Going beyond yourself…when healthy relationships are a starting point…

A few weeks ago I wrote, in relatively vivid detail, about an Out Of Body (obe) experience that I was thrust into at the tender age of 18.  It was an experience that altered my perception of life.  For the past couple of weeks I’ve been writing about the idea of healthy relationships — a emotional and intimately personal endeavor that began when the pain of staying the same became greater than the discomfort often associated with intentional transformation.

Could it be, that for the past three weeks I’ve been paving way for what I’m about to share with you here an now?  Would you believe that by repairing the relationship you have with yourself could lead to healthy relationships in just about all aspects of your life — and more?  From a personal perspective, I tend to think that when someone works on the relationship they have with themselves by facing that which causes you to suffer- and staying with it (the pain) long enough to embrace the feelings you run from, you end up healing that which causes you to ail. From personal experience, I feel that process paves way for healthy relationships with others, on all levels.

While the idea of healthy relationships isn’t rocket science…I never, not in this lifetime, would have guessed what intense erotic energy coupled with a healthy relationship could deliver…

Before, however, I go any further into the process of sharing with you another experience that has caused me to abandon much of what I thought I knew about life (and especially limitations) – A disclaimer, of sorts is in order.  Prior to the evening I had my out of body experience, the idea of such Healthy Relationshipsa thing hadn’t even entered my thought process.  It was random.  Unpredictable.  As with many of the experiences I think a person has in life, what I’m about to explain was also a completely unpredictable experience, that in no way, could I plan to replicate.  I’ve had a handful of experiences in my life that many would consider paranormal, or outside of the comfort zone of what our society at large, considers acceptable.  None of those experiences were planned.  They all happened completely on their own timeline — as if guided by a hand that has remained unseen in this world, which we tend to think of as tangible and real.

For those of you who are wondering why I would bring such a disclaimer up, it’s pretty simple.  Mystical, paranormal, out of body, near death experiences, or anything else you could think to call an experience that pierces the veil of the known in this world — is a process that happens on it’s own.  They can’t be planned — and for the most of us, they simply don’t happen at will.  So just because I took a certain amount to steps and ended up going somewhere I didn’t plan on, doesn’t mean that what I experienced is a road map, etched in concrete, for others seeking similar experiences.

That being stated…what I’m have to share is a detailed experience I had, in which sexual energy acted as a catalyst to pierce the veil of the normal world — taking me on a wild journey that was exactly as if, I were at two places at the same time.  Unlike the out of body experience, I had an awareness that I was going on a journey — and when it got a bit to strange for me (the point where I got scared) I was able to make my way back to the area of being here now, in this world.

Now, for a detailed account, of one of the most “kinky” nights of my entire life.

Living in South Florida, it rarely gets really cold.  Last winter was no exception.  It was January 11th, 2011 — and I had vowed to start the year off in a memorable way.  Most notably, I had become determined to accept life on life’s terms without becoming frustrated (too much) by the aspects of life that I didn’t think were going my way.  Namely, the woman whom I had been expressing my interest in for close to two years, didn’t seem interested in me in the way I was her, and I was finally at peace with letting go and moving on.  Life, however, had other plans for me.

More than likely, I had gone to a yoga class earlier that day and decided I was going to take it easy that night.  My roommate (the woman I have been discussing) called me to let me know she was on her way home and wondered where I was — as well as what my plans were.  I told her that I was home…upon which she replied I had better stay put because she was on her way and had something to tell me.  I knew where she was earlier that night, which was a place I didn’t personally approve of — nor did I care for the company she was in, but that was not really my place to let her know these personal opinions.  I just accepted what she had to say and agreed to be home.  Shortly after the phone conversation commenced, the door opened and there she was — looking as beautiful as ever.

