Exploring the Depths of Inner Consciousness: The Next Scientific Paradigm*

“Spirit is the infinite reservoir of wisdom. Each human
life is a channel through which that divine
wisdom is steadily flowing.”
Paramahansa Yogananda

Objectives

The objectives of this course are to:

1.Propose that the new daring frontier of study of human evolvement is the “Science of Consciousness.”

2.Show that such a study begins with a significant breakthrough in human intelligence as wisdom.

3.Participate in an imagery exercise designed to create the experiential integration of body, mind, and spirit.

4.Participate in an exercise to begin creating a new paradigm for the study of the Science of Consciousness and the continued existence of humankind on planet Earth.

The Science of Consciousness

The daring new frontier of science is the exploration of that realm of consciousness that cannot be directly measured by Newtonian-Cartesian instrumentation.
It involves the in-depth, experiential exploration of the individual and collective belief structures that characterize the intrapersonal and interpersonal relationships of humankind.

As discoveries and creations of Newtonian-Cartesian science and technology are applied toward the survival, conveniences, and desires of humankind, the explorations of our present belief structures are also directed toward questions of survival, in addition to wisdom and human evolution.

The Process

The process begins with an in-depth examination of whether our present individual and collective belief structures support:

1)The creation of a planetary ecosystem that threatens and will ultimately create an uninhabitable planet for human survival.

2)A consciousness that tends to resolve serious conflict through armed aggression or the threat of armed aggression.

3)A level of human evolvement that lacks the wisdom to responsibly govern our scientific and technological advancements to ensure the well-being and continued existence of humankind.

The Course will be continued in the coming days with experiential exercises. There will also be a final examination at the conclusion. (smile) The Course will be of particular value to science and technology based organizations.

As usual comments are valued.

Bill

Sometime in December and January we began the active promotion of empowerment. That is, the progressive process of adapting a mind-set of self-determination. We also began emphasizing that our ultimate objective was to go out of business, as a Support Group. We did not want to create dependency but support to integrate back into American society wherever that was appropriate. Whenever first-timers would come to our meetings this idea of self-sufficiency was foreign. It sounded like we had no empathy and compassion for what they had gone through. Quite the contrary. We felt that having people move to proactivity meant taking control of their lives. What better gift could we offer!

Many of the meetings turned into workshops. These workshops involved the mental transformation necessary for the displaced citizens’ adaptation. Again, Ernest handled the day-to-day stuff during the week and Pastor Davis handled the spiritual stuff on Sundays. When many of those displaced learned that FEMA was planning to cut housing and food support, local Utah services stepped in. They attended our meetings. Listened to hours of frustration that had nothing to do with them. And handled these conversations with empathy, compassion, and love.

I have not heard a single complaint from any of those displaced about their treatment in Utah. On the contrary, they all stated how supportive the people of Utah have been. Most of them arrived here with the same prejudice (pre-judgement) I had when I first joined the faculty at the University of Utah. What’s been even more surprising is that even after a year and all the publicity worn-off, the acceptance and support are still there.

My assessment is that the vast majority of those displaced here are rapidly moving toward a place of deciding “Where-to-Now.” That is what we were attempting to accomplish with the Support Group. Next Monday (August 28th), there will be an anniversary celebration at Calvary Baptist Church at 6:30 P.M. Everyone is invited. Afterward, we will assess where we are and how do we go forward.

Next week I will be starting an online workshop for “adventurous spirits” who are interested in “going deep” with respect to inner exploration of your creative and spiritual consciousness. The workshop title is “Exploring the Depths of Inner Consciousness: The Next Scientific Paradigm.” Be sure to tell your friends to tune in.

Bill

Creativity can be accessed just as easily when you are awake as when you are asleep. It depends on how much of an unconscious barrier you put up. We’ve already discussed why most of us are not as creative as we could possibly be by the “Picasso Statement” from previous blogs. I share with you below 10 easy and practical ways of breaking patterns of behavior that keep us stuck in doing the same old thing. It’s amazing how open we become to creative ideas from our subconscious when we eliminate a totally patterned way of living.

