Neuroplasticity seems to indicate the role of mind, or consciousness, in providing the template on which our physical brain changes to reflect our intentions and perceptions.
Neuroplasticity is the general term for the ability of the brain to recover from injury, including the ability to generate new neurons and interconnect them with the rest of the brain. The brain has a remarkable ability to rewire and rebuild itself.
The practice of long-term meditation seems to influence the physical structures of the brain. In the brains of longtime meditators, as compared with novices, increased activity has been observed in regions associated with states of attentive focus. There is an area in the forehead (Brodmann areas 9 and 10 in the prefrontal cortex) that contains a larger volume of brain tissue in experienced practitioners. Mindfulness training is also correlated with a decreased volume in the amygdala, a brain structure associated with fear responses.
Research into the neuroscience of meditation reveals a wide range of emotional and behavioral benefits:
- stress relief
- reduced anxiety and depression
- improved immunity
- enhanced creativity
- increased intuition
- lower blood pressure
- better ability to maintain focused attention
- connection with a sense of oneness
Meditative techniques provide a means to intentionally quiet the mind and discover a stillness inside. Meditators report a broad range of experiences, and some are able to regularly connect with what they describe as the realm of loving oneness, either on purpose or quite unexpectedly.
PRACTICE
Continue your daily routine of quiet contemplation. If your thoughts wander, allow them to exist without engaging, and return your attention to your breathing. Record any observations in your journal.
Hi, I have been doing Laughter and Mindfulness for some time, as well as meditation. Love doing the Mindfulness and Laughter more.
With doing this 33 day process, it will bring to me a better understanding of the understanding of the brain’s sections.
I was doing Mindfulness with school age children from K to 12. When the COVID hit, was not able to continue.
There was great success working with the children and teachers, looking forward to going back.
With having more information, a better understanding, and confirmation, will instill in me a better understanding of how the Brain, Ego, Heart, Body and Spirit can work together.
Thank you for having this program.
Much Love and Blessings to all!!
Gratefully, Karen
Hello fellow truth lovers!
I’m a long time meditator, and on day 2 of this program. I’ve purchased 3 of the scared acoustics recordings and began listening a couple of months ago. I find them wonderful and look forward to doing them. Here’s my question: Is it being suggested (on day 1 and 2) that we meditate in silence, or is it OK to use one of the sacred acoustic recordings during this time? perhaps the 20 minute OM recording which has less verbal content? Thanks for any responses. Ellen
Yes, it is okay to listen with Sacred Acoustics recordings, especially because you are a long time meditator. For those who are just beginning, it’s best to start with silence and on Day 6, a sound recording is introduced as an option.
I began meditating in college (50 years ago) and had to begin at 4:30AM when it was quiet enough not to be disturbed. After weeks I reached a white screen in my mind that felt like a vacation! Now, present day, listening to your 20 min OM audio I reached that sacred space in less than a minute! What a blessing to have your Sacred Acoustic recordings to listen to. Thank you!
Oú acheter les enregestrement son svp merci
Hello,
Just wanted to say hello to everyone.
I have been meditating off and on for about 20 years now. And I can say that it certainly does help in stress regulation, focus and for some pretty powerful insights. But you have to do it daily for best results, even if it is only for ten minutes, you will start to see progress and some pretty cool
moments of clarity and glimpses of singular consciousness.
Hope you are all well 🙏
Just Breathe – quite simple. Simply quiets my mind, heart & soul. Whatever thoughts/feelings bubble up within are accepted. Thank You
I felt my body relaxing as I focused on my breathing.
Day 2 Was a better day for mindfulness going deeper with in, finding peace.
I first encountered the word and concept of neuroplasticity in Jean Paul Sartre’s “ Being and Nothingness” . Naturally his use of the term has little to do with the first definition as in repairing, but the mutability of the brain was a comforting concept to me. The constant rebuilding of our physical nature occurs daily and it is advantageous (in a non competitive way) to garner as much command of the body in which the soul is currently residing. Our bodies, “made of clay” are slouchy and are slackers and show reluctance towards contacting or connecting with anything other that this constructed world. Show up for the battle but only use feather pillows as weapons when beating yourself up, just keep hushing your will to receive and turn it around with meditation, selfless intentions with lots of walks and lots of rest.
thanks Susan, this helps as I am on my day 2 today
Susan, what a lovely way to describe neuroplasticity. Thank you.