Just the sight of her was enough to set off a certain set of reactions within, and that night was no different, in that aspect.  What was different, however, was the shy (which she isn’t at all) grin and demeanor she coyly floated my way while starting a conversation laced with sexual innuendos of sorts.  This bait, of course, was something I simply couldn’t resist, so I decided to engage in the conversation — with more than a casual curiosity, just to see what might happen.  That, however, didn’t get too far.  I was abruptly told, with the tone of an angry school teacher, to “Shut Up Paul” pretty much, as soon as I started talking.  Entertained (as I like that kind of role play with certain people) I decided not to even entertain the thought of an argument…

Soon after, we were embracing — holding each other close.  Both of us were completely dressed.  She had her face tightly buried in my shoulder and we were simply holding each other.  As I was holding her, smelling her, feeling her warmth — I was also becoming more and more aware of the sensations stirring within.  The familiar sexual fire I had often felt and associated with her was back again.  But this time it was different.  Strange.  She wouldn’t look at me.  She wouldn’t talk to me, and I sensed that she too, was feeling the same sexual electricity that I was.  We gravitated towars the couch so we could lay down….

Once on the couch, it was more of the same.  We were holding each other, not saying anything, not kissing, not fondling, not undressing — not that much more than just holding.  What many could think of as a peculiar and somewhat torturous encounter.  To me, the common (if such a thing exists) sexual encounter follows a somewhat linear path.  It starts with interest, communication, more interest, desire, feeling sexual, holding, touching — then some kissing, clothing coming off and then you know the rest of the story.

Point being, in those linear encounters, usually, a mutual feeling (gives the take charge person) the cue to initiate action, taking things one step at a time until orgasm has been reached.  The experience I was having, that night was quite different.  There was definitely desire, sensation and sexual energy stirred up — but there wasn’t a physical progression.  We were just holding each other and staying on the couch, moving with the energy and feelings.  Internally, things were most certainly progressing, so to speak.  Externally, on the other hand, there was very little that seemed to be happening – and every time I made a motion or went to speak I was told, with an impish (and mischievous) tone -”No.”

Being as such, I decided to let go of any further attempts to control or guide the experience in the conditioned way I had grown to expect encounters in which sexual feelings between mutual partners to go. Simply stated, I was just going to go with the flow – to the best of my ability.  So…I decided to close my eyes and let the sensations within my body go on a journey all by themselves, much like what I had discovered how to do in the Soulistic Touch erotic meditation that I shared about, in detail, previously.

Well.  That’s when “things” started to get a bit uncommon.  One of the things I figured out how to do in the process of “Soulistic Touch” was learning how to “ride” feelings, utilizing the energy gererated from erotic sensation, to internally open up an entirely new landscape.  Based on my initial experience, I had discovered that erotic energy, when magnified enough, could create the sensations of “energetic orgasm” within the body.  More specifically, I learned that in order for that to happen, it helped to allow the body to behave on it’s own accord, moving as it felt fit, in the moment, from one moment to the next.

As I decided to let go and go with the flow, I also decided that I was going to allow my body to move rhythmically with the feelings I was experiencing and to just close my eyes and let whatever was going to unfold just unfold as it would.  As I loosened up and let myself move, as if I were making love, the first thing that happened was an intensification of erotic energy.  Somehow, that night, there did not seem to be a roof on sensation…

Next, I was feeling a strange tightness in the area in my forehead that “those in the know’ would consider to be the “third eye” — it was a tightness that coincided with the erotic energy I was feeling.  At that point, I was squinting my facial muscles because the feelings were more intense than I was accustomed to and that seemed to be the most natural way to handle it.  When things did not subside I felt that eventually, something, I wasn’t quite certain what, would have to give…

Exactly how what happened next happened, I don’t quite know, as the how, is a bit hazy.  What I do remember (as a kick off the the “real” experience) is becoming alarmed to say something along the lines of “What are you doing?!” only to get the answer “What are you talking about?” in response.  Well, being as verbal communication was useless, I went back into the feelings and visions I had started having.  The feeling was that I was partially in the room, in embrace and mostly, consciously at least, in another place.

In detail, I “saw” an old hand made wooden table that hadn’t been stained or treated with anything.  I was standing on a rouge wood floor in an old, stone house in what appeared to be, the kitchen.  Outside, tied up, there were a couple of horses.  Somehow I got the idea that the horses were used for transportation, and this place I was having a vision of was in a time before the time and space the physical body I occupy now, was situated.

