I am a Healer, Psychologist, educator and Sound Therapist with an avid interest in consciousness and transpersonal experiences. Oh and did I mention Astrology?Archives
October 2014
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24/11/2012 Am I conscious? And if so, of what? Research suggests there are many layers to 'consciousness' including awareness, sub - , un - , supra - , super - to name the most commonly attributed. So many compartments each with it's own often hidden agenda, not necessarily working in tandem. Confused - oh you will be, it's the nature of the mind. At least if you believe the mind is purely an epiphenomenon of the firing of neurons! I am very much of the mind that our brains are antenna to other realms of consciousness and our personality is just a filter which, by means of allegedly directed conscious awareness, believes it is in 'control'. I just love the irony of the cosmic joke!!!
'Awareness' tends to be used as a term to describe where we are focusing our attention. Since we have limited scope/capacity for awareness it jumps from one thing to another in quick succession or becomes fixated on one particular thing for a slightly longer period of time. We can train our awareness e.g. through meditation or sports psychology, and thus adjust to a more stable, in the flow, 'controlled' mode of thought. A perceived ability to direct our awareness gives us the sensation of control and of conscious awareness. Consciousness is the 'knowing' that we are aware i.e being aware that we are aware - a dual edged sword in that it creates a sense of will and choice yet at the same time a dilemma as to how to direct that 'power'. The underlying 'truth' however is that we are making it all up as we go along. Our perception, due to biological limitations, is skewed in a certain way (neural wiring as well as e.g. mechanics and composition of the eyes/ears etc.). Most of what we perceive is really pattern recognition based on past experience (schemas) and slotting present stimuli into past experiences in order to make 'sense' of it all. This jumble of past and present is further reflected in the fact that stimuli take time to be perceived, processed, consciously assimilated and then 'understood' - our present is therefore already our past and an imprecise composite at that. Compounding the problem or complexity are the multiple layers of consciousness. The sub-conscious and unconscious regulate our physical bodies e.g. breathing, heart-beat etc. and thankfully so. We do not appear to have enough capacity in our brain function and thus in the scope of awareness to carry out all these functions it would seem. There are ostensibly more important jobs to be done, thoughts to be thought and issues to be created and resolved if we are to give meaning to our lives - though what could be more important than breathing is questionable if we are to have any life at all. Meaning and purpose are however also driven by the unconscious and sub conscious. Below the surface of awareness these programmes are running amok and like broken records, play over and over, manifesting the same age old reactions to apparently new situations triggered by 'lost' or buried memories. All however is not lost. Memory is a storage house which has to be brought to conscious awareness to be understood and like our responses needs to be directed and made sense of. Each time a memory is brought to the level of conscious awareness however, it's composition changes, altered by present circumstances and requirements, tailored to serve a particular purpose. What also tends to be forgotten is that memory is not just a function of the brain but of every cell in the body, each of which not only contains the 'memory' of our ancestors in the form of our DNA but also each and every event of our lifetime/s. In this respect our conscious awareness is totally overwhelmed and can barely conceive of such a possibility since it is impossible to process such vast quantities of information on a conscious level at any one time. It is often through utilising non-linear right brain attributes such as art, poetry, music and dream processing that these more mysterious and ineffable understandings may be reached. Of course words do not describe the ineffable. In trying to explain through words we are attempting to describe right brain material which does not fit the left brain' logical', linear and thus time centred modalities, including language! However, the sooner we understand the bridging purposes of the corpus callosum the sooner we may 'logically' accept our beliefs (and they are only beliefs based on our present level of conscious awareness) that, whilst the two hemispheres both reflect and create duality, they are intrinsically complementary and not dualistic in function - it's a spectrum not a polarisation. Both rather than and/or function would serve us well. Unfortunately western education has honoured left brain activities leaving us impoverished and creatively and spiritually stymied. It could be argued this is the yin/yang and divine masculine-feminine coming into play through segments of the brain. It's no wonder we have trouble uniting themes when our belief about how our brains (and thus alleged thought processes) are so compartmentalised. That however is changing with growing research and acceptance of brain plasticity. Whilst science grapples only with the material however we are still limited to biology as the 'cause' for thought - despite the fact that there is no biological explanation for how thought can come about from a bundle of neurons massed into a brain that sits in our skull. An additional thought... if our brains are only thought processors then they are indeed limited and incapable of serving anything other than a purely human agenda. On the other hand if our brains are in fact sophisticated antenna to super - and supra - levels of consciousness then there is a great deal of hope, not only for personal adaptability and understandings but also for the survival and advancement of humankind. More of this another time...
