Thanks for sharing your experience and insights/thoughts about the role of the bio electric sensitivities of the nervous system. There certainly does seem to be a “felt” energy in nature that surpasses what we process through our five senses. Even meditating eyes closed outdoors always feels more connecting to me than doing it indoors.
Without getting too esoteric (although let’s face it - this is all esoteric to many) have your run across any research, literature, or theories tying back the bio-electric functions of the nervous systems to current wave collapse theories in quantum physics (https://robertlanza.com/category/books/#271). Something that better explains how our bodies bridge the connection between consciousness and our sense of self - whether contracted or expansive)?
I'm 100% in agreement on Nature and Water being incredible catalysts. Not all that worked about the causal pathway, whether physiological, spiritual, psychological, mythological or otherwise. All I know is for me:
- Everything's better in the woods: calmer, easier, cleaner, simpler, more connected, more alive.
- My most profound experiences on the cushion have almost all been within meters of the ocean or a pond or a running stream.
- Neurology is a trip, and as a long time neuro-patient -- we know almost nothing really.
This is such a beautiful first hand account of how nervous system literacy (and it’s powerful impact!) evolves and transforms. I do “this” in my professional world as a resiliency specialist, but I have always held back on the part about how it relates to evolving consciousness. I personally believe there is a reciprocal exchange between evolving ns regulation/awareness/resilience and expanding consciousness, and one is needed to support and encourage the other. I believe with this growing ns literacy there will be an expansion of consciousness, and I am here for it! Thank you for this beautiful share.
I am using Bradley Nelson's "Emotion Code" (uncertified, mind you) to help my nervous system regulate. It's helpful to me because I don't have access to a lot of traumatic memories, only their current effects. That's all that's required for this modality.
I enjoy your essays and topics. Thank you for writing.
Costa Rica is awesome, glad to see you soaking up the vibes. :) Did my ayuahsca retreat down there a few years ago and it was a pivotal time in my life.
Understanding my nervous system has been a very important part of my journey. For me it came out of being re-traumatized during a Goenka retreat, as trauma lives in the body and we were doing body scans 10 hours a day (whoops!). Didn't get a warning label on that one, but grateful for the experience. This led me to a greater appreciation of regulating the nervous system (+ some formal SE therapy), and how it plays a part in deeper states of meditation.
What’s missing in a lot of meditative practices is a grasp of how the nervous system works, and the risks involved in getting too deep too fast. David Trealeven wrote a great book on trauma-sensitive mindfulness. He talks about our Window of Tolerance, how to notice when we’re past our limit, and how to slow things down. Of course, as always, many traditions have known about this but not from a scientific point of view, I.e., hatha yoga’s combo of breath/body/mediation through asanas, pranayama and samadhi that probably balances things out!
There’s a YouTube named Forrest Knutson who talks about how in deep meditative states our PS nervous system is activated, specifically states of Dorsal Vagal Rest. This results in tingling in hands and the feeling of the body disappearing, etc which is exactly what happens when you go deeper into jhanas. The freeze response is consciously activated here; this is different than being in a frozen state in PTSD because unlike a trauma response, you have some level of control, and are getting into this state consciously (in the same way you intentionally hyperventilate w/ Wim Hoff but you’re not having a panic attack, even though the breathing is similar). It’s interesting to think about the similarity/differences in these states and it’s been important to recognize in myself and guiding others as it allows for calibration of practice!
Thanks for sharing these thoughts and experiences Scott. I resonated with the mix of bliss and calmness you felt in the midst of nature. I also feel similar when in nature — especially in and around water.
Even my business is called River Rise because I grew up by a river and I'm always looking for growth. It's been a guiding principle to flow and be soft yet stay powerful and on course.
I'm not surprised there's research and a growing understanding about how nature interacts with our nervous system. Always curious to see how this connection continues to unfold with our growing consciousness.
What an environment! So much beauty, thanks for creating this blueprint ❤️
My brother and his partner just moved to Nosara Costa Rica for this reason.