In that vision I was making love with a brunette woman who was dressed (partially) in what I could only consider an old, somewhat plain, full dress with a white collar and cuffs around the wrists.  I could feel her.  I loved her very much, and the I was not the me I am in today.  The I was a guy who came from a different place, in a different time with a different look.  Oddly enough, though, we were somehow surprisingly connected in a way I was not familiar with that seemed perfectly natural.  I was aware of his presence, and what he was doing (making love) as if I were him, and he was aware of my presence, and what I was doing, as if, he were me.  Then on another thought, I felt that I realized — that somehow, I had pierced some sort of veil with erotic energy that this person I was seeing, also pierced through, with  sexual energy.

I was in a place that didn’t have time.  For all I knew, (it was possibly a figment of my imagination) this person I was experiencing in this vision had physically died a long time ago, but the place that we had both tapped into was a place in which time, as we think we know it, simply doesn’t exist.

I was kind of wierded out at that point.  I knew what I was doing, but that vision was too real to be part of my imagination.  It was nothing like a daydream.  It was more like reality.  Yet, I knew where I was and what I was doing.  I think the way I was responding was sending a message of fear to my other half (of the experience) and again, I was told to just go with it.

That’s when things started to get really strange:

Already in an altered space, it was pretty easy for me to continue to have visions  and go deeply back into the space where I had been.  Mind you, physically, we were, still just in embrace.  Then there was a period of travel.  It was night, and it was as if I were floating through the air.  The sky was black with clouds and I could make out images of what seemed to be pyramids.  Beyond the pyramids was what I construed to be a group of people, who came into my mind more like a force.  This force, however made even the darkest of dark nights feel safe.  It was all knowing.  It was genius.  It was ancient and modern at the same time and it was (is) a force that has manifested people who walk among us here on Earth, today, in this world we all share.

They were aware of my presence.  I attempted to hide and become preoccupied by focusing on other things, but to no avail.  They knew I was there and they were directly addressing me.  I made reference to a person in my life whom I feel epitomizes a science that, if good and holy existed, exemplified that, but I was directly told they are not interested in that person.

Before I go further, so you, the reader don’t just assume that I’m bat shit crazy at this point, I feel it important to communicate that I simply cannot think of any choice of words, to use, to accurately describe that part of the experience.  It was very real, and the communication that seemed to be transpiring was more on a level of knowing — which is much different than communicating with another person by using your voice to talk.  Of course, you are going to draw what ever conclusion you choose, but I just want to do what I can to clarify this event was internal, vivid, and as seemingly real as it was, it was largely expressed in symbolism.

That being said – and me feeling completely exposed to a dark force that was just as clever as the “light” (perhaps two sides of the same coin) I became fearful.  I was kind of certain my own death was Healthy Relationshipsnot far away and I began to mentally prepare.  It was that intense.

Becoming noticeably shaken, opening my eyes, I became quite questionable of what my partner was doing to me.  I didn’t know where she was, what journey she was on, but I knew things were wild beyond what I felt comfortable communicating with her at that point.

We both sat up.  I must have looked like a fawn in the headlights, as there was no hiding my uncertainty about everything that seemed to be.  She was then holding me and I put my head in her lap.  She started rubbing my forehead and again, I went internally, into a completely different space.  I was in a room that was seemingly ancient.  It was underground that the walls were made of stone.  Somehow, I had the impression it was a room underneath a pyramid.  There was an intricate circle carved into the floor and on the inside of the circle there was a series of detailed geometrical patterns.  They traced the inside of the circle.  Inside of that, there was another circle.  Inside of that circle, there seemed to be two triangles intersecting each other.  Again, there seemed to be beings in this room with me.  They too, seemed to surpass the hands of time.  It was a place that simply was.  Beyond time and beyond what’s here now.  Somehow, I had the inclination I was to be initiated in some strange way.  I felt a jewel was being placed (implanted) into my forehead that that I was I was being softly spoken to as though I were a newborn child.

Once again, the whole thing became a bit overwhelming to me and I, that time, had had it.  I sat up and looked my partner in the eyes quite directly and ask her what she was doing.  Looking at me as if I were crazy, she calmly told me, in between innocent giggles, that I looked like a baby and she was soothing me.  At that stage, I just didn’t know what to think.  I didn’t know where she had been — and I was, to say the least, ultra sensitized.  Everything was magnified.  Touch, smell, sound, thought and overall feeling.  It was so real.  In so many ways, it was challenging for me to grasp in any sense what was happening.