I have been a meditator on and off, but since I started my journey yesterday, I will stick to it. My experience during meditation varies between wandering thoughts to a point of timelessness when I have no thoughts except the feeling of being. Sometimes this feeling is coupled with bubbling joy, or ecstasy, which gradually fades or continues outside meditation and gradually fading. Sometimes I see visions of places and people in flashes, and sometimes I hear voices that tend to come from within. I am looking forward to the remaining 31 days of the journey with great expectations.
I appreciate the free Om track… however… the heartbeat was loud and disturbing, and the beta at the end had to go. Audacity, cut the track at 17 minutes, 5 second fade out. Then leave it on repeat play.
At first I was alarmed my the ohm track; however by the 3rd review I was hooked ! I am now Oh Ming to myself mentally during the early part of my meditation …. Nice and mind relaxing
I think that there is a tranformation of energy between the subtle energy of the soulbrain to ordinary energy of the materialistic brain and vice versa.
I echo the words from Linda, ” Thank you Dr. Alexander and Karen for promoting the awakening of humanity! There is no end to awakening, there is no stopping place. I want to say, though, that awakening can sometimes be painful, as our empathetic sense also opens up. More and more, we feel the pain of others. I have found the only solution to this pain is to expand the heart even more. The pain is caused because our heart is too small and love is pressing on its boundaries. Our heart may be very, very expanded, but when it hurts from empathy, it is time to open it up even more so more love can go out into the world. We can only do this if we embrace the pain and let go. The tendency is to shut down to avoid the pain. But that stops growth. Instead, open up even more and your love will go out to help heal those who are receptive.”
Our hearts can close up and become narrow and rigid as a response to pain but can also break open to greater love and compassion. So too, our brains through our thoughts and intentions that create new neural pathways and open bridges to our mulit-versal consciousness, understandings, and capabilities.
Thank you.
Thanks Cynthia, so well expressed.
After reading the introduction on Neuroplasticity and contemplating the meanings therein, Day 2 of 33 began. I started as usual by meditating and concentrating on my breathing to relax each body part one at a time. Once the tension and anxieties were released from my body, I closed my eyes and began to let my mind wander aimlessly until I achieved a deeper mindful relaxation where everything began to slow down. I began to see colors fading in very slowly. First it was red, than green, than they started to intermingle with each other forming colorful mists or clouds. It was extremely relaxing! Purplish, yellowish and white-like clouds began to emerge than evolving back to the more dominate colors of red, green and some more purple misty cloud-like shapes. It was absolutely beautiful! Once in these states of blissful relaxation you really just want to stay there, but you gradually begin to evolve from your inner consciousness back into your natural state of reality. I fondly remember those days when meditation was a daily part of my routine! I was able to bring back more and more of that relaxed and anxiety free state, while meditating, back into my everyday life. My ultimate goal while journeying on this 33 day experience is to achieve that same state of physical and mental understanding and well being that I previously possessed in my life!
It is a shame that I stopped meditating on a daily basis. I felt so much more in control of my thoughts and emotions! Once you reach a certain plateau of personal well being, it sometimes becomes commonplace to take things for granted. Then you gradually start digging yourself into a rut, by feeling too comfortable and failing to realize the importance of realizing not taking anything or anyone for granted! Tomorrow is never guaranteed! Those that are most successful in their lives do not allow themselves to regress back into bad habits. They maintain their focus and daily routine, constantly seeking enhancement, thereby avoiding the many pitfalls that are consistently encountered by those of us who regressed back into our old ways! This is not to say that those who maintain proper mental focus will not be faced with problems, as everyone has problems and obstacles in life. However those that have that proper focus are much better able to deal with and resolve these situations!
On to Day 3 … GOD Bless you all!
Thank you Jim for your comment
You wrote beautifully in an eye-opening way.
Blessings
Day 1 (yesterday): My very first try at meditation! I felt so relaxed afterwards! What’s odd was I could feel my ears getting warm starting at the bottom and than moving upwards. Quite interesting!
