Less Accumulation. More Subtraction.
It’s fair to say we live in an era that promotes accumulation and consumption - whether material things such as gadgets and clothes to information, entertainment and content.
What are we seeking? Is it the additional X, or the feeling it brings? Do we really need Y or are we using it to fill a void or some pain? Is acquiring more knowledge going to do the job of telling you the truth of who you are?
Why do I share this?
My experience is showing me that instead of this constant accumulation, it’s more about letting go of what actually gets in the way of me being who I already am, and expressing myself on a deeper level.
What if everything I ever want or need is already here, and it’s just about letting go of these things I hold onto so tightly?
What if we’re born with this seed that wants to blossom and work through each individual as a unique expression of the universal / God-source?
And this seed has just been covered over by the attachments I have to my personality, my role or identitiy or strongly held-beliefs?
I’m coming to see we are vessels, whereby when the mind is still and empty, something beyond emerges.
However, our vessels have become full through now fault of our own. Let’s say we come in as empty vessels with direct communion with the source of which we were made and the ability to transmit this. Like a radio receiver.
From this moment, we are accumulating and filling the vessel. Parental energy and behaviour, cultural and social norms, generational trauma, news & media etc. And on this goes through our life.
There is less and less space now for this source, God, inspiration - whatever you call it - to shine through. The radio cannot receive the neccessary frequency for the music to play.
The constant ruminating in the mind feels like so much energy is being drained.
The more I quieten the mind, the more I feel a sense of being aligned.
There are downloads, ideas and inspiration come through effortlessly. I am more able to hear the quiet whisper of intuition, usually drowned out by the loud chatter in the mind.
My poetry and content especially seem to most true when coming thru me, rather than me trying to force it (I started writing this 3.50am as I was woken naturally and I felt to write).
How to begin emptying the vessel?
- My meditation practice helps me to see what I hold onto, what are the most dominant thought patterns - mostly about I, me or mine, how I hold onto these ideas. The more I see them, the more I recognise where they come from and the more chance I have to let them go.
- Actively walking for the sake of walking and paying attention to the walking. Many people talk about the benefits of going for a walk to clear the mind, and suddenly things arise - solutions to problems or ideas. Cal Newport, author of Deep Work talks about this here.
- Bringing mindfulness to daily activities - to engage the senses completely is a way of getting out of the head and into the body. And as we do so, paying attention to the sensual experience, the mind chatter can rest and intuition can be heard.
Notic what happens when fully engaging in these.
They are not a quick fix but can certainly provide a quick glimpse into what is already here deep down, waiting to be discovered in the gaps between thought.
Don’t ignore these moments, they are evidence that we can wake up to our moment to experience and when we do, the potential for something else to arise is here too.
Peace.x