How To Break Patterned Ways of Thinking — and Open Your Creativity

1.Do things with your left hand if you are naturally right-handed (and vice versa); brushing your teeth, combing your hair, shaving, showering, bathing, etc.

2.Drive to work by an alternative route.

3.Eat only when your body tells you it is hungry. Forget about the three meals a day at prescribed times. Learn to know the difference between “patterned behavior” and “body talk.”

4.Pretend you are a tourist in your own city and visit all the sites you would recommend to visitors.

5.Experiment eating foods you think you don’t like, but have never tried—therefore, there is no proof of an adverse reaction. You might extend this to anything you think you don’t like that does not injure the well-being of yourself and others.

6.Ask your kid(s) (or young relatives) what they would like to do for a Saturday or Sunday outing. You may be surprised. Just Do It!

7.Drive under the speed limit for one week. If you exceed the speed limit (“even by accident”), pay your kid(s) or a friend $10 for each infraction.

8.Create one day each week that is unplanned and unscheduled— then “create” that day “moment-by-moment” as it evolves.

9.Compose a piece of music; write a poem; paint a picture; create a story—you never know what you are capable of until you try.

10.Sleep on the opposite side of the bed.

Those of you who are interested in the furtherest reaches of creativity, check out the new Innovations course called “Quantum-Thinking.”

Last night I saw the second part of Spike Lee’s documentary on Katrina–When the Levees Broke. I don’t see how anyone could watch that accounting and be satisfied with how that tragedy was “handled.” Even if we argued that we were totally unprepared for an event of such proportions, what has not been done since is criminal.

I think the lack of urgency, care, and aggressive support for those impacted and the city itself is perhaps worse than that shown for countries devastated by war, The Marshall Plan for Germany after World War II, The Berlin Airlift, and presently the billions we are pouring into Iraq. In truth, what the Katrina tragedy represents is the deep chasm that exists along racial lines that we ignore or pretend away by highlighting successful African Americans. This chasm probably goes all the way back to slavery.

Perhaps, even more discouraging is the lack of a public outcry! It’s easy to castigate our public officials, they only respond to something that threatens their seat in congress. Given the year that’s passed, we have a measure of their sense of urgency, care, and commitment to the citizens of New Orleans and the city itself.

Given that situation, what is our alternative? I suggest a national movement to help ourselves, just as Ghandi rallied Indians during the early part of the last century. The realization is there is no help coming until we begin to help ourselves! We always invite others to join but we must take action first. Many of us, African Americans, have “made it” throughout the U.S.

I suggest we start by ensuring that those displaced in our local communities are supported to begin thinking about their futures in a proactive way. We have taken this action in Salt Lake City with Katrina Support Group. I suggest communities in every city where people are displaced take similar action. We need no great leader to take action in our own behalf. In truth, we decided here in Salt to take action. We are often surprised how “empowered” we can become in an action mode.

Then, we turn our attention to the people of the city itself. I don’t have all the answers, but I do know from past experiences of starting organizations that if the time is right and it’s a movement that is waiting to begin, it quickly takes on a life of its own! Again, this is done by average people like you and me. If this appeal makes sense to you, please forward this blog to all your friends and let’s see what happens.

I am available for questions involving the mechanics of how we started the Salt Lake Karrina Support Group. Although, I have spoken most about New Orleans, this “Katrina Restoration Campaign” is certainly inclusive of the entire Gulf Coast. I just looked up the definition of campaign. It is “a plan of activities for a special purpose.” And campaigning is “to take part in or lead a campaign.” My vision is a grassroots movement.

Let’s see where it leads!

As we continued to struggle with the necessities of life — food, shelter, clothing, and identity — more displaced citizens continued to show up to our meetings. They were all at different stages of adaptation. Some were ready to enter the mainstream world of work while others were still reliving that tragic week after the hurricane. Like they say, if the mind is not there, the body will not follow.