Using the concept of neuroplasticity from the physical side of the fence would be a very, very difficult venture! What would people do? Eat certain foods, do certain physical exercises? Of course healthy food and exercise—especially the *innersize* of chi gung, acupuncture, and other energy work—would help. Food choices change when one looks at food as living energy—then, so little in the grocery store even looks like food. But how daunting it must be to put the concept of neuroplasticity to work from a mechanistic framework! But working at it from the perspective of spirit/soul is another story. In fact, I don’t see how it could be avoided. When people doubt they are spiritual beings, I ask them, “Do you have aspirations, the desire for a meaningful life, impellings to act in higher ways?” (“Impellings” may not be a word, but I use it anyway. It should exist.) Then I say, “That’s your spirit speaking to you!” On another note, I bought the SacredAcoustics ascension package last night and am combining it with my other practices. It is already fantastic! When I sit to do my akashic work (I am a graduate of the Linda Howe Center for Akashic Studies, the first person to receive a phd in akashic studies for personal transformation) I just want to draw pictures and doodles. And I have only listened to 3 audio recordings so far. I am going beyond where I’ve been, and I’ve been living a faroutthere life (in 1969 I first became a student of raja yoga, the yoga of consciousness and I am a student of light body work since 1992 with Sanaya Roman and Duane Packer). Thank you Dr. Alexander and Karen for promoting the awakening of humanity! There is no end to awakening, there is no stopping place. I want to say, though, that awakening can sometimes be painful, as our empathetic sense also opens up. More and more, we feel the pain of others. I have found the only solution to this pain is to expand the heart even more. The pain is caused because our heart is too small and love is pressing on its boundaries. Our heart may be very, very expanded, but when it hurts from empathy, it is time to open it up even more so more love can go out into the world. We can only do this if we embrace the pain and let go. The tendency is to shut down to avoid the pain. But that stops growth. Instead, open up even more and your love will go out to help heal those who are receptive.
I’ve been meditating for years now. I love it! right now I meditate alone, but a few years ago we had a group meditation. It was great! I’m in the process of trying to find people to meditate with again. The experience of group meditation is quite a different experience. I found it to be very enlightening. You picked up on the others thought and emotions, many times receiving messages for someone in the group. I also find that music helps with meditation.
Meditation doesn’t always have to be sitting quietly. Taking a walk in nature, listening to birds singing, anything that you enjoy and is relaxing. Let your mind wander, you’ll be surprised at the thoughts that might pop up to help you on your journey.
These were just the words of truth. Yes connecting to our higher self can be done in many different ways and not only by sitting in one place. Thank you for enlightening. Also I have never meditated with another person or in a group, your words made me want to try it. Maybe with my mom.
Best of all
Saba
Seem to have a lot of trouble keeping my mind quiet, I hope it’s not something lacking in my ability and it will work it’s way out
Same here…just bring your thoughts back to your breathing.
Try guided meditations… those are very helpful in the beginning when you find it so difficult to keep your mind still. Or even putting headphones on and having nature sounds playing while you meditate really helps too!
I find on quieting the mind that you have to find a technique to assist you. Try feeling the vibrations and sensations in your body is one trick.
For any one who needs it, a good guided. meditation is offered by Ziad Masri on u-tube,
its called 10 minutes of Pure Bliss.
Appreciation to Dr Alexander and Karen Newell, for offering this material, free of charge. As a practitioner and receiver of deep healing modalities, I am often conflicted over the monetization of healing. Healers need to provide for their temporal needs, too, and yet, so often the price put on healing service, puts it quite out of the reach of the most vulnerable.
Self-help material such as this, is a good intermediary resource. I love the creativity of this offering.
I’ve had a regular meditation practice for nearly a decade, now. It is the grounding center of my life. It also opens my awareness frequently, to areas of repressed energy, denial, numbness, that need loving attention and release. It supports and sustains my healing practice.
This 33-day practice showed up in my field at a perfect moment, when I’m doing some particularly intense emotional work. I need the structure this 33 days provide, as it is all too tempting right now, to check out and simply “phone-in” my daily meditation practice without noticing. I’m using these 33 days as a way to stay present.
Thank you. A great familiarity has reintroduced itself.
