What
Awareness is interesting… “Awareness is All” – say some. Others may think of awareness as knowledge, but I see awareness in a more abstract way. I see it as light. With light you have shadows. And may that be the dance between it All… Quite loose and over simplistic, but with this view we can paint a picture and go more deeply.
Here in 2019, I think an overlooked currency is: your attention. Everyone wants you to look here, buy this, try this, listen to this, hear me, let me tell you, come here, go there…. On and on with notifications, with different pulls and tugs we feel the world asking for our attention; which is the start to our awareness. Awareness has layers, starting at the present moment and our surrounding. Some more numb to the world around us (not feeling more so projecting), while other so sensitive they think they must be shut in for the world is dangerous and “out to get them”, sort of speak (victim mentality). So, this first layer is direct connection to our surrounding and what is happening in the exterior or outer world.
The second layer of awareness is the inner world. Some may not even be aware of this inner world. This is our thought, emotions and feeling. The trick here is to first become aware of our inner world, and then to simply be aware as if you are the witness and not the victim. To accept and allow without blame or judgment is not a simple task. It is an ongoing practice and effort that carries throughout one’s life. So the third layer is the active presence of being the witness and allowing things to move through you in a relaxed state, and it helps to enjoy or even love this process.
The forth layer is about expanding your awareness. You go from an individual to seeing a bigger picture, this can be related to handling the whole. Here we start to see more than just one side of the story. One can find empathy and understand other perspectives: people, cultures, ideas, religions, and more. As one expands he starts to connect these new perspective as if in an interconnected web: where all things share commonalities and similarities, while even their differences make them alike… sort of speak. This awareness may come in flashes at first; being so clear and simple yet the moment you start to try and conceive or “grasp” at it you loose it. Awareness is like a heart beat, and as it beats this pulse sends out your focus and state of being. Your focus and thoughts can be directed and create how you feel, which over time the way you feel creates a state of being that is affiliated with your person.
By now you can see how these are all related and with one comes the other. So, layer five is the practice of allowing all of the layers to coexist within one. Relax, and enjoy the simple things… smile. Create beautiful moments, laugh share, act funny and weird. You can focus on the good while still being aware of the “bad”. The way you frame it, is up to you.
Why
It’s up to you: if and how you want to grow your awareness…
I use to watch movies and see things so literally. Like getting upset when something looked too fake or just didn’t make logical sense. It wasn’t until I started to use cannabis when going to the movies. It gave me this expanded view and altered my state in a way where I saw things in a new way. By then seeing things through this “cannabis lens” I had new thoughts and ideas upon what I was watching. It helped fuse my imagination within the art or say movie. This then helped me obtain a deeper understanding of different perspectives and ideas within the world. Which then sparked my own ideas, and so on….
How
First, start by finding a movie or viewing some art. Pick something that you will enjoy or that you’re excited about. Going to the movie theaters is great because it a whole production there with the pop corn, other people, huge screen, seats, and more. Just make sure you’re coming into the experience with some purpose or intention. Remind yourself why you are doing this and that you actively choose and want to be here.
Second, relax, relax, oh and uh relax. Breathe, allow your day or whatever is still on your mind to dissipate as you embark upon your art adventure. Turn off your phone and engage with the art.
Third: Be an active observer. Pay attention to all the details. Why things are there and how they are being used. Watch for body language and subtle cues or clues. Think about the designer or director and why he or she decided to add such elements.
Forth: Have an OPEN MIND. Watch as you judge or label certain people or things. Be warm and welcoming and try not to pick a side, or even identify with a single character or idea. See yourself in all of the characters. Handle the whole.
Fifth: As you allow your mind wonder and get lost into the film. Think of this as its own universe with own rules and ideas. Start to see the stories within the stories. For example Kid movies are great at creating layers upon the story. They create a surface level one for children, a “louder” sometimes symbolic or suggested story to adults and then a story that branches them together.
Sixth: Art is subjective don’t worry there is no right answers, but just more popular take aways and perspectives. But that doesn’t mean you have to agree with them. In this last step start to contemplate the message coming from the film or art and what it has to say about the world.
Cheers for now, and remember this is JUSTATHOT, please take it with a grain of sand. Create your own ideas and perspectives. Live yo own life.
Peace and love yo
