Forestluv

I would ask “who is it that desires attention and a response?”

A sensory deprivation tank may give a little taste of weightless meditation. I’ve gone to some places in the tank

@Lynnel The worst mindspaces for me is being trapped in "I can't make it stop". When I catch wind of that coming on, my mind tries to avoid that rabbit hole the best it can.

@GafaRassaDaba For me, it's key to relax the mind while maintaining awareness. One can relax the mind by escaping through drinking alcohol, sex, video games, movies, napping etc. Nothing wrong with that, yet they are just temporary relief. I've found things like walking in nature, running and yoga better at relaxing my mind.

Without mindfulness, how would you know what subconscious programs to change? You would have no idea it even exists.

@Bobby Proof is second order to existence, beingness. It looks like you are digging into what lies prior to proof. To do so, simply let go of the desire for proof and begin exploring.

I'd be careful about eyeballing it, yet it seems like you now have a sense of your sensitivity to the batch you have. It sounds like you had some moderate visuals and body effects, yet very little "headspace" - an alteration of mind consciousness. Psychedelic tolerance ramps up quickly. If you redose, I would do it in the first 45min. after 1hr., tolerance kicks in quickly. Yet, it can be hard to know whether to redose at 45min, since the original dose might not be kicking in yet. . . It sounds like you were underwhelmed. I would increase the dose. You may want to consider changing the environment. Perhaps doing it in nature. Sometimes meditation just isn't the right vibe for me during a trip. If you are still debating in your head whether to do an activity, what you should be doing, should you just give in etc. - that is a self still in full control that hasn't dissolved much. Yawning is a common side effect of shrooms. I often yawn a lot during the come-up into the peak. I've learned that I'm actually not fatigued - I'm simply yawning as a side effect. There is an emotional / physical amplification that can lead to increased empathy and desire for connection. I've found this can get expressed in various ways - one is horniness. Yet, it's also been expressed as deep connections with people, the environment and others. Perhaps masturbate prior to dosing or right afterwards to reduce that manifestation of sexual energy if you find that unwanted. The energy may manifest differently.

That's why I suggested trying to get the audience to relate through their own direct experience (e.g. flow states during sports or playing an instrument). Would you be interested in learning about how to enter "The Zone" when you want to? Heck yea!!

@Lynnel I've had similar mind-body dynamics. In general, relaxing the mind through various activities help me. Yet for the really deep ones, it's more about surrender and acceptance. For example, surrendering and accepting a mindset of eternal suffering. That's just how it is. It's hard to reach that point, yet the underlying energy often dissipates when I do. When I'm ok with either outcome.

Oooh, I like that phrase. . . I've noticed the term "collective consciousness" is slowly gaining popularity. It still catches most egos off-guard and stimulates an openness and curiosity. "oooohhh, collective consciousness, what's that?". . . I think it can help a mind consider there might be a consciousness beyond their own personal consciousness. Yet over time, I can see it getting over-used and spoiled by that darn rational thinking. . . I'm also seeing it with terms like "enlightenment".

