Releasing Negative Energy Without Denial

Looking at things from a holistic point of view, we see that we are interconnected with everything in existence.  In other words, there is a collective consciousness which we the individual are a part of.

However, this is not meant to in any way dis-empower us as individuals.  The paradox of being One and Many is that although we are a part of a vast, infinite network, we are also completely individual.

It is our complete ownership of this individuality which allows us to do anything within the collective.  To move out of dependency and into sharing… the difference being that one requires a form of control.  If we are dependant on ____ in order to be our selves, then when ___ is not available, we will do just about anything to get ____ back.  The most obvious form of this is in personal relationship and friendship where our sense of self can start to become invested in the other.

I can tell you from a personal experience, I have done this many times in learning how to not do it!!  Life is after-all an experiment, learning, and creation in a simultaneous manner…

So now to the point of this post - We are completely individual beings, and in that individuality we make a collective Being which we are all a part of.

If we then deny a part of the collective within ourselves – “I am not jealous and jealous people are bad” for example… we are denying a part of the whole.  In this denial, we are actually highlighting, and repressing that part of our collective Being.

That does not mean that we need to act jealous, simply because it is a part of our collective Being… on the contrary, once this part of the collective Being is embraced, then as an individual being we can choose not to participate in the energy out of love, rather than denial.

The further we push a part away into the shadows, because it is deemed “wrong” or “negative”, the more haunting it becomes!

Just to rephrase what we are talking about.  To release a “negative” energy, we embrace it within ourselves, welcome it “home”.  And from there we now have a chance to choose different experiences in our own life.

It is kind of backwards to how the mind may originally approach negativity, wanting it to go away.  But in denying an energy, we are separating it, and thus cutting it off from the whole.  A person who is “whole” is someone who has relieved this paradox within through embrace, and simultaneously uses free will to choose best.   It is a deep balance of understanding and experience.

I can say from personal experience that I am not whole on one level, and very whole on another.  And this is what is said to be the grand game of life, the roller coaster of the play, Lila in spiritual texts… Not something to fight, but certainly something to acknowledge.

Perhaps this movement of self into Self is never ending, and has no goal or destination.  But if you are playing with this stuff too, then I hope this provides a clear reflection!

Much love beauties

Beyond Dualistic Thinking There Is Peace Of Mind

May I firstly say that duality itself is actually a blessing, and an important function and experience in the world we are living in.  What I am refering to here is the strict and patterned thinking that things need to be either one way, or another, rather than a combination and merging of truth...

What is dualistic thinking?

It is a mind function which says, “This or That”.  As in there are only 2 choices, and you have to make one now.

In this 3D reality we live in, it implies that whatever we can find, whether it is a perspective, a mental object, a category of any kind… there will always exist its opposite.

So for example, if I believe that I am a good person, there will always be someone who deems those same traits bad.  As is the case in every side of a war; The freedom fighters vs the oppressor.  Both sides feeling they are the right ones, and the other are the wrong ones.

Now, this is where the function of duality moves into a new way of Being.  If there is dualistic thinking, good bad, true false, yes no, then there exists its opposite… non-dualistic thinking.

The very function of duality implies non-duality.

What is non-dualistic thinking?

Non-dualistic thinking is what could be considered “both/and” answers.  Where dualistic thinking would be “either/or” answers.

There is a very practical application here.

When we are posed with a question as to whether something is right/wrong, then with a non-dualistic view point we can see that whatever path we choose, there are so many paths, so many options, that you can never truly know whether it is right or wrong.  In this way, we can stop using traditional logic to make sense of our decisions, and move into a more intuitive, feeling (heart) based approach.

On a very practical level, when you can see a duality in mind (I am this, as opposed to that), and it is truly understood to not be the full picture, that mind pattern is then transmuted into space, pure consciousness, presence.

If I am a liberal, then I am automatically creating a conflict with conservatives.  If I am a capitalist, then I am automatically creating a separation between myself and socialists.  It is the dualistic thinking which has us in the situation we are in today; Us vs Them, Good vs Evil, Science vs Religion, etc.  The truth that transcends “understanding” in a thinking sense is that both categories in any Us vs Them debate have something very real to share.

