Beyond the News

A partner exercise using imagination as a springboard to expand and deepen vision of life on Earth – by Madhuri

‘The News’ is a complex subject; fraught with cherry-picking, partisanship, chauvinism, human-centricity, commercial interests, and the inevitable narrowness caused by the mind itself: it can focus, but cannot hold the Whole in itself. It’s just not how it is made. Like cats, we seem designed to pay attention to whatever moves. If that movement seems threatening rather than entertaining (both being hugely available on our phones), we are immediately in thrall to our own adrenalin and cortisol. (Which, over time, can erode our health.)

We do not know why evolution has supported the appearance of some ‘psychopath du jour’ again, again, again down the ages. Often, more than one of these Big Swinging Dicks are running amok at the same time. And, unfairly, the rest of us get dragged into the mayhem. (If the psychopath is touting Tribal fealties, i.e. nationalism, the male human brain is a bit more apt to hook into it than the female brain. For example, sports teams and the tremendous loyalty they inspire. This does not mean that all males are nationalists; certainly not. Existence here on Earth is above all about lush variety. But there is the tendency. And the female can participate in that patriotism, often, it seems to me, as part of her loyalty to a male. Anyway her healthier concerns – health, education, child-rearing, food, shelter – love – are going to be ignored by the BSDs in favour of things that seem fun to them: weapons, big cars and planes and ships, shiny surfaces, bright lights.)

I have read that our DNA comes from both warlike chimpanzees and peace-loving, sensuous bonobos: 50-50! So it can swing both ways. And, we all, males, females, and everything in between – have the privilege and the responsibility of being something more – something hard to name, that perhaps has some light in it. Some consciousness, awareness, cognition… and this, strangely, seems to translate to… love. And compassion. And empathy.

A beautiful healer of my acquaintance, Kohrogi-san, once remarked during a meditation retreat that, when horrible things are going on in the world, there are also beautiful things happening, such as that group. But it is not reported in the news. There is always, apparently, a balance in things in the universe… somehow or other. I have also heard Osho say not to get involved in politics. I can only say for myself that the evident struggle and noise and fight and machinations of people vying for power, gives me a sick feeling in my arms, my thighs, my nose, the top of my head… and, Nah. Not gonna read that. Human Design says it is best when leaders are reluctant. I’ve seen the charts of a couple of the current Big Noises, and that too made my flesh and scalp and hair and the soles of my feet creep and shudder. Like, Oh god. People don’t know what they’re doing, letting these guys take centre stage.

I came up with the idea for this session after repeatedly feeling invaded and irritated by friends wanting to share miserable things they’d read in the news. The sense I got was that the necessarily-focused view was being accepted as some sort of final truth; and that therefore all of us are doomed. I am not saying that we are not doomed; I have no idea. But I do know that I do not wish to be held captive by one, pointed, dark, fierce, ugly view of things. It is an insult to my capacity to perceive beauty and joy and spaciousness – which are everywhere I look (so far). The best analogy that has come to me is this: you are a vegetarian, and your friends keep shoving liver and offal and rancid brains and maggoty steaks in your face and crying, “This is all there is to eat!” And yet there are veggies growing right out in the garden.

If a person feels themselves to be a natural activist, or someone who is good at bringing joy or wisdom into their own community or to the world – by all means go for it! That is a gift. I am only resisting a certain vision I see as prevalent – that of collective disaster, front and centre and only. For every insane swing of the pendulum, it will go back the other way in time; and meanwhile life keeps offering beauty and magic and details of profusion, also and irrepressibly.

And we are not the only beings here. There is so much more.

And so to the session.

You will need

a poster of a photograph of Earth seen from Space – this is easy to find online
a bulletin board somewhat larger than the poster.
dark blue or black thumb tacks (alternatively, you could use Blu Tack to stick the poster to a wall)
a chair or ottoman for the person receiving the session
a chair for the person giving the session
a scarf or blindfold
a watch to time things with (avoid using phone if at all possible)
Tibetan bells
Aura Somas if you have them: let client choose among a selection, or use Gold, Orange, Emerald or Olive Green, Deep Red, Pink, or Kuthumi
about an hour of time

The method

Tack the poster into the bulletin board. Place it leaning against a table or other furniture, or wall. It will be a commanding presence in the room!