I told stories of having experienced hurricanes and how my family always came back, but I was clear it was nothing like what they had experienced. Then I would ask “How do we get past this one, which I don’t have experience of?” The response was, “It wasn’t the hurricane, it was the water!” Anger at the hurricane, the water, the system, the federal and state governments, the weakened levee, and FEMA all helped to bring us up from depression. In addition, there were those among the group who shared that they were ready to “get on with it.”

So, back to basics. Like using bicycles to get around. Group transportation for errands. Contributed food, clothing, and personal items at every meeting were very helpful due the efforts of Rev. Davis. Ernest was on the telephone daily dispatching people for help, giving instructions for contacting FEMA, and just having a conversation of support. Others helped with refreshments and conversations at the end of each meeting. But most of all, I think the most healing element was the “family” we formed. No one ever left a meeting without being upbeat and taken care of for the following week. That was it. One week at a time.

Slowly but surely, we began the conversation of responsibility and empowerment. Responsibility for our direction in spite of the tragedy and empowerment to create self-sufficiency. I really think that much of this conversation went beyond the tragedy and for some it was hearing it for the first time. It took several months for this message to set in and become accepted by a majority of the group.

This transformation began the turning point. It was like recovering something deep within ourselves from past generations. Like using tragedy to remind ourselves of who we are at the core of our being. Realizing that rebuilding our lives in the aftermath of such a tragedy is what true heroism is about. But most of all, it is a story of the human spirit to survive and prosper.

More to come…….

Meanwhile, check out the new podcast between Phil and myself on audio downloads.

About one year ago, displaced U.S. citizens from New Orleans arrived in Salt Lake City to begin a new life. There were many people from the Salt Lake community who met the incoming citizens beginning the recovery process of an experience that many, if not most, of us could hardly begin to understand. When I learned of the process of moving them from a local military installation into various Utah communities, my immediate thought was to ask where I could contribute money. However, there was an immediate feeling of abandoning them and erasing the situation from my mind. So, I decided to call Reverend France Davis of Salt Lake and suggested we form a support group to help with the transition of those displaced. After all, New Orleans to Salt Lake is not like New Orleans to Baton Rouge, Louisiana!

The first meeting we had consisted of ten individuals. One was Ernest Timmons. Ernest later was hired by Reverend Davis to be the tactical day-to-day person in support of the new residents’ needs. In this whole affair, Ernest is the “real hero!” I say this again, Ernest is the “real hero!” The individuals at the first meeting were, for the most part, highly positive, and empowered in their thinking. The word quickly spread about the group through tremendous assistance from the news media. In addition, Reverend Davis made announcements at his church. And ultimately, by word of mouth communication. Before we knew it, we were off and running.

My first thought was how to have those displaced go through the Kubler-Ross process of Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Guilt and Acceptance. I instantly learned that I was in a dream world. Our friends were dealing with establishing their identity, securing food, shelter, and clothing; and learning about our grid system of the city and transportation system. Can you imagine being “dropped into” the U.S. with only the clothes on your back and no identification or money! Then proceeding to look for a job or enrolling your kids in school with no recoverable records. Our identities and accomplishments are established by pieces of paper not by our personhood in physical appearance.

Our first efforts were devoted to sharing stories and providing resources for getting through the coming week. Who needs what, when, and how do we help you get it? What about special medications, not to mention the psychological adaptation. In retrospect, our team of Ernest, Bill, and Reverend Davis unknowingly brought a holistic approach to our group efforts: Body, Mind, and Spirit. Ernest handled the day-to-day food, shelter, and clothing, and FEMA stuff. I handled the inspirational stuff to transition from victimhood to empowerment. And Reverend Davis handled the spiritual stuff. This combination was probably the key to our success.

This blog is getting long, so I’ll continue tomorrow with sequence.