If for example, we took the social benefits of socialism (Free shelter, food, health care) and the freeing benefits of capitalism (freedom of speech, ability to create for ones self, abundance without restriction) then the war between the two “sides” would end, and we could use the best of all worlds to create a new living experience.

It is ending these wars within through deep understanding (Left Brain Right Brian, Male Female, Good Evil), which lead to the space of liberation, enlightenment.

On a personal level, one thing that comes from “both/and” thinking which is invaluable, is the ability to truly forgive ones self for making choices in the past.

The things that we cannot forgive ourselves for, we are able to logic out that “If I didn’t do that, then life would be ____”.  The truth is that whatever path was chosen, there was a specific experience which HAD TO HAPPEN the way it did.  In order to grow, and ultimately in order to choose differently the next time!

Without the experience you have had, how would you know what you want to do/feel/think/be now?

Understanding that right and wrong are constructs of duality, one can move into new ranges of experience which previously were thought impossible.  The doorways open to spaces that are liberated from what we know to be “true” and into a space of pure possibility.

Can you see dualities within yourself?  What would happen if the answer to many of your questions are "This AND That" rather than "This OR That"?  Perhaps we would not have as much to defend, which would be scary...  But the truth is scary.  True freedom is scary.  Are you willing to jump into space?

“Anything Is Possible” is The Cure For Paranoia

A fear is a contraction.  It is a feeling/thought that something has to be a way, and that way is not preferable.

Is this true?

We could never know the ultimate outcome of any situation, simply by virtue of life as an expansive measure of possibility.  So a fear is implying a possibility that is not favoured.

One could say, well it is probable.  Although this can be the case – What we are learning in the realm of neurosciences is that when a certain perception is happening over and over again, it is because our brain is quite literally wired to put on metaphorical “blinders” which perceives a situation in a similar way, essentially creating the illusion of choice-less-ness.

But is this true?

Because there is no way to prove this in a personal, meaningful way without the experience – This is an experiment!  And a challenge…

Now, I must make this very clear.  I am not talking about a fear like, standing at the edge of a cliff thinking about jumping (At least in a literally way) – Or, looking at a fire and wondering what would happen if you put your face in.

We are also not talking about a lack of discernment.

What we are talking about is the “what if” train of thought, that typically comes about before deciding to take a metaphorical leap into an experience ie. Going on a trip, starting a project, going into a social setting that is unknown, Etc

OR wanting to know something that literally cannot be known right now ie.  What is my future going to look like?  How is someone going to react to this news?  When are they going to call me back? Etc

Not just the words, or the thoughts – But the Understanding that ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE is the cure for nearly all of these types of fear.  But this is not a matter of belief; it is a matter of experiential trust in the Universe as a support system, rather than a cruelty initiator.

The joke quite often is that when something comes that looks cruel; it is often a doorway into something new and expansive.  Lets picture your partner “breaks up with you”.   Is this cruel?  If ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE, maybe there is a new experience which would be more conducive for your personal growth and healing.

I am going to share a story from my trip to India.

I was supposed to talk with my father on Skype one day, we had arraigned a time.  He didn’t show up and at first I thought, “That’s alright”… after a few hours, I had a thought, “What if he is dead?”  Suddenly I was overcome by fear!

If he is dead, then the last time I spoke with him maybe I didn’t let him know how much I cared for him.  If he is dead, then we will never get to talk again.  If he is dead, maybe it is my fault because I ___________.

I had a few things come to mind next.  He should be alive because _______.  It is possible that he just _____.

But still, those thoughts are rooted in fear.  I did not feel space, but rather pain, and a never ending supply of “he should’s” and “he might be’s”.

It was when I rested in the fact that ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE, that I felt true peace.  Because lets face it, if he had died, I would know!   It might have taken a few days, but I would know.  Until then, I could either spend my time wondering, worrying and justifying, or I could enjoy what one might consider the most beautiful place on Earth.

Do a check in.  When a fear comes up that simply cannot be proved, take a look at where you are physically.  9 times out of 10 I bet you are standing in front of a tree, or sitting on a couch.  The fear that you are experiencing does not come from a situation in reality, but a projection of something that may be very convincing, but ultimately you could not know.

Because there is nothing to lose in an experiment, let’s try this the next time something comes up.  See with the eyes of awareness, the pure space where things are not set, or even known.  Leave it up to reality to show you what is true.  Just this once!