On one hand, it was an experience no less significant than the out of body experience I had had earlier on in my life — while on the other hand — it was, so far, the most intense sexual experience I had ever had in my lifetime — and we weren’t even undressed.  The rest of the evening was equally intense and interesting as the experience did proceed to a more physical experience.  Most notably, (what I feel comfortable mentioning here) I felt that I could feel her even when direct contact wasn’t being made.  The sense was more of a linking of minds — that continued throughout the night.

Speaking of healthy relationships…the aftermath…

The aftermath thus far, at the time of this writing has been a one year together “anniversary” — as well as a further opening of the mind.  Could it be, that so many of us are hopelessly locked into thinking about sexual energy only in ways that temporarily satiates a physical hungering that prevents us from experiencing so much more in our lives, in so many ways?  That was one question that came to mind after that night.

I started to realize how men and women alike, regardless of sexual preference or gender identity, seem to become trapped in a web of their own self serving desires.  When we don’t know better, unconsciously we seem to find ways to attempt to impose our will on another person whom we feel, can touch us, so deeply, in a way that stokes something inside.  Flames that once fanned, seem to only consume more and more.  Flames powerful enough to consume an entire life…when left unchecked.

The purpose for me to share is singular.  I wish to inspire others to get out the way of the addictions they hold so tight, with such conviction — that, even if it’s just for just a moment…to think — and realize, we are only but drops and an ocean.  An ocean so vast we cannot even see beyond the horizon from this vantage point.  Are your addictions, when it comes to so much (including sex) really worth your life?  Extra-ordinary experiences are as unpredictable as a sudden change in weather, they cannot be anticipated and they don’t seem to give any time for preparation.  I believe we’re all able to have them — it’s just a matter of being ready, willing and open.  Are you?

Namaste,
Paul

PS – The practice I have made reference to, Soulistic Touch, is available in oBook format here.

 

 

Do you believe in a such thing as an out of body experience?

Prior to an early spring evening, March 11, 1994, the idea of an out of body experience wouldn’t have occupied any thinking space in my mind — yet, I was on the unforgettable eve of an experience that changed the landscape of my life, from that point on.  Some could say it was an awakening, others might think insanity, or even a spiritual intervention – but whatever the case, my life was forever changed as a result of the chain of events that transpired on that special night the Earth was thawing as the rebirth of spring took Royal Oak, Mi away from the icy grips of winter.

Out Of BodyTo give you, the reader a brief summary of background on myself, for no other reason than perspective; that was a point in my life where the conscious focus of my existence was not centered around truth or what some might think of as spirituality.  I was a Senior in High School who was one week away from wrestling in the “All-State” championship tournament. Even though I didn’t think of myself as an athlete, the state finals was a stage for the top 16 wrestlers in the state to compete for the honors of first place.  Despite being the first person in 10 years to qualify for the tournament for my school, there were other conflicting interests vying for the focus of my mind.

At that stage in my life, a time where a cloud of general discontentment haunted my existence, using substances and getting high took presidence over just about anything else.  My family, on certain levels, was utterly disappointing.  School, besides wrestling, was a complete waste of time, energy and effort.  Overall, the world, as I knew it, was disappointing in many ways.  At 18, I walked though life with a horrible void that drugs, somehow, helped give the illusion of being filled.  When the wretched obligations and horrible duties of a normal day were fulfilled, I could connect with friends and get high.  Only then, was there laughter shared only by those who I thought truly understood me.  I able to push the limits and walk on the edge.  I able to escape from the heavy burden I was convinced that life shat on my shoulders…

In retrospect, in the midst of a storm that started long ago, there was still fragments of truth in the midst of the convenient lie I was attempting to convince myself was true, through the use of substances, which became more apparent after my out of body experience.

…on the brink of an out of body experience:

That’s my recollection of where I was, in mind, on March 11, 1994 before I took just under 2 doses of LSD that were to transport me to a place I had never been in this life.  However, before I go on recollecting the events that tore aware the illusion of reality as I knew it that night, I feel a certain obligation to expand on LSD — especially to those of you reading this who haven’t had firsthand experience with psychedelics or hallucinogens.