Thanks for sharing your experience and insights/thoughts about the role of the bio electric sensitivities of the nervous system. There certainly does seem to be a “felt” energy in nature that surpasses what we process through our five senses. Even meditating eyes closed outdoors always feels more connecting to me than doing it indoors.
Without getting too esoteric (although let’s face it - this is all esoteric to many) have your run across any research, literature, or theories tying back the bio-electric functions of the nervous systems to current wave collapse theories in quantum physics (https://robertlanza.com/category/books/#271). Something that better explains how our bodies bridge the connection between consciousness and our sense of self - whether contracted or expansive)?
I'm 100% in agreement on Nature and Water being incredible catalysts. Not all that worked about the causal pathway, whether physiological, spiritual, psychological, mythological or otherwise. All I know is for me:
- Everything's better in the woods: calmer, easier, cleaner, simpler, more connected, more alive.
- My most profound experiences on the cushion have almost all been within meters of the ocean or a pond or a running stream.
- Neurology is a trip, and as a long time neuro-patient -- we know almost nothing really.
Thanks as always...
This is such a beautiful first hand account of how nervous system literacy (and it’s powerful impact!) evolves and transforms. I do “this” in my professional world as a resiliency specialist, but I have always held back on the part about how it relates to evolving consciousness. I personally believe there is a reciprocal exchange between evolving ns regulation/awareness/resilience and expanding consciousness, and one is needed to support and encourage the other. I believe with this growing ns literacy there will be an expansion of consciousness, and I am here for it! Thank you for this beautiful share.
I am using Bradley Nelson's "Emotion Code" (uncertified, mind you) to help my nervous system regulate. It's helpful to me because I don't have access to a lot of traumatic memories, only their current effects. That's all that's required for this modality.
I enjoy your essays and topics. Thank you for writing.
Costa Rica is awesome, glad to see you soaking up the vibes. :) Did my ayuahsca retreat down there a few years ago and it was a pivotal time in my life.
Understanding my nervous system has been a very important part of my journey. For me it came out of being re-traumatized during a Goenka retreat, as trauma lives in the body and we were doing body scans 10 hours a day (whoops!). Didn't get a warning label on that one, but grateful for the experience. This led me to a greater appreciation of regulating the nervous system (+ some formal SE therapy), and how it plays a part in deeper states of meditation.
What’s missing in a lot of meditative practices is a grasp of how the nervous system works, and the risks involved in getting too deep too fast. David Trealeven wrote a great book on trauma-sensitive mindfulness. He talks about our Window of Tolerance, how to notice when we’re past our limit, and how to slow things down. Of course, as always, many traditions have known about this but not from a scientific point of view, I.e., hatha yoga’s combo of breath/body/mediation through asanas, pranayama and samadhi that probably balances things out!
There’s a YouTube named Forrest Knutson who talks about how in deep meditative states our PS nervous system is activated, specifically states of Dorsal Vagal Rest. This results in tingling in hands and the feeling of the body disappearing, etc which is exactly what happens when you go deeper into jhanas. The freeze response is consciously activated here; this is different than being in a frozen state in PTSD because unlike a trauma response, you have some level of control, and are getting into this state consciously (in the same way you intentionally hyperventilate w/ Wim Hoff but you’re not having a panic attack, even though the breathing is similar). It’s interesting to think about the similarity/differences in these states and it’s been important to recognize in myself and guiding others as it allows for calibration of practice!
Thanks for sharing these thoughts and experiences Scott. I resonated with the mix of bliss and calmness you felt in the midst of nature. I also feel similar when in nature — especially in and around water.
Even my business is called River Rise because I grew up by a river and I'm always looking for growth. It's been a guiding principle to flow and be soft yet stay powerful and on course.
I'm not surprised there's research and a growing understanding about how nature interacts with our nervous system. Always curious to see how this connection continues to unfold with our growing consciousness.