Spirituality

Many of us are not aware of how active our minds are throughout the day generating a huge number of thoughts. If you stop for a moment, as you try to quieten your mind, you may soon discover the myriad of thoughts which abound within your mind. It is not uncommon that the harder you try to find a proverbial quiet corner, the more thoughts you are likely to discover. This clearly proves that your mind is forever busy often generating thoughts which do not fully register in your consciousness. The challenge is that with so many thoughts rampaging through your mental mind and subconscious mind, is that you could be reacting to thoughts without even realising they were present in the first place.

We can all do ourselves a proverbial favour by spending some time learning to listen to or observe the thoughts which flow through our minds, whether they be conscious or subconscious thoughts. As you become more skilful at listening or observing your thoughts, you can begin to identify any critical, malicious or negative thoughts or ideas before they take hold within you. Catching such thoughts early on means that you can more easily change them to something of a more positive nature.

There are many different methods you can utilise to observe your thoughts, from the use of simple mindfulness, through various forms of meditation, to advanced studies in Cognition. The key to all of these methods to be successful is that you should observe your thinking as if you were looking from the outside. The best analogy is that as the observer of your mind, consider that you are witnessing a film or a play unfolding. As you witness these thoughts, do your best to remain the observer. Do not allow your emotions to drag you into the narrative, otherwise, you will start living out the thoughts rather than being the observer.

It can be common for people to struggle to remain awake on occasions during meditation due to three separate factors (see later on). Regardless of the explanations for having this propensity to doze off, the key resides in applying your awareness. Becoming aware is a core competency to be acquired through meditation, so, intriguingly, being aware is the key to not zoning out during your meditation activities.

The most common reason for people having a tendency to doze off during meditation is unsurprising a result of their hectic or frantic lives. If you have had a busy day or have struggled with stress, then you might identify that you often become drowsy during your meditation. This is simply because your body begins to destress from the pressures of your life as you perform the meditation activity. If you regularly experience this, then take time out to stand or splash some water on your face before proceeding. During the afternoon, lots of people experience an energy slump which can affect them when meditating. If that is the case, then it could be more beneficial for you to practice meditation in the morning when the body is awake. It is also common that a relaxed posture can contribute to the impulse to nod off, so take the opportunity to get started with some improved posture before you start your meditation. It does not mean that you need to sit in a contorted position, just becoming more aware of your body is the key.

A much more bewildering reason why you may become sleepy during your meditation is that your mind is proactively functioning to control your life. This might sound like a dichotomy that falling asleep is because of the activity of your mind. Yet it is effectively your mind which is applying control over you, hindering your ability to successfully practice meditation. In this way you might feel as though you are not succeeding, and that you cannot meditate. When the fact is, your mind is compelling you to be this way to ensure that it can preserve control. If you continue to meditate, you can strive to take back control from your mind, nevertheless be aware that your mind is most likely to strongly resist giving up control at any cost.

The final aspect which is seldom taken into consideration is that through the process of learning to meditate, you can awaken some of the inner energy of your true self. As the energy of your Life Force flows into your body, this can initially lead to a sensation of tiredness or even phasing out. This is simply because your body and mind are not accustomed to these kinds of energy apart from the minuscule quantities which are necessary to keep the human mechanism alive. If you are experiencing zoning out, then the key once more is the application of awareness. Being aware, as mentioned previously, is a cornerstone of meditation and it is never truer than when your Life Force energies begin to come to the fore via advanced meditation. As you apply your awareness, know these energies flow through the energy pathways (meridians) of your body. This knowing, through your awareness, will assist you to maintain your focus and not zone off.