Day 2
I saw my mother who passed one year ago after an 8 year decline with dementia. She reached out to me and stood up from her wheelchair, so excited to see me. We hugged each other tightly. Then I saw each of my departed relatives, we were a small, and very close family. My mom, dad, grandfather grandmother aunt and uncle. We all held hands in a circle and danced in and out of the circle. It was a joyous family reunion. They each waved goodbye to me, and I was very moved by this experience. I miss them each so much.
Meditation: Still a lot of stress-thoughts regarding other areas that are unresolved. Let it all pass thinking that “afterwards I can write it down and then solve the problems”. Nice feeling!
Hi.
I tried my first meditation yesterday. With in the first few moments I started to see brief flashes of different people.
One face stayed for a full minute or more. It was the face of an elderly man early sixties. He had his hair cut very short. He was looking at me
and I saw much sadness in his eyes, like a man who had had a very difficult life. I returned my concentration to my breathing patterns and his image
was gone. I has left a strong impression on me.
Has anyone passed away that would fit that description? I would keep meditating to see if he returns, from what I’ve read, try not to force it…but I’m a newbie to all this.
Dear Dr. Eben and Karen,
Thank you so much for the free material! Firstly, I must say that I am not new to such sounds but your OM free audio is FAR more intense than ANY I’ve experienced before. The quality and care of the production is to the highest. I will buy your collection as it is most powerful. Again thank you.
You both are doing the most important work in this world, I am referring anyone, willing to listen, to your site. You are both amazing people :0
It’s mentioned that mindfulness training is correlated with a decreased volume in the amygdala, a brain structure associated with fear responses. Are there any studies of correlation with decrease in chronic pain, or decreased volume wherever pain is perceived? I’m specially interested in brain changes due to long term chronic pain or chronic sensitivity syndrome.
I am very ecstatic, my emails came back like magic. I am so grateful for this opportunity to learn to meditate. I have attempted many times and never quite understood what I was doing. You are such blessed folks to offer this journey
to us. Many blessings to you both Karen and Eben. May God’s love and light fill our hearts and lives as He has with
yours. May we all be blessed and guided through eternity. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Lay in bed this morning watching my breathing. Felt myself relaxing on a deep level especially around my upper body and head. Started to realise that these tensions (rigidity) are part of my own negativities and also connected to how I see myself in the world, but paradoxically also part of my limitations. They also reflect my petty personal and egocentric desires (fame, position, outside attention). Intuitively I felt that sexual energy is somehow tied up with all of this, like it is the driving force for good or ill behind all of life
As I let go I slowly started to feel part of and connected to something much much bigger………….
Synchronistically a book I had ordered on line a while ago arrived in the post yesterday – The Biology of Belief by Bruce Lipton.
I think this 33 day journey is starting out in a very magical and powerful way. Thank you Eben and Karen!
Just finished Day 2 meditation. I’m trying 10 minutes a day at first and I’m excited about doing these 33 days. Since I am in the last part of my life, I am apprenticing myself to my great disappearance and I would like to learn a little about the language of this place I will be going. Meditation seems like a good place to start.
Dear Carol,
Wish you lots of love during this profound process.
Dorien
Wow, such a perspective! Thanks, Carol.
I, too, am at the same stage in my life and viewing this as preparation for what comes next. Thank you for saying it so well.
I find daily log ins with my insight meditation app is very grounding. Free guided meditations, stats for my daily meditations, and ability to connect with group and others around the world who are meditating along w me at that precise moment… is very inspiring and promotes a sense of connectedness.
When I started medication several months ago I wasn’t sure if I was doing it correctly. I listened to different sounds (ocean waves, rain forest, etc.), meditation teachers talking, binary beats and so on. But I just wasn’t sure I was getting it. I then read an article about a product called Muse. Muse is the first tool in the world that can give you accurate, real-time feedback on what’s happening in your brain while you meditate. Muse is a compact electroencephalography (EEG) system which uses your brainwave data to optimize your meditation experience. I use it and I recommend it. If you’re interested look at http://www.choosemuse.com
Thank you for this recommendation. It was very helpful to me.