That night wasn’t the first, nor the last time I had experiences with LSD, and/or various other “doorway” substances and medicines.  It was however, the only time the reality I once held onto so tightly, so uncontrollably unraveled to the extent of revealing another world…

One door closes, another opens…

All through wrestling practice, I was eagerly anticipating what the night might have in store for me.  I small group of friends were getting together, staying the night at one of the first of our group to “move out” on his own – and we were going to be whiggin balls (slang for taking LSD, a term coined on a previous acid experience) that night.  I was so excited about what was to come that I decided to start the night before the night started, breaking off a small corner of the blotter paper containing LSD and ingesting it before wrestling practice began.

My coaches were making a big fuss about state finals doling out their fair share of “tough love” as a demonstration of their approval that one of their own, qualified for the biggest high school level competitions, yet my mind was elsewhere.  I didn’t want to be at practice.  I didn’t want it to be daylight any longer.  I didn’t even want to have to go through the rigmarole of going home, showering and preparing for the night — I just wanted it to be the night and I just wanted to have fun.  Little did I know..

Usually LSD takes about 2 hours to begin to take effect.  A short 20 minutes after taking our doses (which my friends wisely took a lower dose than I took) the unmistakable fingers of LSD were taking hold of my reality.  Somewhere, inside, I knew I was in for quite a night — I just had no idea exactly how deep I was gonna go…

It was about 40 minutes into the experience that we (group of 4) decided to take a walk in the neighborhood.  There was still plenty of snow on the ground, but the temperature was just above 36 and the sound of snow melting and water dripping seemed to be just about all that I ears picked up.  It was as if I felt the cycle of spring in it’s beginning stages in an intimate way I hadn’t before.

Our friend who was hosting us in his one bedroom basement apartment that evening had done something most 17 and 18 year olds don’t do.  He abandoned what he never had of a traditional suburban life, purchased an old van and went touring with a band many of us are familiar with — The Grateful Dead.  On our walk he was talking about his experience with his travels and the band, combined with reuniting with “old” friends, perhaps even reference to our present state.  “What a long strange trip it’s been.”

Somehow, that phrase struck a chord.  Thoughts, feelings and a sudden awareness of a curiosity I never consciously knew I carried with me until that point flashed to the forefront of my awareness.  Who was I and why was I here?  Once that underlying curiosity seeded itself in the forefront of my mind, everything I saw with my eyes became strange with a veneer of oddity and un-homliness that words cannot quite seem to appropriately describe.  The three friends I was with seemed to take on more of an “energetic imprint” (for lack of better terms) than the personalities I was used to.  The words they spoke made less sense and the feel, will and state of being they were in became louder and more pronounced.

Despite the beauty I had never realized on our walk — the Earth thawing out, paving way for new life, spring and a new summer, I, we, somehow knew it was time to head home.  At that point, I realized, despite my knowledge and familiarity with the neighborhood we were in, I had no idea where we were.  Left on my own, at that point, I have never made it “home.”  Every step seemed to take me further and further from the reality I had once known and believed to be truth.  When we arrived back at the house, I had the first surreal experience of a series of events that would eventually take me out of mind and in turn, out of body

Out of mind — The Car…

Given my hazy state of affairs, under no circumstances, should I have even had the inclination to go for a scenic drive, yet somehow, the sight of my car gave me the brilliant (not really) idea that a drive around town, with my friends would be a great way to take in the sights – as well as proving to myself that this world, along with my state of being was no different the usual norm where people can drive cars and go about doing what they do in life.  Being as such, I unlocked my door and got behind the wheel.  Closing the door and buckling my seat belt, I felt the only thing left to do was get my friends in (I would need help navigating, that much I knew) and go for a drive.

My friends, on the other hand, had the common sense to understand that going for a drive was a bad idea.  I felt them looking at me.  It was almost as if I wanted to avoid going into the basement of the house as somehow I knew some unknown destiny awaited me, yet I had little to no other options available to me.  At that point I started communicating with those outside the car.  I was telling them to get in and there was nothing to worry about.  They were telling me to get out of the car and there was no way they were going on a drive with me.  Plainly they were telling me no and that I was crazy.  I was doing my best to convince them otherwise, despite understanding the brevity of the situation.  A trait indicative to my “warped” sense of humor at the time – I knew the car ride was a joke I was trying in vain get them to believe in.

