I have been running a lot of letting go of wanting to figure it out/wanting to think/wanting to know what to do routines lately. It is amazing the insights that pop up when you let go of wanting to know anything.
Yesterday I got an inspiration to release in a slightly different way.
The Observation Method
1. Choose an issue to release on, a goal you desire or a problem you want resolved.
2. Observe your experience of that matter. Simply notice what you are observing in terms of feelings, images and internal dialogue. Pay attention to what you are observing without wanting to change it. Just keep watching it - the more attention you give it, the more you will notice.
3. Notice what happens
Observe the experience without judgement, effort or trying to fix it. It will then let go on its own.
I am not talking about allowing the feelings to be present. I am not talking about going deeper into the feelings to explore them. All I am saying is watch them and see what happens.
Yes, that is fabulous. There is a branch in the healing arts that have specialized on just this. This is something that one can become better and better at, and receive important answers about a lot of things that are implicit known.
Thank you Peter for this suggestion. I worked with it this morning - it works! This seems very similar to Hale's Fifth Way method - "Am I that thought or am I the awareness of that thought?", etc.
I am pleased you like it goodegg. Use it in any way you like.
With the observation method there is no analysis or playing around with the feelings or thoughts, no questioning, directions or attempted movement of any kind.
Thank you Peter for bringing this to our attention! I've unconsciously done it in the past and could never put my finger on it. It's amazing how the energy just dissolves. Thank you, again!
Thanks, Peter. I didnt want to complicate your great simple technique by the link I posted. I also have used the very simple form you describe, and yes, it works perfectly. It like a "hands off" technique.
lindakins wrote on Dec 5, '10, edited on Dec 5, '10
Oplars, I am checking out the webpage you mentioned. And Peter, I like this post. I just read it, so I need to let it absorb, but I think your ideas will be very helpful.
In my experience, noticing is the most subtle - and often most effective - flavor of welcoming. Especially if there is a significant amount of resistance.
I've found that the 5th way is a bit different than noticing (or welcoming). The 5th Way seems to be a way of inviting the mind to see through itself, and thus 'get out of the way' (although the mind itself is never a problem). As Hale says, it's not really a way at all.
Noticing is perhaps a little broader in that it brings in body (sensation/feeling) awareness as well. Of course, there is no wrong way to release - at least if the results one is getting include more relaxation, lightness, greater awareness of beingness, or insight - or anything else you took up releasing for.
walkntune wrote on Dec 11, '10, edited on Dec 11, '10
I have found this technique of just observing to work extremely well.The key for me though instead of picking an issue that i want to work on is to just focus on love and once you release into a state of love it seems the body knows exactly what issues need to be released in the right time.This takes all control away for me and just allows everything to be as it is. Also I believe that as we release it is what we are focussed on that we will become so if being free and in a peaceful state of love is what your goals are, then that which is in the way will reveal its ugly head as you are releasing and we work on becoming full of peace and love instead of a continual part of the process itself.I believe keeping your eyes on the goal is key to becoming free. Perfect love casts out all fear.It is also the strongest vibrational frequency in man and all other frequencies of energy will bow down. For me it is hard to focus on a problem and then release because I am consciously on the same level as the problem. As Einstein once quoted,You cannot fix a problem on the same level of consciousness that it was created.So if you just keep your focus on the higher vibrational frequency of love, all other frquencies will pop up as a resistance and you will be on a steady course towards this perfect freedom. I also wanted to share that I took a huge fall as i never learned to release from any methods and just happened to stumble across this technique on my own and I did not understand the ego or feelings in the process. I just relised by letting go of things i noticed changes and i would get high. I went from a place of being a painter into getting ready to be signed in music.As the song from Kansas says Once I rose above the noise and confusion, and i got a glimpse beyond this illusion, I was soaring ever higher, but i flew to high. I didn't really know how to release or how i was doing it.it just seemed to come when i wasn't looking for it.Now Since i have learned that being out of the mind and ego is key and walking in love I am on my way back. It has taken me two years to overcome my fear of death(which is not possible without holding on to love)and I am at a place where I am just being like when I was a child.I am not sure what Lester means about letting go of the body but I feel very self realised and I feel like I can look down on myself or others and just give love. Its as if i can see myself from outside of myself and point out the wrongs and fix them. Anyway I thought i would share since not to many really know me. The answer for me though was to not get stuck in a place of consciousness in the process but to just keep letting go to love and all other issues are self correcting as you become love.
Something that I add to the "observation method" is that, if there is not enough "presence", so that its hard for me to just observe (not being identified with the content), then I effortless concentrate on my breathing (in the nose, or just outside the nose - that works for me anyhow). All distractions (thoughts, impulses etc) I let go of, until I can have my attention firmly on the breathing for at least 5 breaths. Then I am usually in the "witness state", so NOW I can begin to just "observe". (Its is similar to "get high to release"). And done this way, its very close or you might say the same as "mindfulness meditation" Dont know why meditation is not mentioned at the forum more than it is, as releasing goes so well together with meditation - when having reached a meditative state, releasing is SO easy. That is is not in the sedona "workbook" is probably only to keep a distance to similar teachings, but that ought not be a limitation, as I would say that the ability to meditate/being mindful is a prerequisite for releasing. I am sure that everyone that manage to do releasing, would also be able to gain the great benefits from meditation (a calm, concentrated mind, resting in being).
I agree 100%. The meditative state of mind is essential if you are to pay attention and go deep with your releasing. I`ve mentioned in the past the benefits of releasing from an Alpha state - its is much easier to stay focused.
Also wanted to share that when I learned this method through the release technique I thought feelings were energy that was suppressed down inside and that had to be forced or let up. Now I have come to understand that we are actually in a flow of universal energy and all we are letting go of is resistance to this flow.Now I understand what it means to think with the heart and with love. it is the right side of the brain that controls the left side of the body where the heart is and this is a channel for the life force of conscious energy.Once you become in harmony with the flow of this river than you will find that you direct its direction instead of being in a battle of resistance to it and allowing it to direct you.This river is perfect love. I believe if you just choose to make your thoughts still your awareness will start to open automatically and you will become conscious of this river of energy and your resistance in it.You don't have to do anything but just stop trying to do anything. I think if you just focus your mind on a point or an object and don't let your thoughts wander you will become aware of the river flowing through you.This way is working for me to get out of my mind really fast and become aware of my feeling center.I try to put my head down like Larry says but I think this is better for me. I hope it works for some of you.
I kind of like the idea of this. I had also done this when I was reading about non duality where I was just being my beingness and watching the thoughts and feelings arise and vanish in awareness. the problem is that I am unable to do this kind of thing, when I am focusing on releasing an issue.
In the beginning, releasing is like a tool - and we go through the motions of learning to ask the questions. This is the beginning phase. What eventually arises, is a sense in the body of what releasing is - and what it isn't. In the end, it is not a process one does. It is the same as beingness. It is love/peace/presence/awareness. And the various questions and releasing processes are simply tools to allow this love-peace-presence to begin to infuse the problem with a new energy, a more gentle energy. In fact, you might say that you ARE this love - and the releasing tools are a little like tricks - to get your mind out of the way - so the power and love that is your true essence - can dissolve the problem. And the ultimate joke is that there never was a problem. There was a resistance to some part of your life. And your awareness dissolves this confusion... as a light to a dark room...