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22/11/2012 Write...Three short pieces inspired by the muse that writes through me...
Sensing the creative wonder approach I still myself, Expectant. In that silent moment I am caressed by a calm guiding hand, The pen moves across the paper And all is revealed. ------------------------------------------ When I write it will be the right words. As I write, the shape and sounds are woven into a safe haven. And when you read it is as the reed of a beautiful instrument bringing a harmonious resonance into your life, playing with your soul as it dances upon a pathway to healing. ------------------------------------------ I watched your hand Traverse the page. The ink flowed, Though not from your fingertips but As a caress Softly across the face of the beloved. A sublime thought. And upon reading the words My heart missed a beat. 21/11/2012 Silence is Golden? I haven't written a blog for nearly two weeks and am wondering why. Has the muse gone silent? Is there too much going on to be able to sit quietly and allow the thoughts to flow? Well, no, quite the opposite in fact. I am finding the time between the eclipses to be pregnant with ideas and a gentle unfolding of meetings and events is also taking place.
The new moon's eclipse of the sun in Scorpio on 13th November had the function of wiping the screen clear in order to re-vision our lives. The full moon in Gemini will be eclipsed by the sun in Sagitarius on 28th November. This will offer us all the opportunity to recalibrate our emotional responses and being in Gemini we are likely to want to be quite verbal about it. This whole two week period is a time to focus on clearing and cleansing in order to think again about the world we wish to create. Eclipses signify endings but it is encumbant upon us to remember that endings create space and open the doors to new beginnings allowing fresh energy in to wash away the stale and outmoded thoughts, actions and habits we have accumulated. During this time I have found the topics of gratitude, appreciation and acceptance have constantly been brought to my attention through conversations with friends, aquaintances and new introductions. Facebook postings, Twitter and Linkedin as well as emails have delivered such messages to me too. I am therefore very aware of the necessity to embrace these three fundamentals in my life and to have them support and serve me rather than keep replaying the broken records of 'if only', 'yes, but...' etc. In order to reboot my old programmes I have made time to meditate again and rediscovered that silence is indeed golden and provides a treasure trove of beautifully crafted ideas and ideals to take me forward into the future. May you too count your blessings and find that inner peace. 6/11/2012 Boundaries and BorderlinesI have often wondered about the significance of boundaries and borderlines be that of countries or between people. So random and so divisive in many ways.
Boundaries and Borders Boundaries and borders Delineate by circumstance. But in truth Where is the line Between me and you, Between I and thou, Between us and them, Between alone and together? What is all this fuss? That which shakes you Also rocks me. Are we not bourne of the same bough, Of the same tree, Held in the same earth - Human to humus? Ashes and dust Should those boundaries be, For when I see you I also see me. Led by the soul Not bled by the body Connection integral, Eternal the human races through Clouded vision, a turbulent see. 6/11/2012 IntrospectionAs Mercury the messenger goes into reverse later today, it is a time for reflection. Over the next 3 weeks Mercury will literally recover what was missed first time around and, in retracing his steps, give us all a second chance to reevaluate.
