From: radzy@ICSI.Berkeley.EDU (T. O. Radzykewycz)
Subject: Guided Meditation (Re: Samhain & Spiral Dance)
Organization: International Computer Science Institute, Berkeley, CA, U.S.A.
Date: Mon, 9 Nov 1992 03:58:33 GMT

wells@hpfcso.FC.HP.COM (John Wells) writes:
> As far as guided meditations not being smooth.... this may be a
> bit of needing to be flexable and not be 'too guided'... After
> some attempts at trying to follow such guidings I now tend to
> let my meditations be rich and full of complexitys and have
> built in escape loops if the person calling the meditation
> throws in a clunker.

Well, I don't think I was "too guided", if I understand what
you're trying to say.  (But then again, it seems pretty likely
that I *don't* understand what you mean by that.)

If the guide says that there's a boat in front of you, I'm
perfectly willing to create a boat.  I don't know about you, but
I *can't* create a "generic" boat -- I have to create an
*instance* of a boat.  OK, I'm faced with the choice of what
kind of boat to have, so I'll choose one.  Let's say I choose a
high-prowed type of rowboat -- high and pointed stem and stern,
a couple of thwarts, a bench, a pair of oars, lapstrake planks,
and *no sail*.  What do you do when the guide says to raise the
sail?  Get out of the boat and create a different one?  Find
that the boat has transformed into a sailboat, and what used to
be a bench is now a deck?

If the guide says that you're to become a bird, I'm perfectly
willing to be a bird.  Let's say I choose to be a raven.
Now, if the guide asks me to look at the white feathers on my
wing, then, dammit, I *can't* because I don't *have* any, since
ravens don't have white feathers!  What am I to do?  Decide
to be a seagull instead?

No, I think that the guide should have the responsibility to
insure that anything that will be necessary later on is
mentioned early.  Or if it isn't mentioned early, don't require
it later.

I don't have a problem when the guide says "be a seagull with
white feathers" or "be a bird."  Either is fine.  But if the
second one is used, then there should *not* be any later
references to *white* feathers.

> Perhaps it's just a matter of getting into it and then not
> taking what is being said too literaly, I suppose.  (But then
> again this is what works for me.)

No, I'm perfectly happy to wreak a little bit of havoc with
what's being suggested.  If I'm on a sand-dune, and a cave is
called for, I can find one -- but it will have bricked-up walls to
keep the sand from collapsing.  If you want me to dig, you'd
better make sure that I move away from the dune before finding
the "cave."  If I'm on a riverbank that's level on this side,
I'll find a log and cross to the other side where there's a
cave in the cliff.

I have a very detailed mind and a very detailed, vivid
imagination.  I *can't* create a boat with an escape clause to
allow the guide to do anything sie wants: sails, oars, paddle,
motor with both electric starter and starter cord, pedal-powered
propeller, etc.  What I want is for the guide to tell me
*upfront* what's going to be required in the boat.

(-:  Maybe what I need is a reverse reality check.  :-)

Boat Blessings!

		-- radzy

------------------------------------------------------------
					|  An it harm none,
	T. O. Radzykewycz	     	|  do as ye will.
	The Incredible Radical Cabbage	|
					|  "Just pray for a
	radzy@cogsci.berkeley.edu       |  tough hide and a
	        			|  tender heart."
	        			|    -- Ruth Graham
------------------------------------------------------------
Tribal Mother was old, and lay ill on a bed of moss and
fern.   Her hair was long and grey.   Her face was very
wrinkled.    Tamura'nun-pa thought:   How beautiful you
are, Mother, so old and wise.