Usually each of us does not have issues with thinking or expressing what would be identified as positive thoughts or emotions. Unfortunately, it is a normal human response to avoid or wish to bury difficult emotions, and even in some cases those which might seem to be neutral but have become taboo as a result of societal norms. Sequestering your emotions and thoughts can be an appropriate way of managing them from a mental mind standpoint. These subdued emotions will normally not create problems when you undertake mindfulness or basic meditation, as the power of your mind can maintain them metaphorically under control. Even if these concealed thoughts or emotions are not leading to problems, be aware that you have pushed them aside. Suppressing an emotion does not admonish an emotion. The emotion still exists within you, secreted in the background of your mind and subconscious. So for your own wellbeing, you should take the opportunity to understand them whenever the time is right.

The state of affairs changes considerably when you start on the pathway to the awakening of your inner light. It is very important to know that suppressing or subduing thoughts and emotions, especially the unfavourable ones, can be perilous as you advance on your journey of attunement or advanced meditation. As you progress with your meditation techniques, increasing levels of the power of your Life Force enlivens your form. These energies flow into all parts of your being from the energy centres and along the meridians. As these energies circulate throughout the human mechanism, their increased energy can activate thoughts or emotions which have been hidden, and may have laid dormant for years or even numerous lifetimes in the body’s think centres and chakras. When these energies trigger one of these suppressed thoughts or emotions, the intensity of that thought or emotion will be increased as a result of the greater energy levels from your awakening. Hopefully, you can now comprehend why it is so necessary to know yourself, to be aware of and understand all of your thoughts and emotions, even those which you might not wish to deal with.

We are all part of the Universal Force which binds the galaxy together, and preserves the structure of the Universe as we know it. As Life Force beings, we are the individual components of the Universal Force, in much the same way that stars form part of a galaxy. Our Life Force energies are the component of the Universal Force which is unique to each one of us, and are what some consider the spirit or soul. As we reside on this physical plane of existence, within each and every one of us as human beings resides the Spark of Life, which is the true unemotional part within you. It is the creative principle of the cosmos within you to enliven you within this material existence.

The Spark of Life is an important part of you. It not only binds your Life Force to this physical existence, it importantly is the key which allows you to tap into the creative component of the Universal Force within you. For those individuals who step onto the path of knowledge, the Spark of Life can be very beneficial. Through right thoughts, you can leverage the potential of the Spark of Life to raise into higher states of understanding and awareness.

For many years those that believed in astrology were seemingly at odds with those who trusted in the sciences. This is predominately because the observable locations of the Sun, Moon and planets relative to the constellations do not match with the star signs of astrology. While some kinds of astrology such as sidereal astrology are closer to the real positions, there are still significant differences. It had seemed inconceivable for someone to believe in both astrology and the sciences until now, however that all changes with the new paradigm of Astronomical Astrology.

The foundation of Astronomical Astrology is the actual observable locations of the Sun, Moon or planets relative to the eighteen constellations of the extended zodiac which fully aligns with the science of Astronomy. An extended Zodiac is necessary because the orbits of the Moon and the planets are not in the same plane as that of the Earth. Consequently several of these celestial objects can be observed either above or below the ecliptic (the path of the Sun’s motion traced across the celestial sphere throughout a year due to the Earth’s orbit).

The mechanics of the motion of the planets, together with our frame of reference, are explained in considerably more detail at Astronomical Astrology. The greatest cause for the big difference between the astrological constellations to what is observable, is due to a phenomenon labelled the “Precession of the Equinoxes”. This precession of the equinoxes moves slowly westwards across the sky over a cycle of 25,772 years, creating a drift in the observed position of the astronomical constellations. What this means is that each astrological star sign typically will include the astronomical constellation that was formerly to the east. There is a further complication by the fact that the constellations are not twelve equal 30-degree sectors of the ecliptic. Further adding to this complexity, each of the heavenly bodies transverses each constellation at a perceived angle and a different elevation. Once all of these variables are collated, the full picture of Astronomical Astrology emerges as the predicted location of any celestial body aligns precisely with the astronomically observable facts.

