Day 138 (positive project) Trip to Envision

The idea of going to Envision fell at our feet, in the form of an email from a friends’ friend. We decided to book a shuttle from Mal País to Uvita, in order to complete the journey in one day, rather than taking two days on the public transport. This was definitely the right idea, a relaxed journey on an air conditioned bus to Montezuma, followed by a speed boat ride with about fifteen other people across to Jaco, then another bus direct to the festival in Uvita.

On face value, the festival to me, didn’t look too much like ‘my thing’. It was what I would call a ‘hippie festival’. It combined workshops throughout the day with music throughout the night. I had researched the music before going and didn’t really find anything I liked that much. There was maybe one or two workshops that looked cool, but I really wasn’t too fussed about them.

On the surface, I was not bothered about going, but something deeper down was intriguing me about it, there was a part of me that felt it necessary to attend. In recent weeks I have noticed that when I do something I am uncomfortable with, positive changes occur. So, I remained open and secretly excited.
On arrival, I was thrown in at the deep end, intense heat, many ‘hippies’ and a dusty cart ride into the festival (see picture). This was the unknown, my ‘hippie’ initiation. I set off into the festival with the intention of releasing judgment and opening my heart. After all, I was already part hippie, I haven’t washed my hair in a month, I haven’t eaten meat in a few months and the clothes I was wearing had been on my back for the last few days. I was ready. (humorous disclaimer: my use of the word hippie here, is simply in order to conjure up a stereo type and is not loaded with any malice or negative intention)

After meeting a bunch of nice people, pitching my tent in the field and finding a $20 bill on the grass, I felt that I had been welcomed into my surroundings. We walked around to find all structures were sustainably built from bamboo, including numerous organic food stores. It was obvious from the beginning that this was not simply a music festival, but a gathering of conscious intentions. What seemed at the beginning to be a long day ahead, was infant an excellent journey to a place I now knew I had to be.

Staying open to the unknown has allowed me to embrace this first day and as you will find out; much more.

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Five Minutes of Heaven

I have just finished watching the Movie, “Five Minutes of Heaven”, starring Liam Neeson and James Nesbitt.

I found a very powerful message in it.

If any one out there has something in their head that is bothering them, anything that is a constant nagging voice, something that you hang onto and keep running around in your head, then I recommend this movie.  It sent me a powerful message of release.  Releasing a voice, the voice that creates stories in your head, the voice that holds you back.

It conveys the importance of letting go and in my opinion, does so very well.

I feel that the actual Five Minutes of Heaven occur when that realization is made.

Without ruining the movie, it’s the final scene that conveys this message perfectly.

Netflix write up says: A powerful meditation on guilt, forgiveness and reconciliation, this potent drama stars Liam Neeson and James Nesbitt as two men on opposite sides of Northern Ireland’s political struggle: one a killer, the other the brother of the man he killed.

Day 47 (positive project) Releasing Judgment

A very interesting perspective has recently appeared for me.  It is very insightful and yet ironically difficult to approach.  It is difficult to approach because it challenges the beliefs that many people conform to, and the systems by which they are guided and use to guide others.  The whole irony aspect kicks in, because the actual subject I’m dealing with, is the ability to speak out, knowing that it goes against the norm and therefore creating a fear of judgement by others.

So here goes….

Society creates markers by which we judge things, good or bad, right or wrong, insane or genius, normal or crazy.  Many people are scared to speak out about what they believe incase their friend or relative judges them, or ridicules them.  How are we to know, or who are we to judge, what is right or wrong?  People all have their own markers they use to judge themselves, most of which have become such, by conditioning, or because of exposure to certain cultures and belief systems, along with individual experiences.  So is it possible then, that culture itself could be controlled? An imposed culture, a way to act that carries down through society?  A way to think and conduct oneself, that is unknowingly policed by your very friends and family?  I feel that it is and we must not allow this to happen.

I read an article in The Guardian the other day, it mentioned that David Cameron used the word, ‘leftwing’, to insult somebody, saying they were, “Irresponsible, leftwing and weak.”  This is just one example of the societal control I refer to.  The Prime Minister of England is trying to express that leftwing is wrong, attempting to put this person down for a set of beliefs that they hold. If people became fearful of speaking out about what they believe, concerned as to the reaction from those around them, then we fall into a controlled society or culture.

The more we challenge our belief systems, by stepping out of fear, then the better chance we have of learning and creating.  We need to connect to a truth within us and be comfortable expressing that understanding.  It becomes dangerous when we blindly accept ‘the norm’.

Some random thoughts occurred to me recently and I decided to write one thought down to explore:-

When you judge, details restrain a desire to express, at the risk of ones self being judged.  When left un-judged, expression expresses; for the un-judging, are free from judgement.

My interpretation of this is that we need to release our judgement of others and ourselves in order to allow freedom of expression and increased creativity.  How does this link to challenging belief systems? Well, the very concept or image you judge yourself against, has been self-imposed by your external conditioning and those belief systems and when you conform to these, you are constricting your own self.  Only once you come into alignment with who you truly are inside; can you release judgement and act from an inner knowing rather than a place of pre-concievd notions and beliefs.

Challenge the norm, challenge yourself and expand who you are.

(so for those that missed the positive change here – I am dropping judgement of myself and others, based on pre-conditioned, externally layered, cultural beliefs – I never said any of these positive changes would be easy!!)