I indicated a process in the previous blog for ordinary creativiy using the sleep state. There is a more powerful use of the sleep state for literally “creating your own reality!” (Keep in mind Picasso’s statement from previous blogs!)

Sleep State Creativity – Dreams

For the most part, most of us are untrained in the use of this valuable personal source for literally transforming our ability to integrate our creativity as a natural part of everyday living.

Sleep state creativity is typically recalled through dreams. Dreams are the symbolic and metaphoric translation of experiences beyond the five senses and are transcendent to physical reality.

A remembered dream is a snapshot of a larger multidimensional event (or sequence of events) translated into physical reality by representations such as symbols, images, sounds, objects, metaphors, etc.

Dream Creativity Through Programming
Your Creative Consciousness

Creativity and dreaming are inextricably intertwined. Dreams from your creative consciousness can be a powerful catalyst for creative solutions. Creativity in its broadest sense includes the way we live our lives, make decisions, and handle our relationships and careers. These are done in a manner which is unique and appropriate for each of us through the conscious use of our dreams.

The step-wise process of dream programming and interpretation involves:

1.Making a specific request of your creative consciousness of a concisely and precisely stated question or problem.(This request should be written)

2.Request your creative consciousness to wake you at a given time or use your normal wake state trigger for the answer to come to conscious awareness.

3.The answer may be in the form of colors, sounds, a dream, or it may be explicit. You must use your power of symbolic association or dream interpretation to unravel the answer.

4.For a difficult problem, the answers may come in a sequence of dreams.

5.Systematically generate your dream symbol glossary that is unique to you and perform the dream translation.(Remember to explore symbol translations beyond literal meanings)

6.Relate the dream translation to your request (or to some other situation occurring in your life).

7.Practice makes perfect. This is an inherent ability available to anyone.

Create a “Dream Team” to share the results of your dreams in order to get feedback about your dream interpretation. Remember, only 5% to 10% of dreams are literal! No matter what you dream is probably symbolic. You have to use insight, intuition, and quantum-thinking to unravel the answers to your burning questions!

Have Fun!

Using the sleep state for creative insights is one of the most powerful techniques that exists. We use it anyway, mostly unconsciously. For those of us who are too busy to stop and be creative, this a “must-learn” skill. It’s also easy and free. The challenge is Picasso’s statement. (Refer to earlier blogs.) This will be a series on how to-do-it, from the basic stuff to advanced sleep state creativity. Let’s begin!

Use of the Sleep State for Creativity, Problem-Solving,
and Learning

1. The first step is to learn to recall our dreams by programming our subconscious to remember what was dreamed. We dream, on the average, 4-5 dreams per night, whether we acknowledge and remember them or not.

2. In the initial stages of dream recall, fill in the gaps with “creative hallucinations” in your dream logs or notebooks (since they closely parallel your actual dream).

3. Solutions from dreams will come in the form of metaphors, symbols, or explicit courses of action. You must ultimately be the interpreter of your dreams. This is most effectively done by generating a personal dream symbol glossary.

Assistance from a close friend (or friends) in dream interpretation can also be extremely valuable. However, they cannot interpret your dream accurately!!!

4. Practice is the essential key along with intentionality. You will eventually develop the talent of following your hunches in terms of what your dreams mean. (Practice tonight as a homework assignment.)

All techniques simply require practice (like skiing) and they soon become an integral part of your conscious daily operation–a natural behavioral pattern.

5. a) Give yourself specific instructions to wake up or to remember your dream the next morning.

b) Keep a note pad or tape recorder near your bed.

c) Ask for specific solutions to problems. The more specific the request, the more specific the answer from your creative
consciousness.

d) Program your creative consciousness for solutions to a specifically stated problem in the simplest possible terms.

For example, imagine yourself making a presentation to a group of people where you have the greatest fear of not doing it right and discovering the source of your fear.

Or, imagine yourself observing a scene between you and someone else where you can objectively discover the underlying source of a difficulty that you experience with that person.

