Another way of entering the calm space:
Observing the space between objects.
The space between
I recently worked with a couple folks who struggled to enter the calm space by following their thoughts and observing their thoughts to slow and then stop. Here’s another method.
I am indebted to Dr. Frank Kinslow for his methods of reaching the calm state, which he calls the state of Pure Awareness. In sessions I typically use the method of simply observing your thoughts until they slow down and the blank space opens up. This observation of linear thoughts works well for most people.
Observing the space between two objects can help people who otherwise stumble when just trying to observe their thoughts. It’s also a great secondary technique for helping people to enter the observation state no matter what situation they are in. There is always a space between objects, between words, between steps, between breaths.
Observing the space
- Locate two objects in your view. The objects can be anything; two telephone poles if you’re outside, two pencils on your desk, two paintings on a wall, two letters in a word on a page.
- Focus intently on one of the two objects. Observe the object with all your intent, as if you were to be tested on this observation and you MUST get it right. Notice that the cells of your body might get a little activated as you intensely make this observations.
- Next shift to the second object and make a similar intense observation of the object. It only needs to take a few seconds, but make sure and get into the state of the observation
- Now shift your attention to simply observing the space between the two ojects. This is space between the two objects, so observe that it is empty. Observe that in its emptiness there is nothing for the body cells to engage in. You will likely feel a subtle difference in your body as you shift from observing the two points to observing the empty space
- As you observe empty space, there is nothing for your cells to respond to in the external world. Your cells go to rest state and begin focus on inteernal rest, restoration, rejuvenation, and healing.
- Cells turn to this restorative state as soon as our minds stop requesting their participation in the events of the day. Notice that in the state of observing the space, you are still aware of your environment, but the cells of your body are at rest, they do not need to be on guard. Mostly, if you’re not in the state of observation, our cells are on alert, responding to every thought. Our cells are usually on alert even when the thoughts are about the past or the future.
- There’s literally nothing we can do about a thought from the past or a worry about the future, so if we can learn to observe rather than react, then we can observe past and future while our cells remain at rest.
- Observation doesn’t remove us from participating in life. Observation allows us to participate fully in life, while allowing the cells of our body to remain at rest. Our cells rejuvenate and we have more energy available for when an actual activity requires the use of our body, such as a game of tennis, a swim in a lake, or cooking dinner.
Once you first become aware of the space between objects, you’ll notice that there’s a space between everything, even the words of an argument. Play with the space between for awhile and it can become your default state. You can learn to live, completely participating in your life, and having your cells at rest. This is another way to enter the calm state. For the full how-to on The ICE Method, read the how-to page.