“The mind is like a parachute. It doesn’t work if it’s not open.”
Frank Zappa
There is a huge collateral benefit from learning to have light bulb moments on demand. By learning the arts of whole brain thinking and whole mind not-thinking, you begin to operate on a whole new level.
Things that used to annoy you become trivial. New connections appear in your life in the form of people, ideas and opportunities.
What’s equally amazing is that this capability is open to all, it’s free and nobody owns it as a philosophy or methodology. You can add to it, take bits from it, morph it, bend it, shape it and use it.
Indeed, I’ve only put this book together with the help of previous prior art from luminaries such as Newton, Edison and Jung. I have borrowed extensively from Walt Disney, Edward de Bono and the father of Mind Maps, Tony Buzan.
To make this journey, just like any other, you first have to recognize where you are starting from and have some idea of where you want to get to - and why. Remembering at all times the experience of the journey itself and not just arriving at the end destination is vitally important and enjoyable.
I stress that is not about creation of an elite or gaining power over others. This kind of magic only works when you adopt a high ethical position. It’s crucial you keep ego well under control. In addition, everyone on the planet is on a different point and route down their karmic path.
I mention this as the three states of mind I am about to mention are all pretty amazing in their own right. None is better than the other and you can choose to work with any of them as best suits you and your situation. You also need to experience all of them to appreciate the others. I suspect also that there are many more states still and that they are accessed by cycling around these states in a spiral manner.
For many people, there is an assumption that the cards they have been dealt with are it. Their thoughts mirror those of others and the current collective mood of the nation. If the government and the press say we are in recession, then they believe it.
The world tends to happen around them and their lives are ‘at effect‘.
Does this sound terrible? Well no, the fact that a living being can even have thoughts and be self aware is nothing short of amazing. In this state, you can achieve incredible things. You can love, laugh and be in awe of nature or art. You can be entertained and you can entertain others. You can cry, be fearful or guilty, be hurt and be angry.
All in all, this is an amazing feat for something which is around 75% water, 20% carbon and the rest a mix of other atoms. This mind can also walk around largely unaided, feed itself and, in collaboration with others, fly itself to the Moon and back.
Dormant minds are not bad minds but they are easy to spot. They might chat incessantly about themselves, their football team or the weather. They might be unlucky in love or in life or fearful of both. They might have one of those egos that are the size of the planet. They might be serial entrepreneurs who have a string of ideas that never quite seem to make it off the drawing board.
They might have a sneaking suspicion that there must be more to life than this.
This state of mind occurs to those with Dormant Minds who wake up one day and decide that there must be more to life. This realization can also come in the form of a light bulb moment, much like Saint Paul on the road to Damascus. Indeed, many people who experience near-death experiences go through such a transformation.
Some people are born with an Awakened Mind but have to grow through some form of dormancy as they become self aware and indeed educated. These are the bright kids on the block who show extraordinary talent and perspicacity from a young age.
Those who awaken in their 30s and 40s tend to do it either as their children leave the nest or when they leave the assumed security of the corporate world.
Some awakening people become addicted to alternative therapies, visit sweat lodges or try and communicate with other dimensions. If they don’t get an immediate result and then become disenchanted with their experience, they can end up back in a dormant state.
The route to an awakened mind is much simpler. It’s to become aware of what is around you and to become awake to serendipity. It’s equally important to appreciate both the natural world and ‘human-made’ achievements and not eschew one over the other.
The beauty of a sunset has equal status with the microprocessor that drives your mobile phone. They are formed from the interaction of the same stuff - matter, energy and consciousness. The beauty is literally in the eye of the beholder.
Those with awakened minds are collaborators and team players. They know that 1+1 equals at least 3.
They accept adversity as opportunity and, as a result, they become luckier. For example, their light bulb moment might come from recognizing adversity and realizing they have the wisdom and resources to do something about it.
They are not limited by the world around them as they have the power to shape it. They become truly alive and a force not only to be reckoned with but one you want to be around. They begin to live at cause.
