to learn and grow through us - this is our human potential.
And this is what gives meaning to our existence.
However, there were a couple days after the conference that, due to the science emphasis, I simply saw an etheric realm crystallizing into human form, which grows, dies and becomes etheric again. I envisioned our soul, if it even existed, as using our humanness as puppets, with no purpose for ourselves as humans. I lacked a connection with the meaning of purpose that rationally I know exists - I just wasn't feeling it. I was extremely uncomfortable, struggling to accept the process of understanding and change that I was going through, hoping that I'd come out on the other side with an appreciation for life and the afterlife, and an ability to connect the two in a meaningful way. I didn't like it, in any case.
I felt grateful that this feeling only lasted a couple days (what if it had gone on for weeks? forever? the learning, growth and understanding I'd been going through the last few years - gone?)
Then I woke up this morning and realized, perhaps there is something so unique, so incredible, so rich, that our energetic souls want nothing more than to experience their opportunities to be human, to plan, then to live out a human existence, with all its mistakes, lessons and triumphs. Perhaps there is nothing quite like this existence on the energetic plane of our souls.
Quite the turnaround...and to be honest, I'm still struggling to get back on "track" completely. I like feeling spiritually enlightened (even if I have a long way to go). I like feeling a solid sense of purpose, a feeling that every action I take has a consequence (even if I make a mistake and the consequence is unpleasant). I did a meditation last night and, for the first time in all the times I've meditated, felt a tightening all around my chest and a pain down my back. It pretty much disappeared once I was done, but... is my body still back at "no purpose in this life", while my mind is struggling to bring me forward once again?
I appreciated knowing that there is science behind what I'm learning. I appreciate that avenues of science are devoting their time, talent and knowledge to this. I believe this will help bridge a gap between mainstream audiences and metaphysical audiences. However I think, for me, I need to separate the important facts of science from the beauty that is the afterlife and beyond. At least until I'm more grounded in my own personal transformation.Appreciation
Ever feel frustrated, negative, unhappy about whatever situations you are experiencing at a particular moment? Do you often feel like when you are in a negative mood, that experience snowballs, and subsequent moments have a negative tint to them too?
Our brains tend to follow the path of least resistance (call it the synaptic pathways between neurons, or simply that one memory or thought tends to link us to the next one). I know when I have a negative thought, other negative ones follow.
Likewise, however, if I have a positive thought, it is often followed by other positive thoughts. This trick is to change that negative series by inserting a vivid or distinctive positive image.
I often find that my brain follows this leap all on its own if I learn about someone else's misfortune. That may sound a bit incongruent to happiness.
However, when I hear an upset child, or read a sad news article, my heart instantly goes out to them. I feel compassion for the situation they must or might be in. I start to think about ways I might help them, or someone else in a similar situation in the future. I think about ways I've helped others in the past. And I start to appreciate my own life and how fortunate I am to have the life I have. I start to think positively, even if it is to feel compassion for others in less fortunate, if brief, circumstances. Then, I am in the state of mind to send some of the blessings, good fortunes, feelings and positive energy that I have, to that sad child, if they are in a state to receive it.
Metaphysically speaking, sending positive, loving energy out to the world, is something we can all do. Metaphysically speaking, imposing our thoughts or energy on another is an intrusion, so "if they would like to receive it" is more courteous. Sending positive energy is easier to do when our brains are in a positive state of mind and we are following that positive pathway.
By appreciating our own lives and the lives of others, we can live more positively, which, metaphysics or not, can spread to others.
Our brains tend to follow the path of least resistance (call it the synaptic pathways between neurons, or simply that one memory or thought tends to link us to the next one). I know when I have a negative thought, other negative ones follow.
Likewise, however, if I have a positive thought, it is often followed by other positive thoughts. This trick is to change that negative series by inserting a vivid or distinctive positive image.
I often find that my brain follows this leap all on its own if I learn about someone else's misfortune. That may sound a bit incongruent to happiness.
However, when I hear an upset child, or read a sad news article, my heart instantly goes out to them. I feel compassion for the situation they must or might be in. I start to think about ways I might help them, or someone else in a similar situation in the future. I think about ways I've helped others in the past. And I start to appreciate my own life and how fortunate I am to have the life I have. I start to think positively, even if it is to feel compassion for others in less fortunate, if brief, circumstances. Then, I am in the state of mind to send some of the blessings, good fortunes, feelings and positive energy that I have, to that sad child, if they are in a state to receive it.
Metaphysically speaking, sending positive, loving energy out to the world, is something we can all do. Metaphysically speaking, imposing our thoughts or energy on another is an intrusion, so "if they would like to receive it" is more courteous. Sending positive energy is easier to do when our brains are in a positive state of mind and we are following that positive pathway.
By appreciating our own lives and the lives of others, we can live more positively, which, metaphysics or not, can spread to others.
Out for a Jog
I was jogging today, and I had moments where I felt a true expansion, a connection to the rest of the world, or at least to the sky above me. The moments were fleeting but real, and distracted from my ego, which fights for attention some days, the moments left me with a sense of peace.
I've often wondered if I can truly meditate while jogging. After all, to meditate, you are supposed to sit, breathe, be in a quiet place, and empty your mind of all thoughts. I know that when I jog, my mind has an opportunity to settle, to clear of my daily to-dos, frustrations, and chatter, it is then that I have moments of emptiness. It is then that my mind has an opportunity to feel peace, to feel silence, to notice the expanse of earth we are on.