This new type of Astrology might be hard to believe for some people, as they have connected with being a particular star sign for most of their life. Importantly Astronomical Astrology does not disregard the aspects of what you have believed throughout your life. It has to be realised that thoughts are their own energies, which can form a layer of reality around you. So you may find that you exhibit aspects of the star sign you think you are, due to your thoughts. While at the same time, you will discover that you react subconsciously as a result of the energies which are the real astronomical influences. This is the nature of the reality of our lives, as we are affected not only by aspects of Astronomical Astrology, but just as importantly we are strongly influenced by our thoughts.

There have been numerous books, films, texts and beliefs which have pertained to some ostensibly mystical power of the Force. Some have revealed that the Force is an energy field created by all living things, which binds the galaxy together. While others have indicated that the Force is within us, so what is this Force and where is it?

The truth of the matter is that we as humans only comprehend a tiny part of the cosmic equation of life, and that there are undoubtedly many aspects to what is loosely referred to as the Force. If you approach the question with an open mind, one which challenges and learns from true knowledge, you might discover that both and all are the Force as it exists on many different levels.

The living energies which exist within all of us is your Life Force. You may well relate to your Life Force energy as an inner awareness, your true essence, your spirit, or your soul, to identify but a few. Some might see this concept as elusive, obscure, intangible and frequently a secret which is concealed within religious beliefs. Though there is an overall acknowledgement from all quarters that we as humans contain an energy which is something not yet empirically identified. This energy is your very own Life Force, part of a much greater whole, yet it is unique and distinctly assigned to you. As such, you are part of the Force and the Force is within you as your Life Force.

The Universal Force is present throughout the universe. Open your mind, even if just for a short moment, to broaden your consciousness outside of the boundaries of time and space. It is an energy which is throughout all of the atoms and particles; in addition to existing throughout all galaxies of the cosmos, transcending and within all the trillions upon trillions of stars and planets within the universe. The Universal Force is within all time and space, it is this force which surrounds us and permeates us. It is the Universal Force that binds the galaxy together and preserves the structure of the Universe as we know it. Without the Universal Force, all matter would decline into an uncontrolled state of entropy.

As humankind, we have been dwelling within this material manifestation for many aeons. Yet for most of us, the energy framework we live within is barely recognised and frequently misunderstood. For your improved wellbeing, and to attain bona fide awakening, the functioning of the intricate human mechanism needs to be both acknowledged and understood.

Some people are incrementally becoming aware of the existence of an energy which is distinct but associated with the physical body; this unseen power source is that of your Life Force. Know that as humans, we can see less than one-hundredth of a per cent of the identified electromagnetic spectrum. This restricts our perception of the diverse phases of energies which exist within the universe and within us.

Despite the fact that our physical structure appears solid, the scientific truth is that the structure of matter and the human physical form itself is predominately void. In addition to the aspect of the physical body, there are numerous additional component parts which comprise the entire human mechanism. These components all carry out indispensable functions within the human mechanism giving rise to form, function and the many aspects of thoughts, emotions and consciousness. Perhaps now you may begin to become aware that you are actually a complex and interwoven energy mechanism, and not simply the physical flesh and bones which we see.

We all want to reconnect to the spiritual or inner aspects of ourselves, but how often does the ritual supplant the actual endeavours? If you undertake meditation in the hope of enlightenment or knowledge, precisely how much time, and with whom you meditate, ought to not be the driving imperative or the reason for doing meditation. When the apparent aesthetics or actions become more important than our true experience and connection with the inner self, then ritual predominates and prevails over the spiritual discipline. It is then that the connection to your true self is lost and you lose your way.

What is more important in reconnecting to your spirituality is that your meditation or spiritual practice has really enabled you to reach within to your inner self. The greatest achievement is in comprehending how your spiritual practice has allowed you to change your heart and transform your thoughts and feelings into those of kindness and humility. Always make every effort to reconnect to your inner self through meditation or in your spiritual efforts as this can enable growth and bring to light a genuine and authentic awakening.