Feeling Better

Take a look at your shoes. What reasons did you have for buying them? Was it the style or color? Or maybe the price was right. Regardless, there's a good chance you bought them because you were convinced you would feel better once you owned those shoes.

Think about all the choices we make: the new job; the new cell phone; last night's dessert; next summer’s vacation. Each choice represents a missing piece in our quest for happiness.

We all want to feel better more often. It's what motivates us to do just about everything. Whether it's the latest style, a tropical beach or a piece of chocolate, we're telling ourselves that when we have it, we will feel better.

Trouble is the feeling is often fleeting. Very soon we’re on to the next 'must have' on the list. This is the one. This one will do it. How long is your list?

If you want to feel better more often, then feel better more often. Sound too simple? Well, the truth is you create the feeling; not the sunset, not the perfect boss and certainly not another pair of shoes. When you feel better first you get what you want first! Then something happens to your choices. They become 'add ons' rather than 'must haves'. And you may be surprised to find out you really don't need those shoes!

My wish for you this holiday season is that you discover how to create the feelings you want inside yourself and find your own peace on earth!

Levels of Consciousness

As this illusory, localized point of view understands it, within space and time.


1) Deep Dreamless Sleep
Some consciousness exists. We can be roused by sound, touch or some other external stimuli.

2) Dreams
The subtle body expresses itself. There are thoughts, images, even insights, but the self is not grounded in physical reality or the rationality of logic.

3) Waking
The world of the 5 senses. A physical connection exists between inner and outer worlds, and though reality is interpreted in terms of self/not-self, an understanding of common experience exists. Most people seem to cycle between sleep and wake, but seldom look at the other levels.

4) The Glimpse of the Soul
The window into the infinite. It is realized that the seeker IS that which is sought. It is realized that there is an observer in the midst of the observation. There is that which is observed (body/events/objects), the process of observing (Mind), and the Observer (soul), the unchanging part that is neither body or mind.

5) The Awakened Soul
The observer is awake at all times. It is the being in the world but not of the world. There is local perception with awareness of the non-local nature of being. Waking, sleeping, eating, dreaming...the observer is still aware.

6) Divine Consciousness
Cognition and perception at the level of the senses that things are not what they seem. The embodiment of spirit is recognized in all aspects of creation. There is realization that all experience; beauty, love, anger, aversion is a co-creation of the observer and that which is observed.

7) Unity of Spirit
Merging with the spirit of all other objects and phenomena. I'm not in the body, the body is in me. I'm not in the universe, the universe is in me ... I Am that I Am.

All that arises is the Universe momentarily pretending that it has a localized point of view, for the simple joy of creation and existence.


8)

There has been a lot of conversation about misogi exercises on the Aikido-L mailing list lately.

This is interesting timing. I have just found a couple misogi breathing exercises on the Wisdom Quest biofeedback game.

They are interesting exercises, not very different from some of the misogi breathing exercises I've learned in Aikido. What further interest me is the fact that the biofeedback algorithms in the program indicate a high degree of physiological coherence develops when the exercises are performed. The algorithms in the series were licensed from Heartmath, which has a phenomenally good track record for for solid research and clinical results.

Here are the exercises, they are referred to as the "Three Diamonds" in the game.

The Sky (Heaven) Breath:

- Stand in a relaxed, upright, manner, with feet approximately shoulder width apart and weigh evenly distributed between your feet.

- Visualize a ball of energy directly over your head.

-Place your hands on either side of the ball, lightly cupping it.

-On the in-breath, move the ball from over your head to your seika tanden, follow the motion with your hands, keeping your palms facing each other, and lightly cupped. Keep your hands close to your body and symmetrical.

-On the out-breath, move the ball from the seika tanden to the top of the head.

- Repeat 9 times

- Perform the exercise with a feeling of light, expansive energy.

This breath is to develop intuitive, sharp awareness and stillness within.


The Earth Breath:

- Stand in a relaxed, conscious manner with feet shoulder width apart.

- Focus on the center of the Earth. Experience the cooling power of the planet. Allow your body to sink, without movement, toward the the center of the planet, the point that gravity pulls objects toward.

- Place your hands in a relaxed position lightly

- on the in-breath, strengthen the connection between the center of the Earth to your seika tanden.

- On the out-breath, maintain the strength of the connection, allowing your balance to unify with its connection to the center of the earth.

- Repeat 9 times.

The energy of this exercise is heavy, powerful and grounding.

This exercise develops physical and mental strength, focus and perseverence.


The Heart Breath:

- Stand in a relaxed balance manner, feet shoulder width.

- Extend your arms as if you were embracing the trunk of a great tree.

- Bend your knees, and on the in-breath gather the energy of the earth to the region of your heart as you return to standing.

- On the out-breath, turn your palms away from you and and let a feeling of universal lovingkindness and compassion emanate from the region of your heart.

- Start with you hands higher on the next in-breath. Gather the energy of the heavens into the region of your heart.

- On the out-breath, again, turn your palms away from you, emanating lovingkindness and compassion.

Repeat these alternating breaths for 9 cycles.

Shine with radiant light and forgiveness during during this breath. This is the polishing of the self, the balancing of the mind and body, the point of balance of Earth and Heaven.


Hints:
As you are standing and centering before each exercise in this series, feel for the rhythm of your heart. Develop an awareness of it in your hands, seika tanden, and head. Sync the breaths in this exercise with your heartbeat. Approximately 5 beats for the in-breath, approximately 5 beats for the out-breath. The in-breath will be slightly shorter, the heart rate will increase slightly on the in-breath and slow on the out-breath, but keep the 5:1 ratio.

The respiration rate will probably settle to around 6 breaths per minute. Don't force the depth of the breaths, listen to what your body calls for. If your body calls for more air, deepen your breathing, but keep the 5:1 ratio. Don't over-breathe either. Let your body naturally call for what it needs.