Last night, I was reflecting on personal development. As we have awakening experiences, there is still the appearance of the personality. It's not like it goes "poof" and permanently disappears. So, we might as well have a healthy, loving personality that is free of egoic identification and attachments (as much as possible). So, my reflection on personal development. I'd say my favorite personal development activity has been theory - learning and relating to different person growth concepts and theories. For example, micro-traumas in life can create personality fragmentation and a self-preservation dynamic. For example, I was hyper-criticized as a child which fragmented a part of my personality to protect itself. There is a sweet, innocent energy within me that formed a protective shell. Sharing this part has always felt risky and vulnerable. For example, I might really like a gal and write her a sweet poem from the heart. If she laughed at it or criticized it, that part of me would retreat into it's turtle shell. This awareness has led to defragmentation and developing a whole person. I am much more comfortable opening myself up and experiencing vulnerability. My previous girlfriend said she fell for me because of my "fearless vulnerability". That vulverable openness can lead to deep connection, yet it can also lead to hurt. Various people in my life have taken advantage of it, which has led to deep hurt. So, I'm learning about balancing being vulnerable with establishing healthy boundaries. . . This type of theory has been quite helpful for the health of my mind-body. As well, I've learned not to identify with this dynamic as being "me". That is, "I went through such and such and that means I am no this and that". It is just a pattern that periodically appears in life. Many of us love exploring theory in our minds. Yet, many of us also like exploring our world through physical activity. How might we integrate physical activity and growth/spirituality? My mind-body *loves* aerobic activity. I like robust physical activity that reaches lactate threshold and gives that wonderful burn. Running, hiking, cross-country skiing. I think it's healthy for my mind-body, yet I question how effective it is for insights and personal growth. I've experienced many insights while running and some beautiful moments of just running and being in my environment. I've reached meditative states. Yet, it's easy to get distracted and drift into regular thinking. Seated meditation removes distractions, yet the mind can still wander off. However, it's pretty darn obvious when the mind is off thinking because nothing else is going on. I'm sitting motionless with eyes closed or staring at wall. As stated above, my mind loves conceptualizing and my body loves physical activity. Meditation lets go of them both. Meditation does not naturally resonate with my mind-body. It's effort and causes what I consider to be unnecessary and unhealthy body pains. Don't get me wrong, meditation has revealed various insights and states of consciousness. Yet, it's not a natural fit for me. Unless it was raining or very cold, I would choose running over meditation - hands down. I started doing Yoga the last few months and it resonates more with me. Here is where beliefs enter. I've been conditioned that yoga isn't "real" meditation. So, if I did yoga instead of meditation, that would mean I am half-assing this part of my spiritual practice. This was a big hurdle to get over and I had to allow myself to immerse into yoga. It has been a wonderful practice for me - integrating mind, body and spirit. Yet, most forms of yoga I've tried like vinyassa is too fast - I start thinking about having correct posture, the flow, the next posture. There have been meditative flow moments, yet not a deep meditative space. Last week, I started doing Yin Yoga and it opened a whole new world. In Yin Yoga, postures are mostly passive and held for about 5 minutes each. That is enough time let go and explore mind, body and spirit spaces. During the posture, there is layer upon layer of letting go and relaxing the body and mind. As well, integrating the breath flow through the body is on another level for me. It goes places Kriya and Kundalini don't. As well, there is also the aspect of facing yourself during Yin. Most positions are somewhat uncomfortable and lots of resistance arises - not just wanting to get out of the posture - stuff about life, stuff about who I am. There is no place to distract and escape like during running, vinyassa or seated meditation. There is a very strong aspect of surrender during Yin for me and the development of inner strength. The distinction between outer and inner strength has revealed itself. Yin yoga is now my best tool to develop inner strength and it resonates with my mind-body. Seated meditation is a Yin Yoga posture. Yet Yin Yoga has many more postures. I can see the value of holding a Yin Yoga posture (e.g. seated burmese posture) for 20-60min. Yet, why limit my practice to one hyper-long Yin posture? Especially because it's not healthy practice for my body in the long run. Rotating mediation postures for 5min. each is a healthy full mind-body experience and has enormous meditation benefits. And it's good for the body! So, I've drastically cut back on seated meditation posture and added various Yin postures. Find what resonates and go deeper. "Resonate" does not mean "easy". For me, it's a balance between easy and hard. Yet, it doesn't feel forced or that I "have" to do it. And thank you for the supportive comments.

I would agree with @cetus56 regarding buzzwords such as "god" and "spirituality". These are highly used terms and the audience will be filled with pre-conceived notions about those terms. I wouldn't spend half the talk explaining what I mean by "god" or "spirituality". I think people are more open to exploring new areas when using terms like "raising one's consciousness", "flow state", "awareness", "nonduality", "oneness", "presence", "existence", "beingness", "ISness" etc.

I think this type of perspective is ok for personal development, yet at a cost against awakening. It reinforces the idea of personal separation and that a personal ego is making choices and running the show.

It depends on degree. In an absolute nondual state there are no distinctions, so the mind-body can't function. Yet, these are really rare states and difficult to reach. More often are different flavors of nondual states integrated with duality. The ego loves to think it's so important and if it isn't thinking about itself and it's surrounding the mind-body won't be able to operate. This belief is often a misconception and a block to reaching deeper conscious states. Most of the mind-body's functioning is subconscious. Conscious thoughts generally arise *after* the subconscious has made decisions. You mentioned while driving. Do you really need to think while driving? Do you need to think "That is a red light, that means I need to stop"? or "it's snowing, I should drive slower". . . Thinking is sooo over-rated. It is amazing how well the mind-body flows without thinking noise. At first, it feels weird and can be scary. I would drift into a partial nondual state while driving. A "oneness" consciousness with the environment. It's not like day dreaming or falling asleep. There is awareness. In fact, the awareness is *more* clear than when the mind is chattering. Yet, it can be unsettling. At first, my ego would freak out - it was foreign to it. I had to pull over a couple times. Yet with time and practice, I can reach let go and ease into a nondual state and drive perfectly fine. I would say much better than in an egoic-dominant state of consciousness. For me, it's not really a "flashback". It is part of the integration between various states of consciousness that are equally real.

