Losing your mind

"The human mind is kind of like... a pinata.
When it breaks open, there's a lot of surprises inside.
Once you get the pinata perspective, you see that
losing your mind can be a peak experience."

~ Jane Wagner, playwright, The Search for Signs
of Intelligent Life in the Universe

As a college freshman, I enrolled in a Tai Chi class. The instructor would have us assume a pose, then command at a crucial moment, "Lose your hands!" At the time I found his directive odd, as well as amusing: I pictured myself looking for hands that I had intentionally mislaid.

Years later, when I dove deeply into my "dark night of the soul," his words came home to me with new clarity. I was learning how to live for a time empty of everything I'd thought defined my life — including my quick-thinking mind. Challenged by pain and prolonged insomnia, I inhabited an altered state of consciousness.

"Losing my mind" catapulted me into my body and into present time in a way I'd never experienced. I couldn't think, reason, or talk my way out of what was happening, because my mind was on an extended vacation. With Spirit in charge, I began to live by — and trust — my intuition.

Though it may sound strange, losing your mind in this way can actually help you find yourself. When the brain takes a break, it's easier to hear your heart, and to follow its guaranteed guidance.

I recently heard a man talking on his cell phone say, "Just another day in paradox." He may have been referring to his life, or life on timeship Earth. But he was correct in his casual assertion. Embracing paradox is one of the keys to personal and planetary evolution.

We're in the midst of a global sea change in consciousness. The question is, do you know how to swim? See below for swimming lessons. And the next time someone asks, "Have you lost your mind?" you might respond, "Yes, thank you. My preconceptions went flying in all directions as I dove into the crystal-clear waters of awakening. It was wonderfully refreshing. And you?"

To swim gracefully into your sea change, try these strokes:

• The Crawl. Inch your way into change. Crawl before you walk, and even then, take baby steps. Remember, there's plenty of "time out of mind." 

• Butterfly. Allow your entire being to transform — no holding back.

• Sidestroke. If a particular pathway proves difficult, use a side route. Explore how the "peripheral" people and places in your life affect your unfolding.

• Dog paddle. Lap up Universal and individual love to support your learning.

• Backstroke. Revisit where you've been, from your new level of awareness. What additional insight can you gain from a former relationship/old wound?

• Synchronized swimming. As you flow ever more fully with the lifestream, synchronicity will become the norm for you. Enjoy the attunement!