Forget your worries for another day, they will always be there when you think of them, but give yourself permission to forget about them. Think instead of all the things that make you happy, all the things that you are grateful for, all the things that bring a smile to your face and a lightness to your heart. Surely there are more things than you know. Is not just the sun shining on the windowsill something to be grateful for? Is not the chirping of birds something to be cheerful about? Is not the fact that you have made it this far in life enough to be thankful for? Is it not wonderful to breathe, to smile, to sit in the stillness of the morning, or the evening, and drink in the wonders of a day to begin or a day gone by? Think on these positive thoughts throughout the day, between morning and evening, whenever worry slips in. Turn your face from worry and remember the sun on the windowsill that brought you a moment of joy.
In the late 19th century, the deeply insightful ophthalmologist, William H. Bates, discovered that the best method to improve all errors in vision was to simply relax. The demands of the then ‘modern civilization’, such as being asked to read print in its smallest font, crammed upon a page, invited the reader to strain and squint, as the eyes stressed to read outside their normal, fully relaxed receptive mode of seeing.
What became known as the Bates Method is a series of practices that restores the eyes to the autonomy of complete relaxation with the consequent effect of improved vision. Bates suggested that if we try to see anything, we are in error.
The speed and demands of our current modern civilization, as it wrestles with its pressing shadow of annihilation, is one of constant bombardment of the nervous system, with its deeply arousing thoughts and consequent emotions of anxiety, fear and fretful anticipation. Beyond the eyes, all the organs and structures of the physical body are subject to disease and dysfunction in this stressed mental atmosphere of turmoil.
Meditation is a practice which restores relaxation to the mind. When the mind is at ease thoughts are few, and largely ones of choice, versus the typical state of free association, driving a non-stop train of thought. We are hardly exempt from intrusive thought when meditating, but we do learn to calmly and definitely withdraw our attention from the unwanted thought invitations that confiscate our focus and tax our central nervous system.
When we meditate, we gather in our power of intent. Intent is the power of thought, as exercised, for instance, in the power of autosuggestion to the subconscious mind. We increase the power and effectiveness of intent through retrieving and re-channeling the energy wasted in attention to fragmented thoughts that siphon our vital energy and deliver mixed messages to the subconscious mind.
We live in a universe of thought. From without, our plugged-in generation is incessantly deluged with the thoughts of others, both human and AI generated. At the subtle level of what the shamans call inorganic life—beings or souls with mental powers but not a physical form—we are also telepathically surrounded by the thoughts of others seeking to influence our beliefs, actions and emotions.
We do have the power of intent to cast off these parasitic thoughts, but we must first purify our intent. Here, we must face our own attraction to the excitement that thoughts bring us, yes, even by religiously following the behaviors of those we find obnoxious and absurd. Like does attract like. If we want excitement, excitement will definitely find its way to us.
If we exercise our intent to detach our attention from that which excites and drains our vital energy, it slowly but definitely releases us, as the emotional food of calm that we produce is tasteless to its desire. As with the Bates Method, we are here not trying to do anything, but instead releasing ourselves from programs of thought that disrupt our true state of calm.
As we gather in our intent and power of controlled thought our nervous system slows down. Freed of activating thought impressions it releases the tensions locked in the body from the play of old thoughts, or those of others, that take up residence in the drone of our internal dialogue.
We may be naturally drawn to deepen our breath as our bodies open naturally to the oxygen and subtle prana that feed our minds and bodies. This attention to the breath takes us deeper into alpha and theta brain wave states, where, with intent, we might obtain guidance from our Higher Self, or other higher beings whose wisdom we are open and available to.
When we gather within and slow it down, all things are possible.
Let your inner calmness upon waking stay with you for longer than usual. Before you stir your mind awake with all the things you have to do and all the things you have to worry about, plan for and undertake today, hold onto the stillness you awaken with, where everything is calm and peaceful, where everything is equal and nothing needs attention. Step into the morning in this calm frame of mind and hold onto it for as long as possible. Each day from hereon in lengthen that calm state, holding onto it intentionally for another hour, and then another. Each day make this your first priority, to lengthen your inner state of calmness and peacefulness. Hold onto it for as long as possible.
Your personal energy matters. How you go about your day matters. Are you angry today? Are you sad, pensive, regretful? Are you consumed by worry? All of these emotions affect your energy, both within yourself and in the world outside of you. Those you meet today will feel your energy. How do you wish to be perceived? Even if someone doesn’t immediately sense your emotional state it will affect them so that they may not be fully available to you and you will not be fully present and available to them either. Begin the day with a little prayer for peace and calmness within, saying something simple to yourself to readjust your inner emotional state so that you are more ready for your day, both within yourself and as you prepare to interact with others.
It is never too late to accept what is being shown to you. You may want to reject or disregard it but it will not go away. When big changes come, they mean business. So, prepare yourself for what they will mean for you personally. Once again, sit in quiet stillness, focus on what your next move should be as you get your heart, mind and spirit in alignment with the Great Universal Mind, Heart and Spirit. In this manner, all will be made clear.