It is then that my mind can create. And today, the question came, "how can we become enlightened beings, at one with each other, when our daily lives continue at their normal frenetic pace, when horns honk, children bicker, and one more hit of the snooze button cause us to be late?" I want to believe that we all want peaceful, fulfilling lives, but our definition of 'peace' and 'fulfillment' may be different to each one of us. I also believe that we are learning, growing and becoming more universally conscious at different rates, and it is not up to one of us to tell another that they are too slow, too fast, or moving in the wrong direction. We each have our paths... sometimes they meet, sometimes they don't, and sometimes they clash.
I've struggled with that question for years. As a mother with a 4 and a 6 year old, I often wonder how I can maintain my own sense of peace, lack of ego and serenity when I'm telling one child to stop hitting the other. I try to stay in the moment. When I do, I can often see the moment leading up to the hit, and preempt, distract or redirect. I've decided it's ok to give myself a pat on the back when I perform a stellar "mom" move like that, even if it is to boost my ego. Since my ego hasn't managed to stay out of the way for all difficulties, so as to give my consciousness free space to be in the moment, reward is temporarily a good thing.
But how can I more frequently bring in that sense of peace in my daily, very real life? I don't have all the answers yet, but I do know that giving moments to calm, to observation, to stillness does help.
What I mean by this, is that, though all my training says to take 20 minutes to an hour or more to meditate and be still, my real life tells me that this isn't frequently possible. So while I am trying to become enlightened, I have an additional battle going on within myself that says I'm not giving enough time to my process of enlightenment. Creating battles in order to reduce them... perhaps that's one way of going about becoming enlightened, but I'm not sure I want to go that way. Instead I've decided I want to look for ways to bring those moments into my daily life, at frequent intervals throughout the day.
Some days, I find those moments harder to find than others. But there are days that I can create them. Those are often on days where I make time to take a break and have a healthy lunch, where I sit and read while I drink tea, or when I make time to go for a short jog. Those days also occur when I make concessions with my children.
I received a Zen garden from my sister-in-law for Christmas. She hand made it. It is lovely and just the thing I want. However, given that it is full of sand, rocks and shells, it is also something my children find lovely and just what they want. I could hide it away and keep it for my own zen moments, but I've decided I would share it with them. The only rule: they must ask me before then start changing the pattern in the garden. Of course, I have yet to say no, but it gives them a certain respect for something that is not theirs, and gives me some opportunity to use it as and when I need. It also gives me those small moments throughout the day to stop, be still and observe. I can observe what I am designing (which may only take 30 seconds), or I can observe what one of my children are designing. Either way, it is a meditative moment. It is a moment where frustrations and to-dos are put aside (hopefully I can do this for 30 seconds) and where, sometimes, I feel a connection to the rest of the world.
I'd like to think my children feel these moments as well.
I've often wondered if I can truly meditate while jogging. After all, to meditate, you are supposed to sit, breathe, be in a quiet place, and empty your mind of all thoughts. I know that when I jog, my mind has an opportunity to settle, to clear of my daily to-dos, frustrations, and chatter, it is then that I have moments of emptiness. It is then that my mind has an opportunity to feel peace, to feel silence, to notice the expanse of earth we are on.
It is then that my mind can create. And today, the question came, "how can we become enlightened beings, at one with each other, when our daily lives continue at their normal frenetic pace, when horns honk, children bicker, and one more hit of the snooze button cause us to be late?" I want to believe that we all want peaceful, fulfilling lives, but our definition of 'peace' and 'fulfillment' may be different to each one of us. I also believe that we are learning, growing and becoming more universally conscious at different rates, and it is not up to one of us to tell another that they are too slow, too fast, or moving in the wrong direction. We each have our paths... sometimes they meet, sometimes they don't, and sometimes they clash.
I've struggled with that question for years. As a mother with a 4 and a 6 year old, I often wonder how I can maintain my own sense of peace, lack of ego and serenity when I'm telling one child to stop hitting the other. I try to stay in the moment. When I do, I can often see the moment leading up to the hit, and preempt, distract or redirect. I've decided it's ok to give myself a pat on the back when I perform a stellar "mom" move like that, even if it is to boost my ego. Since my ego hasn't managed to stay out of the way for all difficulties, so as to give my consciousness free space to be in the moment, reward is temporarily a good thing.
But how can I more frequently bring in that sense of peace in my daily, very real life? I don't have all the answers yet, but I do know that giving moments to calm, to observation, to stillness does help.
What I mean by this, is that, though all my training says to take 20 minutes to an hour or more to meditate and be still, my real life tells me that this isn't frequently possible. So while I am trying to become enlightened, I have an additional battle going on within myself that says I'm not giving enough time to my process of enlightenment. Creating battles in order to reduce them... perhaps that's one way of going about becoming enlightened, but I'm not sure I want to go that way. Instead I've decided I want to look for ways to bring those moments into my daily life, at frequent intervals throughout the day.
Some days, I find those moments harder to find than others. But there are days that I can create them. Those are often on days where I make time to take a break and have a healthy lunch, where I sit and read while I drink tea, or when I make time to go for a short jog. Those days also occur when I make concessions with my children.
I received a Zen garden from my sister-in-law for Christmas. She hand made it. It is lovely and just the thing I want. However, given that it is full of sand, rocks and shells, it is also something my children find lovely and just what they want. I could hide it away and keep it for my own zen moments, but I've decided I would share it with them. The only rule: they must ask me before then start changing the pattern in the garden. Of course, I have yet to say no, but it gives them a certain respect for something that is not theirs, and gives me some opportunity to use it as and when I need. It also gives me those small moments throughout the day to stop, be still and observe. I can observe what I am designing (which may only take 30 seconds), or I can observe what one of my children are designing. Either way, it is a meditative moment. It is a moment where frustrations and to-dos are put aside (hopefully I can do this for 30 seconds) and where, sometimes, I feel a connection to the rest of the world.
I'd like to think my children feel these moments as well.
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