Know that you are discovering your whole Self, we are so much more than this body, the physical vehicle for our spirit to interact with this world we live in. Meditation will unlock the door to your true whole Self, and is a natural process, we are just told it is difficult and then experience that. The most important thing is to relax, and allow your energy to flow into the meditation practice. You can do this with visualisation, imagine getting into a boat, lying down and flowing down a river, with the sounds of the water and the birds around you, and relax. When you are ready to come back visualise the boat docking on the river bank and you getting out and back onto the river bank. It works for me…
Second day of meditation. Meditated in the morning after reading some inspirational verse. Focused on breathing “in” and “out” to keep my mind still. Progress.
How are you getting on Michael? Still meditating?
My mother, who had a life-long interest in all kinds of unusual phenomena (ESP, NDEs, life after death, UFOs, etc.) used to have a book called The Unobstructed Universe, by Stewart Edward White, which he said was written with his wife Betty who had been a medium before she died (I believe the book is still available.) She made me read it with her when I was 14 or so; I wavered between skepticism and fascination, plus a lot of it was just over my head. Anyway, when reading Proof of Heaven and the first 5 chapters of Living in a Mindful Universe, I found myself recalling two concepts my mother frequently quoted from that book: “Consciousness is the only reality,” and “Time is, and things are received into it.” I don’t understand the latter statement, but it sounds like it may have something to do with Dr. Alexander’s experience of time being different during his NDE.
I have been meditating to the OM meditation for few days before I began the 33 day journey. Each day is so much easier than the day before. Today I sat crossed legged in a large recliner that rocks in my son’s room. Quickly into the meditation I had the sensation of the chair rocking. At first it scared me, as if I were being rocked. After opening my eyes for reassurance I easily settled back in and continued to feel the rocking all the way through the beach waves. I became aware that the rocking was my energy. Very bizarre yet powerful to recognize the spirt within me.
I have found over the years that often the greatest results of deepening the inner experience happen when I felt less like meditating and a voice would say, #one day missed won’t matter’. But I did it anyway because, through repetition, it had become a habit
I meditate every time I need – it can be in the calm weather just in a walking, or seating soemwhere in the quiet place. I like to be alone with myself. Beying with myself is like a miracle for me because it brought for me a new understading about loneliness, helped ask for Lord and listen an answer from Him.
Thanks for sharing. Happy to be here. I usually do meditation and looking forward to path ahead.
Day 2, 20 minutes lying down. I have an IMRS mat so I decided to use it on the stress setting today. Did some breathing exercise, and then was still. Said a couple of prayers and focused on God. The color red started coming in, then my thoughts turned to telling God that I loved him and was grateful for all the blessings he had given me and all the blessings I have yet to receive, color changed to green. Then colors changed from green to red and green to red, some white. I was thinking breathing in God and out fear. Before I knew it 20 minutes was up.
I did have a couple of interruptions at the beginning, two text messages came in, next time I will turn the sound off…Karen is Brodmann areas 9 and 10 in the prefrontal cortex considered the third eye? I might start meditating for a longer period of time…
I guess Karen doesn’t always answer questions…
Brodmann area 10 (area 9 is a bit higher) is in a similar location to what is known as the third eye (the space between the eyebrows), however, we are not aware of any specific correlations between the two from a scientific perspective. Our conceptual sense of self is associated with Brodmann area 10, which may explain its size difference in those who actively meditate. The third eye is not physical, but a reference to an energetic center, or chakra.
Hi Karen, do you see a connection between the third eye chakra and quarks (i.e. I believe currently understood to be “up” (2/3 positive charge) and “down” (-1/3 charge) quarks?)
I am not tuned in to quarks and do not have a way to connect them with the third eye chakra, but your assessment sounds interesting!
Email:
URL: http://www.andyskye.com
Comment:
Excited for this journey to unfold. I am 28 and the seed of meditation was planted young just as a exercise to stop having random thoughts in my mind. I got more serious about my practice once I began Asana around the age of 23. I have experienced a sense of oneness with intense visions. I recently purchased a Muse and found a breathing technique to achieve 99% calm during my practice (very difficult). During the time I am meditating I feel ecstatic bliss and peace. I found out about this 33 day journey on the Ronnie landis podcast and everything Eben and Karen talked about I find to be true. It is pretty mind blowing information! I also have experienced light switches flicking off and weird signs from a loved one through an online chat form with my wireless service provider… so strange! I have experienced seeing auras as well. I feel that meditation is the gateway to understanding life after death
Is there any sound with these daily emails? If there is I can’t find it. Thank you for your attention to this and your wonderful work!
