by Alan McAllister, CCHt PhD-phys
Many years ago living, in Japan I had a chance to study with a Shiatsu master. Based on Chinese Medicine and meridians similar to the acupuncture meridians, diagnosis and treatment are done using relaxed touch to read the signals provided by the energy flows or stagnations in the client’s body. It took me about six months to begin to feel these energies. At the time I thought it was because I was learning to perceive something entirely new, something I had no real references for. I had to trust that there was something there and open to it coming into my awareness.
I now know that I was also learning to relax, not just my hands and fingers, but also my busy mind. I had to reduce the noise in my own space down to a level where I could notice the signals from the client. My thoughts, expectations, perturbed energy and emotions would all get in the way of this new thing I was reaching for.
A common analogy in yogic tradition is the stilling of a lake’s surface so that you can see into its depths. Different practices still the body, the emotions, and the mind, creating quiet space to become aware of the presence of the Divine. Stilling our human aspects, we learn to hear the voices of our spiritual Self. Being in nature, dancing, or listening to music that calms the mind are a few of the many techniques that help to reduce the noise so you can be aware of the signal.
When you listen to a conversation in a crowded room full of other conversations, you must pull the signal out of noise and it helps if you know the voice. If the conversation is in a second language it is harder to hear it clearly. An unusual accent, or a topic with unfamiliar vocabulary can also be a challenge. The better you know the other person’s style of communication, the easier it is. Sometimes it is not actually the hearing, but rather the concepts or ideas that are unfamiliar and therefore challenging. In this case raising your voice will not solve things.
Once you have a specific voice identified your mind can focus in on it, tuning out the other voices, filtering the noise away. Part of meditation is learning to focus your attention on what you are listening for. Learning to listen to a Spiritual voice, as opposed to a human voice, or even one of your own internal mental or emotional voices includes an extra layer of challenge. As when I was learning to listen to the flow of energy in another person, you are, at first, learning to hear a new type of signal. Each layer being perhaps more refined and subtle than the last, and often something completely different from past experience. All your ability to focus will not serve until you have learned what you are focusing on, until you have identified the new signal it will be lost in the noise.
Recently during a meditation with a friend, it seemed there was another element involved. When we are both tuning into Spirit, or our Self in a similar way, we link up to some extent. As we do this the signal we are focusing on is similar, while her internal noise and mine are more personal and therefore different. So the noise tends to cancel out, or at least not add up, there is more variety, but not more volume. The signal, our connection to higher Spiritual levels, or deeper aspects of Self, however, will overlap more and reinforce. This has an effect similar to boosting the signal relative to the noise.
Many practices, meditation, dance, or martial arts, are easier to do in a focused group than on your own. In part this may be a reduced level or ease of distraction, but it is also a matter of shared focus. Coming together with others to practice meditation or energy techniques can make them both easier and deeper. It may be as simple as a conversation on a spiritual topic, or a well orchestrated ritual, collective intent helps to boost the signal relative to the noise, helps you to tune in and hear better.
May the sweet signal of Spirit always be clearly discernible over the noise.
(© 4/2013)