Place a chair or stool in front of it at a comfortable distance away for viewing. Place the other chair to the side of that at a comfortable distance for speaking and listening – maybe 2 feet away.

Apply Aura Soma to your auras.

Sit facing the client, one in each chair. Guide her into some sort of Presencing: “Closing the eyes… energy settling down. Breathing settling… and the outward-looking vision, that has been helping things to get ready, can turn 180% and look inside the back of the body, the back of the head. It doesn’t matter what’s in there, it’s just the change of direction… Now, energy is falling down inside the body, deeper and deeper, going towards the deep belly, where there is something like Outer Space – an endless realm. While the breathing does whatever it likes… This inward-looking vision is flying and falling, down and in and down and in and down and in… while all around that inward movement, the body is vibrating with life. And now… letting the ears be open to the sounds around for a moment… And now, back to the belly, and the eyes can open when you’re ready.”

Of course, you’ll do the presencing the way you like; I use the above to begin most sessions, and it really works to ground me and plant me back inside and in the moment and in the room with the person.

Explain to the client that all they are going to do is gaze at the Earth from Space image, and you are going to ask them questions, and they can simply respond with whatever arises. This part of the session will last for 30 minutes. First, if there’s anything they want to share about how they are doing…

If they have something to share, just take note of it; nothing to do. If there are elements in their sharing that stick out, you can creatively incorporate them into the next stage.

Do ask them though: “Can you tell me in three sentences how you feel about The News? What does The News mean to you?”

Ding!

Now, the client faces the poster and you begin asking the questions. And that follows a simple principle: Just think of any creatures or plants or living things or rocks or type of person or anything or anybody who makes this Earth their home. And say, “If you were a… seahorse, how would this look to you?” Then let them respond, how a seahorse sees this Earth.

“If you were a roly-poly – a sowbug – how does this Earth look to you?” …And they respond, how, as a roly-poly, this shimmering blue-and-green planet looks to them.

“If you were an oak tree…” … and continue on. I would bring the humans in after quite a few animals and amoebas and mosquitoes and cockroaches and dolphins and grizzlies – and then you can go back and forth between animals and people if you like.

With humans, it’s important to visit many many types, in all sorts of situations: a small girl gazing at newly-born kittens and mama cat in Norway, a little boy in a barrio in Rio, an orphan in Madagascar, a widow in Osaka, a corporate CEO in Singapore, a janitor in Hong Kong, an explorer in the Amazon, a mountaineer, a pilot, a prostitute in Nebraska – be very very free with your imagination – because whatsoever you can imagine, this Earth has hosted something more strange and specialized and amazing. It is important to bring in a few psychopaths and bishops and plunderers, and some earthmothers and musicians and artists and… all kinds of beings! Definitely include, maybe at the end, a Buddha, Christ, Gangaji, Mooji-Baba, Osho, or whomsoever you like in the realm of Light Persons!

The responses do not take very long, but you will be able to feel the space deepening; it can be almost painful to stretch out your perception, let go, and allow all these beings to have room. You might be surprised by some of the fervent perceptions coming at you: there are beings here on Earth who are having a very successful time and a really good time! (They might not be ones you want to share your house with! Or, maybe some of them are!)

For example: “I’m a mosquito – and this Earth looks great! So much food, just walking around everywhere! It’s just fantastic! This is a party, a smorgasbord!” This might be a very different experience than is being had by a sailor on a container ship in the Pacific… or a boll weevil in a cotton field where the pesticide truck is spraying. Just keep going.

If for any reason you doubt your ability to think of so many characters, you could keep a dictionary handy to give inspiration. Or a volume of poems.

Continue like this for 30 minutes.

Ding!

Now the client lies down on her belly or back – whichever feels right – with the scarf over her eyes for 10 minutes.

Ding! Ding!

The session is complete. Let her share how it was for her. Ask her also, “And how do you feel now about The News?”

This technique will also be part of Madhuri’s upcoming book, titled Techniques I Have Loved