Exploring Paths to Cosmic Wisdom

     “Mindfulness is awareness that arises through paying attention, on purpose, in the present moment, non-judgementally,” says Jon Kabat-Zinn, “It’s about knowing what is on your mind.”
     In 1979, Jon Kabat-Zinn created an eight-week stress-reduction program which research has since proven to improve mental and physical health, greater well-being, and perceived health. His work is known as Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction.
     Mindfulness is both easier and more difficult than it might appear at first glance, it can be developed through meditation, conscious awareness, and similar practices.
     Mindfulness is a state of being in the Now, of aligning attention to experiencing the present moment. To be in the moment means to release all preconceived ideas about the circumstance, and not to project about the results. This requires a balance in our state of mind that is unlike the way most of us have been accustomed to thinking. 

Unthinking
     Daily tasks can become rote, performed in an unthinking way, leaving us wondering, later, whether we did them or not.
     'Did I lock the door?' 'Did I turn off the stove?' 'Were the lights left on?' 'Where did I put my keys?' This is a sign that we have been moving through our day in an unmindful way: doing things while thinking about other things.
     Avoiding this is not simply about improving recall. The most effective change can be made in the way the tasks are approached rather than how they are filed into memory.
     When we are conscious and aware as we lock the door, our presence in that Now means that the action is not forgotten. At the same time, presence is different from remembering every action.
 Remembering
     Memories can be the very distractions that cause us to forget. While our mind rambles over the good days and bad days of high school, we might not notice what we are putting into the packed lunch we are making, we are not in the moment.
     When we dwell on how we felt in our first all-velvet outfit, we are not noticing how many copies we have asked the printer to make, we are less efficient than we would be if we could maintain focus in the job at hand.
     Letting our mind wander can create the need for checking and re-checking, wasting time and effort, to say nothing of the emotional reaction that can accompany the fear of having left a candle burning.

Imagination
     How attentive can you be to your driving or your training or your date entry if you are thinking about a conversation you are planning for next week? 
     You cannot be fully present and aware of the presentation you are delivering if part of your brain is considering the colour-scheme for your new office.
     The ability to lift ourselves away from the physical world and to shift our focus to what we have done, or what we would like to do, is a gift. It is a gift we do well to manage. 
     Looking forward to our Thursday meeting is a waste of Wednesday,  most especially if we spend the Thursday meeting thinking about what we should have done on Tuesday and what we intent d to do on Friday.
     In 1971 Ram Dass published the book Be Here Now. Whether or not you read the content, the title is an instruction worth following. 
     Pay attention, on purpose, to the present moment, and do not judge it. Now is deep and rich and worthwhile.

     I have been practising Numerology and supporting clients through life changes since the 1980s. For a consultation, or to commission a chart of your name and birthdate, we can meet in person, by telephone, or by Skype Click Here