Allowing your Perception of Others to be Fluid: An Experiment

Spiritual work in a lot of ways is purely individual work.  That is, it is our personal work on our own vibration and understanding that is what changes the collective understanding.

So what can we do for others?

There are many things we can do for others, and remain in balance with working on our own understanding… each person you are with is reflecting something within you!

Here is something to play with though, an experiment if you will.

We have a tendency to see our past interactions in the people that we meet and share with.  This is a reflection too, as we tend to do this with ourselves.

For the sake of this post, I am going to focus on those we have had troubles or arguments with.  The experiment is: what would happen if we didn’t bring our past with that person to the table?  What if we went into the situation with fresh eyes?  Would the same energy pattern repeat itself?

Only one way to find out!

This does not mean dropping discernment, or even forgiving in one sense.  It does mean though, that ultimately we cannot step in the same river twice.  The Universal Flow, by its very nature is changing every moment.  If something appears the same we have what is called a karmic cycle.  There is only one way out such a thing, and that is a deep recognition of this experience of Now moment awareness.

Automatically a thought comes up:  What if you had experienced abuse with someone on a physical, emotional, or mental level?  Well I am not suggesting going back into that cycle!  If you go into the moment without your past you are likely not to bring the attraction that might have lead to that cycle, perhaps in the freshness of the moment you will find out you truly do not want to be there.  This is not a “Love everyone even at the cost of your happiness” type of experiment.  It is grounding in the fundamental principal of this Universal structure.

To go into a situation where there is an accumulated past and hold the fresh space of Now, is to allow for something entirely new to come through!  Obviously, when two people do this it would appear to be more effective.  But in an experiment, it only takes one.  And what do you have to loose?

Just to see if this is possible.  And if in that possibility a new way of interacting exists.

When I was in India I studied for a short period of time with a teacher from Russia named Yukti Ananda.

In our experience together tension had risen.  I could say this was my fault or his fault, butt ultimately does this matter?

After a few weeks of not seeing one another he came up to me in confidence, or freshness.  He put his arm around me and pointed to the Ganges.  He said, “The Uni-verse is like Ganges river, never it is two times the same”.  I could feel that this was not fake, or to gain anything, but a honest expression of Now.

To experience this was life changing.  I had never been with another teacher in particular who did not bring out past into the present, which is of course, what we as spiritual teachers are teaching in a very real and experiential way.

Another deep experience I have had with this principal is with my Mother!

I feel as though our relationship has completely changed, after I stopped labelling her my Mother.  Even though, she still thinks of me as her son.  In dropping the experience that she “should” be one way or another because she is my Mother, we have been able to expand our relationship deeply and in many different ways.  And this is on-going!  I am living at home right now, and it is honestly a vacation and a treat!

 

So here it is: an experiment!  Try it for yourself and see what happens…

Stepping Out of Victim Mode

This is a touchy subject!  To dishonour the part of ourselves which appears as a victim is to drive it deeper into the shadows.  But to continue indulging the victim within is to continue a pattern which has no exit.

A victim consciousness will always keep up its appearance and accrue evidence, in an eternal fashion.  There will always be a reason why it is right, and other options wrong, and a physical experience to confirm this fact.

So what we are looking to do isn’t to fight it, and tell it that it is “wrong”, as this is the same pattern in a backwards fashion.  We are looking to “shift” our understanding, loosen up the grip of this understanding, and allow space for a fresh perspective to come through.

Let’s begin this process with “The Observer”.  It is said that it is observation, which changes the course of history.  By observing something with a fresh perspective, that is the very space which true change can and does happen.

Who is the observer?

It is You!  It is not the thoughts that “you” are having, this is a conditioned version of opinions which does not have room for new insight.  “you” are the 1^st person mode which cannot experience a relative point of view.  You on the other hand, are the ever present witness of everything You have ever done as a human, and beyond.  You do not have an opinion on what is happening, but rather observe things as though You are watching a television screen.

So here we have two you’s – One is “you” who has an opinion on the way things “should be”, “can’t be”, “would be if”, and “will be when”.  And one is You, who does not have an opinion, but rather sees things as they are.  Nothing added or subtracted.