Yes, the sound element will be introduced on Day 6. So you haven’t missed it! We felt it was important to spend time quietly without sound for those who are more new to a regular practice. We appreciate your kind comments.
Thank God for the brain rewiring and rebuilding itself… it made me feel how much God loves each and everyone of us… that God would create us to have this built in natural mechanism to restore itself…
Went to the ocean for the 2nd day in a row and I noticed the ocean sounds faded away while I focused on my breath. I noticed how relentless the thoughts were… just as I felt like I started to dive into the breath, the thoughts cane back in a big way…. I persevered, meditated again, and not judged whether or not meditation was easy or hard… I’ll continue with the practice of letting go… feels so good to commit to this course.
Do you have a way to actually measure level of consciousness?
I have been studying with the Clairvision School for a few years now. This 33 day course is jump starting my morning practice, which I got out of doing for a while. It feels like a coming home of sorts to take up the practice again. This third-eye meditation practice uses throat friction breathing and recommends a good sitting posture. I have never had a quiet mind, but the volume on the continuous stream of thoughts gets turned down during meditation. I do experience a calmness and have visuals like moving clouds with colors, kinda like a lava lamp in its fluidity. Thanks for this course!!
Thank you for this second session. I try but have not succeeded in meditation. I spend lots of time in prayer. Is prayer considered meditation or other?
I love a quiet retreat with and surrounded by trees, quiet and silence. Cannot help to weep. So wonderful to weep and release. I find myself meditating but with my Bible in hand and at times, music. Sweet angelic music.
Yes, prayer is a form of meditation as well as your quiet retreats! Excellent! It’s all good 🙂
Yes you are meditating 💙
Gracias Dr. Alexander y Karen. En mi segundo día de práctica fue interesante, lo acompañe con música zen, cerré los ojos y me concentré en la respiración, de un momento, en un instante extraño ante mi estuve observando una nebulosa purpura, donde las sombras creaban ondas.que parecían olas del mar. Fue algo, no se cómo describirlo! Lo comparto con ustedes, porque creo que para esto es este espacio.
This simple practice brings me such peace. Thank you!
What a lovely experience. I found it easier today to release from thoughts that crept in. I felt an abundance of love. What a beautiful way to begin my day.
Dear Eben Alexander M.D.!
I hope, this practice will support me to be free from my fears.
Glad to know, that our brain can cure oneself!
God bless You!
Noémi
Dear Noemi,
I, also, have needed release and healing from fear. Love is the opposite of fear and the more we experience and focus on Love, the more we build those neruological areas of the brain that can circumvent the primitive fear circuits. Another technique than meditation is EFT= emotional freedom technique. You can find it on the internet. Your sister, Maggie
As I sit with my 13 yr old daughter (who is sick with a stomach virus), I used this time to meditate. Helped me to become calmer and more present for my sweet daughter who happens to have Down Syndrome. And who I believe is a very wise, advanced soul for so many reasons. Interesting observation during my meditation, quite a bit of tingling in 3rd
chakra.
Following my NDE, I knew and understood the incredible healing capabilities that meditation could provide. Yet, I had no idea how, it was totally new back then. It took time to develop, but I hope everyone realizes how powerful it can be in your life! For me it finally took me back to be able to feel and totally experience the unbelievable love that permeated my body and soul during my NDE. After years of reading and research I was able to write it all in a book too! Keep working at it only gets better and more profound.
Day 2 of this journey with Eben and Karen, catching my mind as it wandered…gently easing it back…I felt myself entering an embracing and warm altered state. What struck me so profoundly today was the orchestra of high frequency sounds that I heard. I hear them all the time but have learned to mask them in order to get through day. But this morning, I paid them special note. It seems like more than one sound, many blending into one is more like it. I often wonder if I were able to separate them out and match my frequency to each one, what portal might open? And to where? Is it a voice? If so, what is it saying? Thank you again Karen and Eben for the opportunity to explore.
For me the best time for meditation is at 4am when the melatonin levels are highest. The melatonin hormone helps to synchronise circadian rhythms in different parts of the body and it’s a very supportive time for meditation and those mystical experiences.
