Tag Archives: #Alan Watts

Playing in the Field of Consciousness

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“This is the real secret of life — to be completely engaged with what you are doing in the here and now. And instead of calling it work, realize it is play.”
~Alan Watts~
Often the only difference between work and play is attitude. As we awaken, the field of consciousness takes on new meaning. Rather than plodding along through life tolerating work, waiting for the weekend or the next vacation, we find joy in the present moment. This playful attitude then creates a difference experience – a vibrancy that is stimulating and smile inducing.
The choice to see spiritual exploration as play rather than work brings out childlike innocence and wonder. It expands our ability to maintain humor in the face of challenges and reminds us to celebrate the ridiculous rather than fall prey to self-criticism. The old adage “he who can laugh at himself will never cease to be amused” comes to mind.
Since the world is built on contrast, every situation offers an opportunity to find and maintain a healthy balance betwixt two polarities. When you choose to utilize playfulness as a powerful aspect of your awakening you demonstrate a willingness to be responsible for your own joy. This is empowerment.

Flow

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“The only way to make sense out of change is to plunge into it, move with it, and join the dance.”
~Alan Wilson Watts~

There is a flow to life. Observe what opens for you and trust your ability to navigate unfamiliar waters. As consciousness expands the way forward makes itself known. Rather than fighting against the flow, move with it.

Often the ego wants to push its own agenda. It will create attachment to an outcome and this perpetuates struggle in our experience. Blockages or missed connections can be indicators that you need to look in a different direction. Begin by looking within. Notice where tension arises and then purposely examine where life is asking you to go.

Awareness is the first step of transformation. The key is to learn how to trust that your soul knows exactly what it is doing. All experiences play a vital role in your awakening and ultimately cultivate the skills you need to proceed.

When you choose to take a risk or try something new, pay attention to what piques your interest. Can you immerse yourself within the present moment and experience it differently? Trust the processes of awakening and take one conscious step forward.

 

Contrasts

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“Through our eyes, the universe is perceiving itself. Through our ears, the universe is listening to its harmonies. We are the witnesses through which the universe becomes conscious of its glory, of its magnificence.”
~Alan Watts~
Our collective experience of being human is to learn Oneness through the illusion of separation. As we learn how to reside fully in the present moment and become aware of the beauty in the contrast, we discover how to allow the dance of dark and light to unfold. The awakening soul is the observer. You are the portal through which the universe experiences itself.
The higher your level of consciousness, the more expanded your vision. If you are the conduit of awareness, then nothing is more important than ensuring you are clear. It does no good to run clean water through a rusty pipe. We view life through the filters of perception.
The polarities of time and space provide opportunities for us to explore the many nuances of experience. As the pendulum swings first to one extreme and then another, we learn though the contrast. We ultimately discover the many facets of love, finding our balance in the neutral position – a field of energy filled with infinite possibility.

A New Day

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“If you cannot quieten yourself,
What will you ever learn?
How will you become free?”
~Buddha~
We tend to get so wrapped up in our physical life experiences, thoughts and expectations that we can forget to be grateful for the many things and gifts that flow to us in every moment. Recognize that each and every day you can purposely choose how you will respond to the events that unfold. Rather than carrying the energy from yesterday into the Now, step into the realm of infinite possibility.
Periodically spend an entire day in gratitude. No matter what unfolds or whether the moment is exalted or mundane; pause, breathe deeply three times, observe and move into gratitude. There is a significant difference between practicing gratitude as clean water flows from the tap – seeing it as a nourishing gift, appreciating the thousands of people who have contributed to this experience, honoring it as sacred and therefore choosing to be mindful in its usage – and simply using it and moving on without another thought. One thing you may discover is how often you are not grateful. This counter-intuitive process may open your eyes to the subtle ways that expectation and attachment sabotage your peace of mind throughout the day.
The willingness to approach life with a little magic ensures that a spark of limitless potential will infuse all that you do and experience. This empowered choice teaches us that it’s possible to be inwardly grateful and joyous even when challenges arise.

See Beyond the Illusion

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“Peace can be made only by those who are peaceful, and love can be shown only by those who love. No work of love will flourish out of guilt, fear, or hollowness of heart, just as no valid plans for the future can be made by those who have no capacity for living now.”
~Alan Watts~
The world that we experience with our physical senses is merely an illusion we have collectively created. Its purpose is to provide a playground of discovery. As spiritual beings having a human experience, we seeded this place with sparks of infinite possibility, ever-evolving creation, and movement.
Getting lost in the illusion is one aspect of the game. We immersed ourselves so entirely that we forgot the truth of our limitless, eternal Being. From that space of perceived separation we entered the game of karma, which teaches the value of opposites and paradox until the power of neutrality is learned. As the karma is cleared we begin to once again sense connectedness which underlies all things.
When you find yourself lost in the mind, overwhelmed by feelings, or frustrated by a limiting situation, seek to ground yourself and access the balancing energy of our sacred mother earth. From a space of stillness, softening the stories of the mind,  it is possible to see beyond the illusion.