Into the Mist

“Relax,” the teacher says.

Relaxation, the prerequisite to health, joy, wisdom and so much more.

Relax. It sounds so easy, yet based on how seldom we achieve it, relaxation must be one of the most complicated pursuits that we can undertake. I suspect part of the problem is in the language we use.

“Relax.” The word is a verb. Verbs are action. Used in such a way, the single word is direction–a command to perform the action of no action, of release—of relaxing. Yet, performing/doing is contrary to the intention of relaxation.

Relaxation is a state of being, like peace. What one needs to achieve this relaxation is not another activity or action but the Taoist Wu Wei, “non-doing”… cease to do what you are (or have been) doing … release.

An excellent explanation of Wu wei comes from Alan Watts:

…wu-wei, meaning not to force, refers to what we understand of one’s acting accordingly to the nature, of one’s moving in order to avoid a stroke, of one’s swimming downstream, sailing before the wind, rolling like the waves or one’s bending in order to win. (From Alan Watts - “Tao: the Watercourse Way”).

Tao Te Ching - Lao Tzu - chapter 48

In the pursuit of learning, every day something is acquired.

In the pursuit of Tao, every day something is dropped.

Less and less is done.

Until non-action is achieved.

When nothing is done, nothing is left undone.

The world is ruled by letting things take their course.

It cannot be ruled by interfering.

(translation by Gia-fu Feng and Jane English)

C.G. Walters primarily writes fiction that focuses on the mystical, metaphysical, and mythical insight that we all possess. His current novel, Sacred Vow is first and foremost a metaphysical love story, a tale of soul mates—twin flames—a journey toward our one true love…in its infinite expressions…bringing together two individuals from disparate realities—but one spirit—to heal the rift in the Collective Consciousness.

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Purchase a signed paperback copy from http://sacredvow.dragonsbeard.com/ – or buy from your favorite brick and mortar, or online store (Amazon.com ). Purchase Sacred Vow as ebook http://www.mobipocket.com/en/eBooks/eBookDetails.asp?BookID=79405&Origine=3971 or the Amazon Kindle version

All men’s miseries derive from not being able to sit in a quiet room alone.” Pascal

Of all the practices that one can pursue to provide health, clarity, stress reduction, psychological resolution, and emotional and spiritual growth, the most consistently powerful method is that of “centering”—bringing yourself to your true energetic core—to what you are before and beyond your familial, societal, and egoic restructuring and reshaping.

This centering is similar to maximizing your strength and balance by bringing your stance to a physical axis in Tai Chi or other physical arts. We all know what happens when something or someone pulls us off center…we “fall” or we act in a way that is “just not like” us—at very least not like what we would wish to be. What would we become if we could spend more and more time balanced, centered daily?

Not all the paths to centering are as structured as Tai chi, Yoga, or some forms of meditation. The methods for coming to this emotional/psychological/spiritual center are as varied and infinite as the individuals that may pursue balance. The most productive path for you could be dancing, walking in nature, cooking, watching the children, fishing, or contact with anything that deeply inspires—even digging a ditch works for me on occasion. The important thing is to realize what activity makes you feel most connected to yourself, your life and everyone and everything around you. In that state, you are nearest your center…in a mystical communion with the Absolute, God, Tao, your source by whatever name.

I find that such activities that “bring one to their center” will cause a vibrational change in us (i.e. the way we feel inside just after a peaceful experience versus what our body feels like after a stressful day). After a centering experience, we operate at this more beneficial vibrational level (lower blood pressure, clearer thinking, more open-hearted responses, greater sense of well-being, generally better health). We drop from this level (like a battery losing charge) toward our “set point” as the time since the centering passes. Therefore, a periodic recharge is necessary to keep us spending more time near that centered state.

Our “set point” is the state of mind that we generally function at without any experience of centering or “off-centering”. On any given day, we may fluctuate over and under the set point, depending on what we are responding to. Over time, repeatedly returning to the “center” raises the set point, raises our base day-to-day operating consciousness—which in turn provides a baseline for reaching consistently stronger connection with one’s center, which raises the set point…..

Just one thing: I for one seem to generally (not always) require some time “practicing”/living outside of the “centering” experience to make the increased set point take hold.

May you find your centering practice, and be at peace.

copyright 2007 CG Walters

C.G. Walters primarily writes fiction that focuses on the mystical, metaphysical, and mythical insight that we all possess. His current novel, Sacred Vow is first and foremost a metaphysical love story, a tale of soul mates—twin flames—a journey toward our one true love…in its infinite expressions…bringing together two individuals from disparate realities—but one spirit—to heal the rift in the Collective Consciousness.

Receive new editions of Into the Mist through a reader  http://feeds.feedburner.com/IntoTheMist

Get the full length FREE PDF of Sacred Vow by going to www.cgwalters.com/spirit_story.htm and clicking on the link in the page to download the eBook. This will allow you to save the book to your disk.
Purchase a signed paperback copy from http://sacredvow.dragonsbeard.com/ – or buy from your favorite brick and mortar, or online store (Amazon.com ).

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