I found keeping up a daily rhythm of meditation helps me through the times I don’t feel like it. It’s a habit built in and often these are the most rewarding periods of withdrawal.
I discovered HearthMath a couple of years ago and using the HeartMath Inner Balance Lightning Sensor on my phone and doing 6 minutes of ‘mind-heart’ coherence several times during the day extends that meditative state. I only recently learned (during a neuroscience lecture) that 6 minutes of ‘mind-heart’ coherence lasts 6 hours. I thought that was amazing.
Thanks for the neuroplasticity explanation Eben and Karen.
🙏🏼
My zen master once told me not to be concerned about falling asleep during meditation and continue, until I won’t be sleepy anymore. It’s all mind tricks that force us not to be patient but to think and act.
Don’t expect your mind to be calm all of a sudden, you need some practice, just be patient.
It was an answer to Lauren’s question, I don’t know why it was posted here 🙂
It was, if anything, perhaps to help me accept that falling asleep during meditation is fine and should not lead to guilt. So thank you 🙂
It was something I also needed to ask. Now I have the answer.
Thankyou
I’m deeply grateful for having found myself in this course. I’m a long-time prayer and mediation person; still I find at times anxiety overcomes me. Last week, for example, I had the most intense anxiety and stress upon me due to fear-related work issues that…in the end blood vessels popped in my right eye. I felt “something happen” in my brain, and two days later, my eye was all filled with blood. Fortunately, there was no pain whatsoever. It’s taken five days for the eye to recover. I pray there is no physical damage in my brain, and I’m hopeful with the knowledge of neuroplasticity – that the brain can rewire and rebuild itself. I have come to finally accept, after longtime learning, that I’m a highly sensitive being. I have accepted this with love. I also need to learn how to care for myself. I’m sensitive to all physical stimuli- sound, hearing, smell, even if I eat too much or eat unhealthy foods, everything. I can feel physically upset when I hear animals or babies who are screaming in pain. (I live in China and often have to plug my ears when I walk by an outdoor market where chickens are being killed for sale.). I’m also highly sensitive to the spiritual realities of the divine, feeling, intuition and heart. I deeply want to learn how to “work with myself”, so that I can use my talents and strengths more fully in service to others. This means, among other things, I must learn to control my powerful mind and deepen my practice of meditation, so not to allow my mind to engage with “fear” thoughts when they come. I have learned that I must rest my body when it tells me I must rest, a hard lesson for me to learn. I’m eager to learn from this course…
Barbara, I am sensitive to sounds, light, and smells, too. I relate with your comments. I formally was I student of meditation for years but I have not done so in 6-8 yrs. As I look back, I am not sure why I left the practice since it was definitely beneficial. I am delighted to have this 33 day course to put me back on track. , too, am quite eager to learn from this course.
Thank you, Sylvia. How are people who are sensitive described? It is not only a biological personality?
I like to keep my meditations on this lively journey simple. First, I read over the keyword – experience neuroplasticity – summary description – and then launch the session day keyword from the event horizon crossing the bouundary CD and enjoy the ride by letting my unique neuroplasticity so-to-speak sort out for itself what to unfold from the keyword.
Surrounded with Third chakra and shortly after Crown chakra colors for a while. Conversation with Spirit, was advised to drink orange juice. I have a stuffy nose and scratchy throat and orange juice is exactly what I need.
Great stuff Eben and Karen. Thanks for sharing.
Well this is Blessing
Yesterday I came back from a long day and found Day 1… upon awakening in bed I let go and tried to practice focusing my meditation on my breath… then the day started and it was obvious I had all of this pent of energy… Mark, my nephew is visiting I we set off to art galleries in the neighborhood… after going to the galleries I received an Uber call and ran to my car to go to the pickup… just as I got in my car and started to drive the client cancelled the ride… I got another ride and I reached my arrival pickup and my car died and now has to be towed… when I looked for the AAA ref # I found Day 2… while I’m waiting, seems like carved out in the rock of ages, is the time to close my eyes, and focus on my breath
I used to think meditation was a magical state impossible for me to attain. I was frustrated every time I tried. Yet I felt the pull to keep trying. A few months ago, I happened on a description of meditation and was stunned to realize I already know how to do it, or I know how to begin, how to hold no expectations, to unfocus. I’m not saying I’m experienced with it, I’m learning, but the block to learning has been removed. I’m very grateful. I’ve been meditating, using Sacred Acoustic recordings, every morning ever since – I started at 5 minutes, and now 20 minutes can go by and it’s as if it was 5. Sometimes I feel disconnected from my body, as if my body is completely relaxed, and my mind/or who I am is separate yet still present, it’s an incredible feeling. I also feel sometimes as if a physical (yet not physical) feeling has passed through me – I don’t know how to describe it, I’m just grateful for the peace it brings. Thanks for offering this 33-day journey!