This writing is designed to take you out of “you” and into You without claiming “you” as a problem, but rather pointing out the narrow perspective that “you” can only ever have.  Like a snapshot, in a never ending, always flowing reality, “you” get stuck in one perception, and mistake it for reality.

Emotions:

What might be considered the tricky part, is that “you” come with emotions and feelings which feel like what “you” are thinking is happening.  Ultimately, this is fuel for the illusion of being a victim.

“you” are having so many thoughts all at once, that there is no space for objectivity.  Only the view that what "you" are thinking and feeling must be the ultimate truth, is this true?

Practice:

To see -what is- without an opinion on how it should be, we are stepping out of 1^st person mode, and into 3^rd person mode.  We are watching from the eyes of the witness or observer, the fresh space of the present moment as it is without wanting anything different.

Take 3 deep breaths, simply to kick start by observing the effect it has on your physical body.

Now, allow every thought and emotion that goes with that thought to come up, but WATCH.  Watch the opinions on who you are, who they are, what they should be doing, etc…

Watch from the perspective of the moment itself… feel what is being felt, and think what is being thought, but do not BELIEVE.

Repeat this practice as often as you can.  As "you" allow You to see, thoughts and emotions begin to unravel themselves, and underneath is the freedom of Who You Are.  Pure awareness, pure seeing.

This is not an intellectual exercise!  And it is also not to somehow diminish discernment in the ways you want to live your life.  This is purely for the victim within to see that it has never been a victim, but rather an opinion which has taken on a life of its own.

Love,

- Josh

Beyond Positive Thinking

So here we are!  We have learned that we have creative say with what is happening in our lives through intention, and through paying attention to the lesson and experiences coming through us.

There is a target audience for this message.  It is for those who are learning about Who They Are, and What That Means. My self included.

We have learned that what we intend can and will manifest in our reality.  And there are many types of teachings in the yogic, and spiritual communities based on what is called positive thinking.

Fantastic!  Considering the mental space is one that we inhabit quite fully here –learning that our resistance to -what is- could be considered negative thinking is a grand gift of perspective.  In fact, negative thinking carries a charge that has a serious effect on the body, and reality we are living in.  It tends to draw situations which beget violence and mis-understanding.

This is where things get tricky though…

If we only work on our mental space, we are still living in the creative planning stage.  Whether that is positive or negative.  Learning to cultivate and strengthen this space is very important, but it is in no way the final word.

Grounding, could be considered putting these plans into action.  And, life by its very nature is a support system.  If you intend to do virtually anything, and then take the action (which could and does include non-action, so that we don’t get all flustered), then synchronicities and experiences will come and go from your Being.

Now this is the fun part, what is your Being?

Being is the whole that you inhabit, it includes the physical, emotional, mental, intentional, spatial, quantum, sourceful (and many more) parts of the Self.

Where do we find this Being?

It is here, Now!!

Stop, and take a “look” at who you are, where you are, how you are, right now.

This is your Being, and in paying attention to “it”, a natural deepening, or understanding occurs.  This is a funny thing to speak about with words, because it is not merely intellectual knowledge, but the experience of the present that we are pointing too.

Right now, as a human collective we have many blocks over the doorway into Being.  Meaning, that our attention is focused outside of the self, or on the mental self as an isolated “thing” amongst other “things” – this is a good cause for paranoia!!

Us Versus Them is the main vibration of being an isolated thing amongst things.  A defence and need to be right.  I have played with this many times, and still do in many portions of this life.  So this is not coming from a “master”, but rather a fellow Being.

As we deepen our experience, which is an ongoing honesty and authenticity with your self.  There are states which could be considered Trans-Personal, as there is nothing to defend.  Mystics, shamans, and intuitive readers have been experiencing these realms for as long as there have been humans.  And the experience cannot be defended because it is of a highly individual nature.  Yet, in its individuality there is deep understanding of the One experience we are all having.

It is quite a paradox!

The point of this post though…

Is just to remember that as we learn about the positive aspects of our Being, it is very easy to then label the other ones as negative.  But this can often be an illusion, or mis-perception.  It is deeply experiencing and integrating the wisdom that comes from knowing thy Self which is the never ending spiritual journey, and the natural deepening and trust of the eternal Now moment which is to shape  our collective consciousness and form new, or old ways of Being for the human race.