6. As you become proficient in the use of the sleep state, you can gain greater control and literally use your dreams for whatever you desire to know; every time you sleep.

7. Manipulation and control of the sleep state can become a powerful tool in consciousness exploration, creativity, and more effectively tuning into your intuition in the wake state, e.g., lucid dreaming.

8. Basic steps in sleep state creativity include:
• Programming or “input mode”
• Incubation or “process mode”
• Illumination or “output mode”

These are the basic steps in Sleep State Creativity 101. If you have questions, please use comments. To the last Commenter, I will have Kayla write a blog this weekend.

Check out the new podcast with Phil Davis.

The act of creation is a spiritual process. That is, it transcends the limitations of the mind and allows the playful exploration of your creative consciousness. Most of us are either creative “on demand” or in small increments. “On Demand” means when creativity is a necessity. Small increments means those creative touches we bring to cooking, sewing, hobbies, music, problem-solving, and any activity involving our day-to-day activities.

The sleep state is quite a different matter. That’s the time our consciousness feels free to explore like a child visiting Never-Never Land. It easily moves from the mental state into the spiritual state and explores those aspects of our lives that serve us best when we are awake.

When I first began doing work in diversity. I noticed that some groups were easy while others were very challenging. I tried for several weeks to find the answer to this dilemma since the material content was the same, the exercises were the same, and my delivery was, for the most part, the same. I continued to look for the answer through the analysis process without success. One night I was simply so overwhelmed with this inconsistency that I seriously considered giving up the work since “very good” was not good enough for me. The next morning I awakened with absolute clarity. The answer: “I was just as prejudiced and biased as anyone else.” My work was providing me the opportunity to look inside myself rather than outwardly at others struggling to find their own peace in a world of differences. Back to that old saying, “we teach what we most need to learn.” I assume my sleep state exploration simply took over for me to take me out of my misery. I’m sure most of you can identify a situation that you were struggling with and awakened with “the answer,” whether personal or professional. The key is to assume that “something happened.” The opportunity is to discover the process of what happened and consciously reinforce it! Make it part of your day-to-day life–living creatively.

Next time I will discuss sleep-state programming.

Meanwhile, visit Razorpages.com, the site for marketing and selling independent authors.

Phil has become one of my most popular Guest Bloggers. Here are his most recent thoughts on living creatively.

Living Creatively – The Opposite of Living as a Victim

I attended a class the other day about relationships and during one part of the class the instructor discussed living as a victim. The basic characteristics of a victim, the instructor said are:

Depression
Blaming others
Reacting
Laziness
Self-pity
Self-loathing

The instructor had many more descriptors and once she got going the class chimed in with many of their own. But I think you get the picture. Then the instructor asked, “What is the opposite of living as a victim?” We all sat there with stupid, blank looks on our faces until she said, “Living creatively is the opposite of living as a victim.”

Then she asked us what it meant to live creatively. The answers were slow at coming so she helped us out.

Being proactive
Jumping out of bed in the morning
Confident
Problem-solving
Being accountable
Being empowered

Some people surely are victims. If a bomb were to fall in our neighborhood, there would be victims. But for those of us who aren’t subjected to this kind of catastrophe, why would we choose to live as a victim?

There’s another side to this discussion as well. For those of us who live creatively, we need to be careful not to victimize those around us. A friend of mine had great success in her career right out of college. She came from a family that was not too well off financially and so she felt compelled to provide financial assistance whenever needed. Once her parents and her siblings benefited from her help, they began to seek her assistance more often until my friend had to finally stop helping. Actually, what she did was to turn off the financial help and she started helping out emotionally by talking to her siblings and helping them solve their own problems. What she told me one day was that the less she helped out financially, the better off her brothers and sisters were.

Living an empowered life, an independent life, for those who can, is one of the greatest joys we can experience in this world. In conclusion I will ask,

What can you do today to live a more creative life?