There is only a small step to take from an awakened mind into a merged mind. In some ways though, it’s also like taking a step back several thousand years to when humankind was one with nature. Everything had a rhyme and a reason and nothing is separate from anything else.
As Chief Seattle said, “All things are connected. Man did not weave the web of life; he is merely a strand on it.”
By the way, I lose count of the times quotes even as brilliant as this never mention women - I’m sure it’s just a cultural thing but a habit that could do with some re-balance.
The merged mind is fully open to all possibilities. It treasures every moment and pays attention to every thought. It is as attentive to the external and the internal.
To a merged mind, adversity is seen not just as an opportunity but as a sign. It’s a sign that no matter how far they have personally developed; there are still an infinite number of rungs on the evolutionary ladder and still much to learn. The adversity has merely been presented as the next learning.
The merged mind is open to a limitless stream of light bulb moments but equally aware of the need to ground them. They are also able to spot the good ones and ignore or even give away the ones that are not for them.
They are mind-full of the nature of their thoughts and have an amazing capacity to multi-task. The merged mind can run an inner dialogue and receive inputs from the superconsciousness simultaneously.
It acheives this because the conscious mind and Higher Self have become fused with and by the unconscious mind.
It is then capable of a re-found ability which could potentially transform our society.
If you think about it, we can normally only influence the outside world by the noises we make and the mechanical actions we take. So our voice can influence people by the words we say and a ballet dancer can amaze the audience with their grace and ability. We can also shout angrily at someone or type some words that offend.
The merged mind is able to output in three ‘new’ ways:
The healing capability is particularly effective on dis-ease brought on by an unbalanced state of mind.
What is happening neurologically is that the merged mind is starting to tap into the 90% or so of the brain that we haven’t fully understood yet. Many children are now being born with merged minds and you may hear references to them as indigo and crystal children. They have amazing capabilities but, as children, they still need to mature and they need much love and support.
From a functional perspective, they are attuned to the super-consciousness and are relaxed with the knowledge that most thoughts aren’t necessarily their own.
Those with merged minds are creators, catalysts and connectors. They are also meek, humble and thankful of their ability. They are reflective and don’t take themselves too seriously. They seem to possess an unlimited capacity for adaptability, compassion and absorption. They heal both themselves and others upon a thought.
As I mentioned, they also choose to have periods of dormancy and re-awakening. They use natural time to achieve this, flowing with the day, the Moon and the seasons.
The essence of this state and any state of mind is simply this. We are all equipped with the ability to choose which thoughts we have and how to use them to map our way in this world.
We are all co-creators.
The most important learning from this chapter is that nobody but you has control over what you think or do.
There is no religion that is more right than any other and no system or methodology that you should or must follow.
If you like all of this book and fancy having a dabble with a merged mind, then give it a go. If you think that all of this book is drivel, then use it to prop up a wobbly table or give it to someone else. If you like just some bits of it, then use those bits only.
If you have just one light bulb moment as a result of reading it, then that is fine too.
The concepts in this book are so ethereal and intangible in nature, you cannot use your logical mind to decide if they are right or wrong and for you - or not.
Using the left brain alone will stop light bulb moments in their tracks. If you rely on your right brain alone, your inspirations will never see the light of day.
The proof of this particular pudding is in seeing your ideas manifest into the physical world. Taking the first step along the way involves a little trust.
Accordingly, this last crystallization is simple and intentionally brief.
You must use your gut and heart minds to guide you to answer these simple questions with a simple yes or no.
Irrespective of your answer, you have three options you can take separately or jointly.
If as a result you get a sign or a new thought comes in, act upon it as you may never know where it may lead.
There is nothing wrong with adopting any of these states of mind.
Dormant minds are capable of amazing things.
Awakening minds are aware that there is even more potential.
Merged minds start to experience some of that potential, yet know that there is so much more yet to come.
When you experience a light bulb moment, your mind is merged with all others momentarily.