The area of your life most affected will depend on your own individual chart. In general however the ground covered is partly in Sagittarius (review your beliefs) and partly through Scorpio (review existential questions). For me on a personal level this is taking place in an area which firstly concerns my personality and ego and then dips deeply into my subconscious. I expect to feel some very profound shifts during this time! Since our thoughts drive what manifests or is magnetised into our lives, I embrace this period of time as one of introspective growth leading to a new vision of the future based on firmer foundations. However it works for you, remember one thing... be kind to yourself! There are fireworks going off with gusto outside my door as celebrations start in remembrance of Guy Fawkes' gun powder plot to blow up Parliament. Politically things are still explosive but destruction and conflict is not the way forward. Once we learn cooperation and consideration the world will be a very different place.
So, preempting this brave new world, let's celebrate in advance!!! JOY The dictionary Doesn't contain the words. But if I had a Large box of fireworks I'd go out now Into the darkness of the night And send them off, Together. Their magnificence Would be awe inspiring, Their dazzling display Outshine the Beauty of the stars, The spectre entrancing. And we would feel A mere inch tall, Looking up, Looking on. 31/10/2012 All Hallows Eve It is barely half past four in the afternoon and already darkness encroaches. It has been a wild day with squally showers and I am truly grateful that I have a warm dry home.
The skies here are sullen but not threatening. My prayers, along with so many others, have been directed to those in the path of the hurricane which has swept devastation across the Carribean Islands and eastern coast of America. It will take weeks before these places return to any form of normality. One hopes that the message that we are all interdependent takes root amongst the few who still hold on to old paradigms of 'survival of the fittest' and 'the winner takes all'. We can no longer survive in a separatist world. Separate from what and from whom one may well ask. Tonight of all nights that is a particularly good question as we celebrate the thinning of the veils between the worlds - those of this so called reality and those of the greater dimensions that operate just beyond our five senses but can be tuned into by anyone who has consciously developed their sixth sense. It is a time to remember our ancestors, a time to give thanks for the harvest and the positive things that have happened during the year and also a time to start to look deeply inwards and reflect. As the season now slips into winter our inner worlds become as real, alert and alive as the expansive outer world that we inhabit during the long days and warm nights. Tonight be thankful for all that has made you who you are today and celebrate the goodness around you. Spooky as it might sound, be aware that the ancestors know your path and are watching over you. Don't forget to thank them for their support and guidance! 29/10/2012 Plodding On... Every time I think nothing is happening so a little ray of light shines through the window of my mind...
I have often felt like I have been treading water this year. In comparison to many that is a good thing since there is a generalised feeling that we are all drowning in an economic disaster zone where politics is no longer a dialogue but an imposed regime of cutbacks and hardship for those already at their limit. Sabre rattling continues across the globe and many are reaching the end of their tether, possibly whipped up by clandestine groups and influences in an undercurrent of disturbing unrest and rising anger. I have indeed been fortunate in that I am not drawn into those scenarios and have the space and time to attend to matters of a higher level. None the less it has not been an easy year by any means. Attempting to go it alone and leap into the unknown in many respects has been both rewarding and frustrating. The one step forward, two steps back syndrome has accompanied me all the way (see previous blog Timing and Intention). Today there is a full moon in the sign of Taurus. This signifies a time to contemplate what still needs to be done and what just amounts to wasted effort. Taurus gives the ability to persevere to the point of bullishness but is also practical and tactical in its approach. With the sun in Scorpio it is the season of sifting through old habits and paradigms and settling on giving our energy only to the projects that add deep meaning and a sense of purpose to our lives. With this in mind I shall be sticking to my 'bigger picture' project but being very aware that the paths that lead to it meander and often turn off in quite unexpected directions. Remaining open to opportunity whilst being vigilant and using discernment about what is likely to be a dead end, I shall keep plodding on relentlessly constantly on the look out for that little ray of light to guide my way. 25/10/2012 Timing and Intention Having spent the majority of this year setting intentions for my Healing work I have of course come across many hurdles and disappointments. This is 'normal' and yet it is also within our grasp to overcome such stop-start hiccups.