I like the idea that one may have a thought without engaging it. That’s thoughtful, but I won’t say more.
Talking about the brain, reminded me from the age of 12 to 17 years I suffered with fainting spells, eventually in a “mental hospital” it was discovered that the neurons jumped too far, causing this. I was told I would have to take medication for the rest of my life. I refused because being a Pentecostal Christian I believed God would heal me. I prayed fervently one night and was aware that my clasped fingers seemed to enlarge. I know now, that was my aura expanding. I never had a repeat of the blackouts after that. Another angle in relation to the brain; from the years 1980 to 83, then in my forties I suffered chronic migraines, tests were done and medication offered. By then I had changed my spiritual path, and one evening in the company of a medium friend, she told me I would only heal from this affliction by living more from my right brain. I followed her advice and after some months the migraines ceased. I never even suffered a single headache after that! We all have a tale to tell! Lots lots of love to all, Margaret.
Hi, I m doing this 33 day course and I am at day 2. I am seeking to get in touch with a medium. Could I contact your medium friend please. If you could ask her please. Thanks Gurpreet
I still am having trouble with falling asleep trying to meditate. Today I allowed a short nap of 20 mins, then went right to guided meditation from abraham hicks. I feel refreshed, not drowsy now. But the guided meditation isn’t allowing me to hear ” My Voice” , instead I hear the guidance narration. Trying to just use breathing or white noise produces the fall asleep issue. Insights?
It was a good idea to take a nap first to avoid being drowsy. It’s not clear from your message – did you also try without the guided recording and still fell asleep even though you felt well-rested? In any case, try a different body position. If you are laying down, try sitting up. If you’re sitting up, sit in a position without direct back support but are sitting straight up. You can also try meditating with your eyes open; just find a spot to look at and keep looking there. After repeated practice, you may get past this issue. I imagine others may have further suggestions.
In my experience, when I begin meditating using the alternate nostril breathing technique I can then move into regular breathing after a few minutes and better maintain my focus on my breath. Focus on how your breath feels inside your nose. OM
Hi Lauren, Remember to focus on your breathing and Let Go. It works.
My zen master once told me not to be concerned about falling asleep during meditation and continue, until I won’t be sleepy anymore. It’s all mind tricks that force us not to be patient but to think and act.
Don’t expect your mind to be calm all of a sudden, you need some practice, just be patient.
This is what I heard when it FINALLY worked for me. When a thought comes, act as if it’s just a cloud…and let it just float on by.
Never meditate lying down is what I’ve found. If sitting, keep your back straight and don’t utilize the back of the chair. I even started doing standing meditations – this definitely keeps you awake!
Everytime I meditate I feel like a power coming over me from above its like an energy mixed with a wind breeze. I begin to have some tears in my eyes and be happy and have a profound gratitude, happiness and connection to Om (God). I know it sounds strange but the first time I had this feeling was when I got baptized at an adult age of 21 y/o. I can rember that the reverend said in the prayer of dedication/ initiation: “let him feel part of your universal family” and likewise as a response from him came the above mentioned energy shiver.
Very beautiful, Domenico.
Is it acceptable to meditate with an audio recording of a ‘guided meditation’ or do you see greater benefits meditating on your own?
You may meditate however you wish. Some prefer silence, others prefer guidance or other sounds. It is important to experiment to find what works best for you and not feel confined by any one method.
Mam,I inddnt get a link to free OM track
The Om recording is introduced on Day 6 of the 33 Day Journey. You may also access the recording at any time from here: https://www.sacredacoustics.com/pages/free-download-sign-up