At that stage, obviously, I was consciously aware that I had taken a powerful psychedelic.  I knew that driving was not going to happen.  I just wanted to have a bit of fun and I realized how silly I was being.  The thought of trying to convince my friends to take a drive with me, for nothing else than a good laugh was all I wanted.  It worked.  We were all laughing at the dialog that had transpired in the 60-90 second time-frame.  That seemed normal enough to remind me I was human…until I realized the windows were up and none of us had even uttered one word with our mouths.  I was hearing them in my head – and I was not moving my lips to communicate with them.

Before you go dismissing this as out of mind, out of body in a crazy way, before I get to the experience, know this:

If you’ve ever experienced psychedelics, then chances are, you understand that during the experience — you have the conscious understanding that you took something and for the most part, observation is the only real option you have until the experience passes.  For example, based on prior firsthand experience, you can be laying flat on your back, oblivious to outside temperature, watching as clouds turn into eagles before your eyes, observing clusters of grass turn into faces — and yet, have full awareness that you’re on psychedelics.  That had always been my experience, (with various differing types of psychedelics) and based on others who have also experienced recreational and medicinal psychedelics, the general consensus is that despite an altered perception of that which we call reality, or normal — you still know that you took something.  What I’m about to explain, the part of the experience I consider out of mind, out of body — is something that took me beyond conscious awareness having a mind, having a personality, having a body and being in the same area where the body I reside in that takes up space, occupies.

Into the basement, across a threshold:

After my tryst with being silly in the car, and speaking without the use of words, for the first time, it was time to go inside and enjoy the rest of the trip.  That’s where things started to become foggy for me.  Once inside my critical thinking abilities became less and inherently perceived symbolism of everything around me became more real and more intense.  My body felt so physically strange, awash with feelings I had never experienced — I became irritated.  Breathing felt strange.  I felt grimy in ways I had never felt before.  The lighting in the room was uncomfortable and everything about the people around me became a consistent source of irritation.  At that point, I’m not certain if I was able to communicate or not, but thought and physical sensation were becoming overwhelming and I got up to walk around.  I felt constricted and constrained in just about every way imaginable — and to top that off I felt my best friend was against me in just about every way due to his (unconscious) resistance to change and grow on a level some would consider to be spiritual.

I felt as thought there were tacks in my body that I couldn’t remove.  One in my penis and one in my heart.  With every breath I took my lungs burned even more – and I had very little conscious connection with my physical body.  I so vividly remember looking at a Gary Larson calendar (the kind where you tear away a page every day) with an illustration of a kid in a classroom with his hand up wanting to ask the teacher a question.  Once I saw that I had in my own mind “The big question” – even though I had no idea what that meant.

Becoming more unaware of the way “this” world works I was primarily focused on the absolute terror that was unfolding withing.  I somehow felt as though I was being punished for something.  I had definitely crossed a threshold into a world I had not entered into before and I was only remotely aware of anything outside of myself.  Even though I was breathing, every breath felt more constricted and eventually, I felt I could no longer breath at all.  The tacks in my penis and heart became increasing uncomfortable, internally visions of all sorts of distorted colors that only served to trap me further took over and just about every uncomfortable sensation I had never imagined took hold of my mind.  Time somehow ceased to exist and the wretched idea that I was banished to stay in this previously unfathomable existence for an equal amount of time that my body had been on this planet entered mind somehow (the term “my” in reference to mind was purposely omitted) – and the irritation about that idea is that even a microsecond may have well as been an eternity all by itself.

I’m not certain, but I think that was the point my physical body became went on autopilot and chaos ensued.  What I’m about to explain is something, to this day, I have absolutely no recollection of, as it was time I consider to be “lost” or completely unaccounted for.  My physical body, in what I consider to be my guestimation of the situation, rebelled against the unfathomable “hell” I was “destined to stay trapped” in.  Apparently, with my bare hands, I broke a portion of the kitchen counter in half, tore live electrical wires our of the wall, tore a sock off and ripped my outer short off.  As my friends attempted to restrain me, I applied a choke that could have done some serious damage and by the grace of a power greater than myself, nobody was hurt.

