Peak Experience – A sign post to the Divine

/ oneheart / 7 Comments

Have you ever had a peak experience?  You would know it if you had because it is such an exhilarating experience that you wouldn’t forget it.  

My experience of a peak experience seemed to be inspired while I was riding my motorcycle.  I was riding in the beautiful countryside with fields on either side of me and the sun was low and golden and illuminated everything.  The next thing I knew I was aware in a way that was completely different from my usual sense of perceiving. It was IMG_0995heightened, alert, peaceful and the joy that welled up inside is difficult to describe.  All was not only well but perfect in my world!  It left as mysteriously as it arose but I felt somehow shifted  and changed by it.  Later I came to understand that this experience was a small glimpse of my true self and a sign post  pointing me directly to my divine essence.

Abraham Maslow discovered this concept  and describes it this way:    

A peak experience is a moment accompanied by a euphoric mental state often achieved by self-actualizing individuals. The concept was originally developed by Abraham Maslow in 1964, who describes peak experiences as “rare, exciting, oceanic, deeply moving, exhilarating, elevating experiences that generate an advanced form of perceiving reality, and are even mystic and magical in their effect upon the experimenter.                                                                                                                                         -Wikipedia

 

A peak experience can’t be brought on through any kind of effort, they just happen. They can be inspired by incredible beauty, awe, very intense emotions or a near death experience to name a few.  My understanding, now, of what happens is that the personal lens, memories, conditioning and beliefs, completely drop. You are thrust into the present moment so powerfully that nothing remains to block your true self.  The true self can be referred to as the God-self, divine self, pure being, brahman and many other names but the important thing to note is, you won’t  ever forget it.  Why?  When you have an authentic experience of your true nature it needs no explanation or confirmation. It is completely unique against the backdrop of your usual perceiving.  

It seems to be like a mini experience of self-realization. Unencumbered by personal projections; we have direct access to the pure being.  Masters throughout history have pointed  to this undeniable truth but it is most powerful when you identify this direct experience in your own life.  

I have heard many people say, “I’m not a spiritual person” and I would beg to differ.  Since I have had a few of these experiences in my life I have asked others if they have had similar experiences. Universally almost all have responded that “yes” they have experienced this in their lives.  It is the divine dimension knocking on your door and saying,  “Hey, there’s more where this came from.” 

I can only imagine what the world could be like if we where all ready to embrace this simple but profound truth.  That who you are is already perfect but is covered up by your ego.  Maybe it would be good to get curious about this.  

The Spiritual Living Room

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Here is a short recap of last nights Spiritual Living Room. I hope to see you next month.

The evening began with a meditation bringing us into presence. When we all settled and became still the energy shift in the room was palpable. Space opened up as our awareness shifted away from doing to simply being.

We talked about how creating the time in our busy lives to “be” had to be scheduled in and given priority. Everything has become so immediate and fast paced that we have to remember to take time for ourselves and unplug. The gifts of this practice can be felt quickly with less stress in the body and clearer more spacious thinking.
We allow thoughts and feelings to move through and focus on the the knowing “I exist”, “I am.” This is the life force energy that we share with all living things.    It is here that the true self can be revealed spontaneously giving rise to clarity, wisdom, joy and healing.
This is why we are here to remember who and what we really are. I hope that the Spiritual Living Room becomes a sacred space for spiritual discovery.
The next meeting will be on Thursday Dec. 19th at 7pm and I will send out an announcement in early December.
With Love
Laura

What you Resist Persists

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What to do with strong emotions and feelings that feel like they take you over and disrupt your peace?

Our instinctual response is to try to get the uncomfortable feeling to go away or stop as soon as possible.  We try to push them away, suppress and otherwise distract ourselves from our feelings. Addictions of all kinds are also often connected to suppression of feelings. 

This approach actually works in the opposite way in which it is intended.  Our feelings seem to intensify and gain strength when they are resisted  because they are fueled by the very energy we use to resist them.  In case you haven’t noticed it takes a lot to hold back a strong feeling that is trying to arise.

Instead try something a little different and allow the feelings to be there and even invite them to wash over you and to fully feel them.  They really can’t hurt you.  They can be uncomfortable but they do more harm when they are suppressed and not allowed to come up and be fully felt. In fact it is well known that ongoing suppression can be a very unhealthy way to live effecting us emotionally first and then if that outlet is shut down it can manifest as an array of physical symptoms from back pain to headaches.  Of course, not everyone is effected the same way but you can be sure if you are holding something in you are paying some price either energetically, physically or emotionally.   

Many times I hear people saying they are afraid of what will come out if they really let it be there.  Do not believe this thought it is meant to keep you stuck and unable to move forward.  The ego and mind simply wants to maintain the status quo and help you to survive and if that means staying stuck forever than so be it.  Fortunately these feelings will persist until felt and understood or until whatever needs to be learned is learned.  So if something is to scary  then I recommend that you seek help so that you can finally fully witness and allow these feelings to move all the way through you.  This will free you and energize you to move forward in your life.

“If you want to be free of energies, you must allow them to pass though you instead of hiding them inside”

-Michael Singer                                                                                                                                                –  from the book “The Untethered Soul”