@LoveandPurpose Most people have had a glimpse of no-self, a form of nonduality. To bring this forth in one's direct experience, one may have the audience try to remember the following mind states: 1. "Flow state". Most people have had glimpses of "flow". For example while playing a sport or playing an instrument. Here, the person is completely aware and present - perhaps playing soccer. Perhaps there is a minute in the game they were hyper-present and aware. They were not thinking about the score, how good they look, impressing their parents or themself. They mind-body is completely being - just playing soccer. Someone might ask later "What were you thinking about when you scored that goal?". For an athlete in flow, it's a weird question. They would probably say "I wasn't really thinking anything. I was just playing in the moment. . . Similarly, people who play instruments get into improvisational flow. For example, a trumpet player may let go of everything and go into flow. It's like their person dissolves and the trumpet is playing itself. Others get into flow with creativity. For example, a writer in which they dissolve and the creativity just flows - as if the story is writing itself. 2. A sense of awe. Most of us have had a no-self glimpse when overcome by beauty and awe. Imagine your first glimpse of the Grand Canyon or an amazing starlit night sky. There is a moment when the person is just being. There is just beauty. There is no "me" here and that "there". Thoughtless speechless oneness. Then, the personality might snap back and the person might return. Thoughts like "Wow! I need to get a great picture of that to post on Instagram!!!" 3. Transcendent connection with others. Many of us have had moments of such deep love and connection that the ego/personality momentarily dissolves. For example, a loving moment with a boyfriend/girlfriend when the two people "melt" together and there is just the experience of love. This could also happen with a pet. I like to bring forth one's own direct experience as "taste" of different conscious states. It is a deeper understanding than trying to figure it out with logic. As well, this gets people's attention, because these glimpses are the juice of life. Everyone LOVES it. It is home. The whole "story" about what's right and wrong, how things should be, I should do this and that. . . is all work. We love those glimpses into the beyond - we are highly attracted to flow states, awe states and moments of transcendent love.

Because they disidentifed with attachments. It’s beingness without egoic filters.

To me, this sounds like an adventure, not total freedom.

If one wants to expand their awareness beyond ego, it would seem one would need to be aware beyond ego. And guess who isn't going to like that? The ego, of course. It must relinquish control of the narrative. So, the ego will resist any trans-egoic state of consciousness. If the resistance to meditation is too much, try something else that can bring the mind-body to an expanded trans-egoic space of consciousness. Lately, I've found yin yoga to be a great for surrender, inner strength and expanding awareness.

The ego loves the "ignorance is bliss" tactic. if you take a closer look, you may observe that the ego is really saying "selective ignorance is bliss". That is, being ignorant of "non-blissful" things. Yet, how does that usually turn out for the ego? Rather than selective ignorance of that which the ego finds nonblissful, what might full ignorance look like? What if you dissolved everything you know about yourself, what's right and wrong, how things should be, all meaning. That is true ignorance. Emptiness. What might that be like? Perhaps a flavor of bliss the ego cannot comprehend - because of course it would comprehend nothing - since it is truly ignorant.

@MM1988 Imagine laying on the ground on a summer night gazing at the stars in wonder. Someone passes by and asks “Are you satisfied with how the stars are aligned?”

I've found sharing helps, yet insufficient for some of the deeper body memory stuff. Shamanic breathing has helped. Another possible release - when it arises - scream, punch a pillow and perhaps cry.

@kira Nice report, thanks. Did you get to eat fruit at the end? Sharing fruit with others in an ocean of love was one of my favorite parts of the ceremonies.

Yes. I understand. There are ideas and there is embodiment. It sounds like you have some fancy ideas, yet are lacking the embodiment. With embodiment, there is maturation - which I don't sense here. It's easy for an ego to take ownership of enlightenment ideas it comes across. It's much harder to deeply and fully realize it.

@Aakash Those are some nice insights and beautiful poetry. It's all facets of the one diamond. Be aware of the mind's tendency to try and *own* insights. It can lead to attachment and identification. Insights are free to roam. Like pollen grains in the wind.

Sounds like expansive ideas with contracted embodiment. Keep on truckin'