AWARENESS IS THE DOORWAY TO THE SPIRITUAL

What is meant by a meditative state of awareness? Is it something we can only engage by sitting in a corner with our eyes closed? What purpose does it serve, anyway?

A meditative state of awareness is our birthright. It is an enhanced way of being in the world. In this state of consciousness we have a greater connection to our creativity, our memory and our ability to learn are improved, and we become aware that there is so much more to the world(s) around us than we are “ordinarily” able to perceive. This state of consciousness is available to us, all the time, anywhere. It is for us to live in, to work in, to play in and to love in.

We tend to filter out most of the input, or information, that’s available to us. If you think about your sense of sight, we use our vision in a way that “tunnels in” on one particular object and we shut out our awareness of everything else. We also tend to move our attention from “point to point”, switching our focus from one prominent object or loud noise to another, with little awareness of what lies between or around them.

By training ourselves to become aware of all the input that’s available to us through our eyes, of all the information that’s available to us through our sense of hearing, touch, taste and smell, we gain a much more expansive connection to the world around us.

Due to the society in which we live, and the way we have been trained from birth, we tend to spend 95% of our time in “tunnel vision”. Wild animals tend to spend 95% of their time in a state of expanded awareness, and 5% of their time in a state of tunnelled awareness.

This has been measured; wild animals have 95% of their brain active at any one point in time. People living a hunter/gatherer lifestyle, e.g. Kalahari Bushmen: 50-60%; Domestic dogs and cats: 40-50%; ‘Civilized’ Humans: 10 %. At best.

By changing the way in which we have been patterned to use, initially, our five physical senses, we alter and enhance the way we use our brains, increasing our brain function.

We begin to develop a 360 degree sphere of awareness. As we regain this more expanded way of being in the physical world, we open ourselves to even more subtle input, and develop our sensitivity to energy and energy fields, what the Native Americans refer to as “the spirit that moves through all things”. We open ourselves to communication with Spirit. We activate our “sixth” sense and increase our intuitive abilities.

We gain the ability to see without using our eyes. Literally.

On a more down to Earth level, by combining this state of expanded awareness with a way of moving that is more in harmony with the way our bodies were designed to move, a way of moving that is more in tune with the rhythm of the natural world, we gain the ability to move through that world as an integral part of it. We use our feet as eyes, feeling the Earth beneath them. We become a part of all things wild. For possibly the first time in our lives, we can experience the joy of approaching a wild creature without it being aware of our presence. Foxes in particular seem quite surprised by this.

In the world of the cities, we gain an ability to move through the chaos without being as affected by the push and pulls that are exerted upon us energetically. As we gain the ability to choose that which we focus on, instead of having our focus and our energy sucked out of us, we are better able to stand within our own centre, and are less overwhelmed by the constant sensory assaults that surround us. We become able to move through crowds with the greatest of ease. We become able to be in that environment without being so affected by it, yet retaining the ability to be open, to whatever, and as, we choose.

By altering the way we use our five physical senses, we begin to change our brain patterning. “Our habits are determined by our brain patterning, our brain patterning is formed by what we focus on. What we focus on creates our sense of reality”. Or to paraphrase the last lines “our brain patterning is formed by what we choose to focus on. What we choose to focus on creates our reality.”

Regaining the power of choice over where we place our attention, truly understanding that through our mind, feelings, thoughts and energy we create the world in which we find ourselves, we begin to unlock the potent creative power that we hold, the gift of being human.

The best thing about this is that it can be practiced all the time, anywhere, and is very grounded in the physical world. This expanded state of awareness is available to us, by choice. This workshop will give you some simple tools – using them is your choice.

BIOGRAPHY

My background is 15 years as a professional skydiver, competing and coaching internationally, reaching the level of national champion and world record participant. About 5 years and 2000 jumps into this career a severe spinal injury put me out of action, and having been told that I would spend the rest of my life in a wheelchair (forget skydiving again!), led me to take a deeper look at life. Studying health and nutrition out of necessity, a regular practice of Transcendental Meditation proved invaluable.

A year and a half later I was back in the air. At this point, far more interested in teaching, I spent time working for the Italian Special Forces, coaching them in Formation Skydiving, developing teamwork and confidence; worked as a trainer of coaches for Skydive University; and was employed for three summers as head coach by the Norweigan Skydiving Association, in part assisting in training and selection for a successful National Record attempt. I went on to complete a total of 7000 skydives before fully retiring from the sport in 2002.

In 1995 I undertook a diploma course in massage, anatomy and physiology, use of plant based oils and reflex zone therapy, following that with a number of years in deep practice of Buddhist meditation, attending courses and retreats in the U.S., England and India.

The next step on my journey was towards a more Earth based form of spirituality, receiving teachings from an Apache Elder-Stalking Wolf, through Tom Brown in the New Jersey pine barrens, learning and practicing ways of living with the Earth, Sacred Survival; Apache Scout skills such as invisibility and developing the ability to see and sense without using the eyes, becoming one with the energy of the natural world; and the native peoples way of working with Spirit and Energy.

This was taken further with the Maori in New Zealand, where I was incredibly honoured by being taken to a number of their sacred sites; an Inuit Elder-Grey Wolf; and by spending time alone in the wilderness of the New Zealand bush, the Mid Sierra mountains of Northern California during winter, and on the Isle of Iona, Scotland.

Having worked with various spiritual teachers in the States and England, including training as a medium, in spiritual healing (1995) and reiki, and attending a rather intense Tibetan Buddhist long retreat, I was invited to teach a tutorial at the College for the Development of Psychic and Spiritual Studies, and am currently engaged in teaching courses on Expanding Awareness, particularly interested in how we can bring this awareness, and Spirit, into our daily lives. I am also creating an album of piano music, and working as a massage therapist and healer.

There is so much more to life than we are currently sold by the society in which we live. The time has come to step outside these narrow boundaries and begin to realise our full potential as human beings.

To truly understand what it means to be alive.

To know that Life is, in essence, a magnificent and wonderful adventure.

I feel humbled and extremely grateful to be able to play some part in this process