As suddenly as the hell took over that trapped me in its deceptive grips, I was aware of myself (sort Out Of Bodyof) again.  This time I was absolutely devastated about some things I had done in the past that I held tightly onto, feeling guilty and worthless about, years after the fact.  As I screamed “No” over and over again, punching holes in the wall in front of me (physically feeling nothing) I heard my father’s voice telling me to stop.  Even thinking about it now, there is not a separation of time between here, now, and the event.  It was that powerful.  Anyways, the same friend who attempted to restrain me before was telling me to stop, but in my mind, it wasn’t him.  My father’s image (energetic imprint) was so vivid I could have sworn he was right there, witnessing the whole thing as it unfolded.  There was more screaming on my part then…nothing.

Only awareness.  I was no longer in my mind, I was definitely out of my body and the place I was, was nowhere even remotely close to where, who, what or how I was.  With memory so vivid, so real, I could never forget…

I was in a town and it was dark.  People were everywhere in the streets, celebrating unlike anything I’ve ever seen before.  They were holding each other, crying on each others shoulders and being more joyful that I had ever experienced in my life inside this body.  Nobody had the need to speak using their mount, yet I could make out a message, clear as a bell.  A symbol, similar to Olympic colors entered “mind” as I witnessed.  The I understood what was happening.  The people I saw were from all the nations in this world, apologizing and absolutely forgiving each other for anything and everything that people have done to other people with malice and without understanding.

Although this was the most joyous celebration I had ever bore witness, another understanding came through.  Something of great magnitude took us to the place where this was possible.  How many lives need to be lost on violent terms for us to wake up and realize we’re all in this together?  The place where I visited presented the daft message that something extreme was to happen, in order for that to take place.  Then it was over.

I felt peace.  I opened my eyes and I was, once again, laying in a room.  I had the idea that somehow I had done something “bad” – yet I had no idea what.  Where I was seemed so foreign, yet so familiar at the same time.  I closed my eyes in an attempt to go back to where I was before, but is was useless.  All I  heard was the tones of a guitar played by none other than the late Jimmy Hendricks playing a comforting tune in the other room.  All the pain was gone.  Everything heavy was lifted.  No longer was there a pin in my penis and heart that could not be removed.

Eventually I felt I needed to move.  As I walked into the other room I was greeted by three people, whom seemed somehow awfully familiar, looking at me with a puzzling intensity.  They seemed so familiar, yet I had no clue who they were.  It was all very confusing to me.  At that point, I still didn’t even know myself.  I didn’t realize that I had a name and identity that I was supposed to go through life with.  They offered me a toke of weed through a three foot water bong, and after I had that my lungs burned, so unconsciously, I spit on the floor.  My closest friend told me “that’s not cool” and reality started coming back.  I remembered who these people were.  I remembered who I was.  I remembered where I was and I knew that I had taken LSD earlier that night.  At that point, all I wanted was to go home and be by myself, somewhere comfortable.  The trip was completely done and there were no aftereffects whatsoever.  It was only two hours later, after we had ingested our “trip.”  Typically, LSD lasts 8-12 hours and slowly wanes away.  Two hours later, I was done.  Completely.

A painful door opened that night — Aftermath…

The next morning, my car didn’t start.  I had to call my dad to pick us up and a tow truck as well.  I was convinced, that by his irritated demeanor, he somehow knew what went on the previous night.  Then, for me, life was somehow different.  I started wondering about the point when the harmonious birth and death ratio of humans became offset by a greater number of births than deaths.  I wondered, at what point to we run out of the natural resources we seem to have so little regard for – and what happens when we do?  Ever since that night, the looming idea that we cannot go on for much longer had plagued me at times.  One thing I forgot to mention that has entered my mind now, when I went to that space where we were all forgiving each other, I somehow had the knowledge that at that point, March 11 1994, we had already done too much to turn back.  We had already gone too far and it was inevitable that something was going to happen.  Even thinking about garbage, and where is it supposed to go, brings that inevitability to the forefront of my mind.