I have in mind here the belief that our thoughts do indeed become things. As I vacillate between the old and the new paradigms within which I have operated and intend to function in future, so my life becomes more convoluted and mysterious. The one step forward, two steps back syndrome dominates. I should rather be focusing on the one step forwards being the one small step that starts the journey of a thousand miles to paraphrase the Toaist saying. I believe that there are two time scales colliding and it is this influence that causes the most upset. Our own inner world is totally under the influence of our thoughts. Most of those are based on unconscious, or at best subconscious, habits and reactions to life and as such are both spawned and born of the past, holding us in obsolete, outworn patterns. As we work to break these habits and inculcate new more adaptable and updated versions so we face fears of letting go as well as excitement about future prospects. These contradictory thoughts and actions need to be harnessed if the personal world is to change by our own volition. This all takes place in a timescale that we can dictate by consciously embracing our beliefs. However there is also the timescale of the Universal. This is based on a far grander scheme of things - the bigger picture etc. On this level our own paths become somewhat subject to world or societal needs. Our hopes and wishes come to fruition at the point they are desired by our immediate environment. In this respect we are children of our times. Whilst the Universe per se does not judge or question, it does 'react' to the thoughts that we have and thus provides us with the experiences we need to grow and learn, fitting them to the requirements of those around us. Being in tune with this level of activity is the key to moving forward. As we doubt ourselves so the Universe provides more of the same, seemingly blocking our path. As we grow in self confidence so events unfold which give us the opportunity to exercise that new sense of self-belief. We are challenged to practice on a new level. The reward is that our inner 'knowing' grows and blossoms accordingly. When we attune ourselves to go with the flow, there is no longer a need to direct and orchestrate our lives. Indeed life becomes a free flowing river which we can easily navigate, despite the boulders, torrents, tides and endless tributaries along the way. The word 'decision' becomes obsolete as we just 'know' what to do and when to do it. When our intentions are in accord with the timing of the Universe, there is no looking back - unless to honour the journey! 21/10/2012 Avoidance and Abundance I was contemplating avoidance as a totally ingrained practice that we all seem to have mastered above and beyond its true value! Indeed it is the cause of so much lack and loss in life. Not daring to go beyond the narrow confines of the familiar, we miss out on so many opportunities - people and events that could rapidly transform us and accelerate our personal growth and evolution.
It seemed to me that the word 'avoidance' expresses: "a dance we do around a void created in order to ignore the calling of our hearts to open" We avoid things that we do not wish to face up to. The longer we practice avoidance the harder it is to see the situation clearly or dream up a solution, let alone gain the strength to physically carry out the necessary actions. The impetus to act is smoothered by our fears. Yet once we muster the courage to overcome our self doubts we automatically empower ourselves. The world is changed by our endeavours and life takes on new meaning. We also inspire others in the course of our day by avoiding avoidance! Abundance (generally defined as plentiful, possessing more than sufficient) on the other hand is a very different beast in today's climate. Many seem to be fired by a desire to grasp what they can from others, eagerly clutching at so called wealth and material possessions as a form of security. Presently we seem to have "a dance created around celebrating enough personal 'dough' in one's life, to have your bun/cake and eat it!" At least this would be the interpretation in a world dominated by financial concerns and constraints. Whilst we are caught in this sticky web of deceit and lies by a system that only appears to serve the 'bun dancers' right now, things are changing. "Something's afoot" said the reflexologist, and rightly so. Many people are on the move across the globe; dancing to a different tune, the drum beat is getting louder. The feet on the street are growing in numbers as ever more corruption and betrayal comes to light. Those propping up the old paradigms and status quo which disempowers the many can no longer practice avoidance of the issues raised by a closed heart and are being questioned about the source of their personal abundance. I believe there is a new age dawning in which abundance we can all share in is the norm, a world where avoidance will no longer be the counterpart to this beautifully choreographed life we are all born to live. |