Experiment with thought, KNOW your mental space.  But also know that it is not the entire picture, for how could it be?

Love

Realizing your life as Multi-Dimensional

Before we begin, it is to be known that there are many definitions for what a multi-dimensional experience entails.  Right now it is a big topic, because it can and does imply so many things simultaneously.  So as we are working with this pointer, allow it to be of your experience, not necessarily the label itself.

What are dimensions?

A dimension is a set of markers that limit our experience in a natural way.  These dimensions include thought, emotion, physical characteristics, time, space, archetypes etc

We have been taught that we are to have a “solid” character.  A static set of truths that constitute Who You Are.  This includes likes, dislikes, forms of expression, age, experience.

What we are now realizing though, is that there is one dimension of experience that is eternal, but it does not have boundaries or preferences.  This state is the state of bare awareness from which all things come and go.  Some people call this the un-manifested, and all experience the manifested.

When this dimension, the un-manifested dimension becomes a part of our lives, we can then see that all of the characters, roles, and experiences we have are of a temporary nature.  There is an implication here.  That the way we are acting in one moment may not be the way we are acting in the next.  A dynamic energy is one that can flow with -what is- as that flow is changing.  Also, that we can tap into whatever character, beliefs, experiences that feel natural at the time, and know that this is not the only way to be.

A grand example of this in most people’s lives is in a monogamous relationship.  In your experience, can you see where you have been lover, friend, parent, child, etc?  Another prominently changing relationship is that of student and teaching.  In a dynamic flow, the role will change according to what is being learned, and what is needed.

Our schooling system of textbooks is a great example of a static flow.  The teachings are pre-determined.  This is not to be fought, but rather changed as the dynamic reality is presenting itself.  We have an opportunity to begin living multi-dimensionally by starting to notice which characters/roles we are playing, and then to work with that in a dynamic way.  Often times, it is authentically expressing our feelings with one another which is the key to a dynamic experience.  It is the hiding from these feelings which often keeps us static.

This is not always an “easy” task, as we are a character driven society!  However, in the right setting it can be very easy to begin doing this, especially with others who are learning and living similar experiences.  A key and tool that we can work with is to allow the other to “be” without the want to change them.  As in the case of “Space Holding” – Then to watch as the flow unfolds itself.

This does not imply though, that you are never allowed to comment or share with another in any situation, as there are no “rules” to this type of experience.  There are times to hold space, and times to express, and only you can decide which experience you are having.

Realizing your life as multi-dimensional has a fundamental embrace of the Now moment as an ever changing, ever evolving experience.  In other words, you cannot step in the same Now moment twice, as in the case of a moving river.  It is called a karmic cycle when we are experiencing the same thing over and over.  But this is not to be fought, but rather acknowledged.  It is the deep acknowledgment of a cycle which is no longer the cycle.  For that space of recognition is the Now moment in its freshness.

Many cycles are not just from this life, but are karmic in a sense of past lives.  Certain tendencies, fears, wishes, and characters are ongoing through many time periods.  Right now we have an opportunity to “shift” out of these cycles through deep recognition as the witness, or observer, rather than as the character.

Another way to look at it is the cycles of the collective consciousness.  Past lives do not need to be as personal as they seem, although sometimes they truly are.  Often times we are acting from a place of the collective man, women, partner, teacher, etc experiences that are collective, global and universal.  Again, it is noticing these cycles that is our exit point.  However, this also does not mean that we want to exit every cycle.

To begin fighting characters becomes a character unto itself.  When a multi-dimensional aspect of Self is being outgrown, it makes itself quite clear.  These words  are simply tools in understanding the outgrown character that are presenting themselves to you.

As awareness is growing within the collective and on earth, many cycles are being seen and moved out of that had not previously been acknowledged. And, the observer, witness, or awareness does not “want” to change anything, but rather is the natural change that is happening.

When we force change because we are supposed to, often we will find that there is a character within who feels a “supposed to” vibe, rather than the natural movement of form.

This multi-dimensional understanding is a freedom to “play” within form, and still know deeply the root of the formless.

What kind of freedom does this imply?  Absolute!  To know our boundries, include and transcend.

This knowledge could be scary if one now thinks, "Well nothing I do matters".  I did at first!  However, as this knowledge matures there is a grand experience of freedom and exploration.

Love Cats