Life, in many ways, after that experience was even more depressing, flat and meaningless than before.  I couldn’t understand how everyone couldn’t see, feel and know that something so big was to happen in our lifetime.  They must be completely blind was my general consensus, and how depressing it was to be stuck, here with a world of blind, deaf and mute.

I felt no sense of purpose, and after graduating High School – and despite having a scholarship to college, I went to work.  This only depressed me more, as I felt most of us were just numbing who we really are, caught up in pretending to be whom we’re not.  I’ll spare you the play by play, but it took years to understand what happened that night – as well as getting past the internal sadness I so long held onto.  Only after connecting with others who had experiences similar to mine, in death, did I decide to step out of a state of fear and into living here, on Earth now.

Meditation and lots of introspection have helped me come to terms with the world as I know it and let go of a deeply seeded desire to numb myself through substance abuse.  I really don’t talk about this experience too much, as I find it to be largely too much for your “average” American to stomach without shutting down, trying to place it – or calling it an effect of the psychedelic and nothing more.  That’s fine.  I have come to terms with that and much more.  No matter what your facing — I believe the question, “Who am I, and why am I here?” can shed enlightening light on our current situation.   In truth and understanding,

Paul

 

 

 

If you live in South Florida like I do, you’ve more than likely been to the beach.  I’ve been here since the end of the 90’s, yet it’s only been somewhat recently that I have really embraced the beach.  Just a simple walk on the beach is often a rich experience.

Just this year I’ve seen more pink jellyfish than I ever imagined.  I’ve found a pair of designer sunglasses on a deserted beach in the morning.  I’ve seen all kinds of people that have stimulated all kinds of thoughts…

But there’s one thing I would never expect to come across.  You might be thinking a bundle of drugs, a treasure, even a whale — all of which possible, yet improbable.  Nope, it wasn’t any of those things.

On Saturday morning on of the last things I would expect to see on the beach were the remains of what once was a living human being.  However, that’s exactly what I saw. For those of you familiar with anatomy, it was a complete pelvic girdle, a few vertebrae, a scapula, what appeared to be some intestines and some connective tissue.

At first what I saw didn’t quite register with my mind. It seemed so out of place, yet so natural and a part of me wasn’t believing what my senses were perceiving. I was in a remote area where few people walk, a long way from my car (and phone, park ranger ect) so I deliberated what to do.

A couple of other people walked by, stopped to observe – and simply left as if what they stopped for was not there to begin with. One person even picked up a vertebra with his bare hand, fondled the rest of the bones – sorting for meaning, realized what they were, casually dropped the piece he was holding, smelled his had and nonchalantly continued walking.  I wonderhow many of us, when confronted with something challenging, even foreign, accept the truth and reality of the situation.

My decision was to get to my car, drive to the park, make sure everything was still there — and if it was, I would then notify authorities.  After the hour it took to get back to my car, phone and location I discovered that the rising tide had other plans. The remaining evidence of a person who once was, was no longer there. There were only waves swallowing more and more of the beach.

By that time, the sun was in full force and my mind was filled with curious thoughts in which there would be no answer. Who was that person?  What chain of events got them there? How long had they been there?  Was it a cruise ship disaster?  Maybe is was a boat filled with Haitians or Cubans seeking a “better life” in the United States?  The answers I’ll never know. All that was certain was those bones  were once again, becoming part of the Earth.

They looked as if they were made from some ultra high tech, yet ancient architecture. As the curious thoughts left my mind another question surfaced. If that is what happens to us all – and we are conscious of our fleeting time here, why do we choose to suffer? The things we choose to fret over and stress about, in the grand scheme of life, do they really matter? Every moment we spend in stress, agony, anxiety, judgment and plenty more — what purpose does it really serve?  Is it worth it?

I don’t want to go “too deep” here now, but I do invite you to stop, take a moment and think about your life. Is it all that you think it could be? If not, what thoughts and idea are you holding onto that harm you the most? If you can think of those, the final question I have here and now — could you just let go and enjoy this moment here, now, being alive and breathing?  I know I’m doing the best I can!

Paul

 

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