Awareness
Posted: Wed Jan 28, 2009 8:59 amHere's a bit I wrote up maybe a year ago, but since dreaming and consciousness seem to be current topics, thought I'd post.
Here and There
Another topic from chat was the business of Here and There. In the discussion it seemed 'there' was a nice notion, however, when pressed, no one seemed capable of defining it, other than to say it was 'not here'. The notion of 'second attention' was raised as being a form, I suppose, of 'there' and some have claimed their attention is simultaneously here and there.
In my own experience, I find that impossible since I seem to have one point of focus of attention, and at any moment it is fixed in one of the areas noted below.
In that regard, then, it is of interest to consider various points of awareness. I believe there are at least seven.
First, within waking attention, or "First Attention" is awareness of the moment, something we seem to access only occasionally, and usually when alone. I liken this to gazing at dragonflies. At those times I am usually aware of the sights, sounds, smells, the feel of things, not always aware of the body, attention focused on the things of the now.
Second, also within waking attention, is daydreaming or fantasizing, sometimes so strongly the entire moment is forgotten. A good example is on a long road trip, where the mind wanders to all sorts of topics while some other aspect of self keeps the car on the road.
Third, also within waking attention, is when reading, in a sense a form of fantasizing. When reading, attention is on the sense of what is being read and awareness is not on things of the moment.
Fourth, also within waking attention, akin to reading, which is watching a movie, or a play, or television, where attention is on the actions of the characters and again not on the things of the moment.
Fifth, also within waking attention, is purposeful fantasizing, usually referred to as shamanic journeying. Hypnosis might well fall into this category. The point is, one is still 'awake' in first attention while engaged.
Sixth, also within waking attention, is journeying via entheogens where attention is focused on the visions, sensations and action occurring as a result of the substance.
(I'm unsure what constitutes second attention in any of the above.)
Seventh would be ordinary dreaming.
Eighth would be lucid dreaming. I've not had any astral experiences, however, I would be tempted to place them within the category of lucid dreaming. The same is true of NDE's.
Here and There
Another topic from chat was the business of Here and There. In the discussion it seemed 'there' was a nice notion, however, when pressed, no one seemed capable of defining it, other than to say it was 'not here'. The notion of 'second attention' was raised as being a form, I suppose, of 'there' and some have claimed their attention is simultaneously here and there.
In my own experience, I find that impossible since I seem to have one point of focus of attention, and at any moment it is fixed in one of the areas noted below.
In that regard, then, it is of interest to consider various points of awareness. I believe there are at least seven.
First, within waking attention, or "First Attention" is awareness of the moment, something we seem to access only occasionally, and usually when alone. I liken this to gazing at dragonflies. At those times I am usually aware of the sights, sounds, smells, the feel of things, not always aware of the body, attention focused on the things of the now.
Second, also within waking attention, is daydreaming or fantasizing, sometimes so strongly the entire moment is forgotten. A good example is on a long road trip, where the mind wanders to all sorts of topics while some other aspect of self keeps the car on the road.
Third, also within waking attention, is when reading, in a sense a form of fantasizing. When reading, attention is on the sense of what is being read and awareness is not on things of the moment.
Fourth, also within waking attention, akin to reading, which is watching a movie, or a play, or television, where attention is on the actions of the characters and again not on the things of the moment.
Fifth, also within waking attention, is purposeful fantasizing, usually referred to as shamanic journeying. Hypnosis might well fall into this category. The point is, one is still 'awake' in first attention while engaged.
Sixth, also within waking attention, is journeying via entheogens where attention is focused on the visions, sensations and action occurring as a result of the substance.
(I'm unsure what constitutes second attention in any of the above.)
Seventh would be ordinary dreaming.
Eighth would be lucid dreaming. I've not had any astral experiences, however, I would be tempted to place them within the category of lucid dreaming. The same is true of NDE's.
- Code: Select all
In the moment
waking consciousness (attn focused on surroundings)
tonal awareness
nagual awareness
working consciousness (attn focused on a task - i.e. unaware of surroundings)
Not in the moment
day dreaming
reading
movie/TV/stage production
journeying
drumming
creative imagining
dream work
shamanic journey
altered states
MJ
LSD
Mushrooms
Ayahuasca
etc
Alcohol
sleeping unconsciousness
ordinary dreaming
lucid dreaming
astral travel
NDE