Clear Intent & magic

I was thinking today about the states of insanity we try to live in, and all the while telling ourselves that this way of living is normal. No two opposing thoughts can occupy the same brain without leading to severe stress and yet this is what we do all the time.

Examples of opposing thoughts in action:

Having a desire for success while also feeling that 'that kind of luck just won't happen for me'.
Trying to start a new relationship while holding on to the remembered pain or joy of a past relationship.
Attempting to trust life while also believing that fearful things can just 'happen' to you.
Getting stuck in want based thinking which always put the desired outcome in the future and not realising that "act as if' means really absolutely believing on every level that what you want already is, right here, right now.

We all do this but we can stop it by questioning our thoughts, by getting present to what is real in our lives and by focusing on the breath. Each breath is so taken for granted but it is the miracle that lies literally under our noses. It seems so ordinary but it is the ultimate dividing line between life and death. And we cannot even control our breath. We are, in fact, being breathed and in each breath the huge cellular network that is our human form manifests us in this world. There is no control. There is nothing we can control. We can only flow with the action of being breathed, with the action of our cells manifesting form, and in that space we can in turn manifest the life we want to lead. It is that simple. It is that magical.

Jill Bolte Taylor - My Stroke of Insight

Jill Bolte Taylor's talk at TED is really doing the rounds on the net and to me it is one of the best presentations I have ever seen.

She also has a book out called "My Stroke of Insight" and it is an excellent read.

Jill Bolte Taylor is a Brain Specialist who at the age of 37 had a stroke. Her book begins by explaining the way the brain works clearly and simply from a functional point of view. It also provides a valuable insight as to what a stroke victim experiences and is a must read for anyone working with or caring for a stroke victim.

But this book is much more than that. As Jill walks us through the process of her stroke, which shut down her left brain function and gave her an uninterrupted view of the right brain in action the book opens out to give us an experience of the amazing and boundless potential of the human as a being at one with and in direct connection with what she describes as 'the life force power of the universe.'

There are so many books trying to describe the human condition both from the perspective of science and biology and from the spiritual perspective. In this book both perspectives meet and back each other up. My reaction to this book was "At last! A scientist who not only understands the mechanisms that allow us to experience the full potential of our nature as spiritual and human beings but who, through her direct experience of it, can testify to the fact that we all have the capacity to be at one with all that is, right here right now while we are still alive and inhabiting the genius structure that is the human body."

As visitors to this site know, Dance with Life is an experiential journey through what it means to be alive and the ways of 'unlearning' all the concepts which block us from having a full experience of our place as awakened beings in a friendly and beautiful universe. Too often I've been asked if this is really possible, if everyone really has the ability to do this. Now I'm delighted to be able to say go read Jill Bolte Taylor's book and you'll find all the explanation and proof that you need. In fact I'd recommend that her last chapter should be required reading for anyone who wants to further their inner exploration as it paves the way to really understand and get the most from what all the spiritual journey books say.

Also check out her talk at TED the link is here: http://www.ted.com/talks/view/id/229
and posted in the links column on the left.