Discover the Power of Breath & the Mysteries of Reality
Each day before you begin anything, it’s a good idea to take a moment and get back in touch with your breathing.
⚡The Double Breath Technique
Let's all take a few breaths together. This specific breath is a technique adopted by all mammals to regulate their stress levels. Both the vagus nerve and the phrenic nerve play essential roles in this process.
The vagus nerve sends signals from the brain to the heart, indicating that everything is okay, thus helping us to calm down. On the other hand, the phrenic nerve, located in the subcortical region of the brain, is directly responsible for the motor functions of our diaphragm and is faster in signaling.
Here's how to perform the double breath:
1. Take a long inhale.
2. At the top of the inhale, take another shorter inhale.
3. Hold your breath for a second.
4. Exhale through your mouth, making the exhale as long and low as possible.
By stimulating the phrenic nerve with this breathing technique, we can more rapidly signal our system that everything is okay, which can help us to quickly reduce stress and anxiety. Doing four of these breaths in a row is usually sufficient to find groundedness.
⚡Transitioning to Vagus Nerve Breathing
After completing the double breath, shift to a ratio known as "Oni Stitu," where your exhale is twice as long as your inhale. For instance, if you inhale for three seconds, exhale for six seconds. This breathing pattern helps to stimulate your vagus nerve and promotes relaxation and well-being within your system.
⚡The Mystery of Vision and Perception
Once you've completed the breathing exercises, continue paying attention to the space around you. This heightened awareness can transition your vision from a focused state to a more relaxed, peripheral vision — akin to when we are daydreaming. Our brain evolved this way, keeping us alert and focused on objects for survival.
The brain's responses haven't significantly evolved from our ancestors — past monkeys and reptiles — reflecting our history of survival. This recognition helps us understand that much of our reactions, like the freeze response, are deeply rooted in our ancestry.
⚡The Evolution of Human Perception
Our perception of the world is highly shaped by our brain's functioning and neurotransmitters, particularly serotonin. Serotonin doesn't just regulate our mood; it helps mediate our experience of reality, creating the stable world we perceive. But this experience is always mediated by neurotransmitters; we never have a direct experience of reality.
Magic mushrooms, or psilocybin, which belong to the same amino acid group as serotonin, can alter our perception. Historical hypotheses suggest that our ancestors' consumption of these mushrooms forced them to develop language and more complex brain functions, leading to the evolution of humanity as we know it.
⚡The Philosophical Exploration of Reality
Reality, as we experience it, is a neurological abstraction. The brain builds the world we see, but it is not the objective reality. Experiments with rhesus monkeys have shown that perception is dependent on the neuronal activity in the brain rather than the actual external stimuli.
This concept extends to our understanding of mystical or spiritual experiences. People's experiences with substances like 5-MeO-DMT can seem divine but are still mediated by neurotransmitters. Acceptance of the mystery and curiosity about the unknown becomes important over the belief in absolute truths.
⚡The Importance of Curiosity
Curiosity is crucial. It not only keeps the mind engaged and motivated but also promotes a rewarding feeling through the release of dopamine. Certainty can kill curiosity; thus, embracing curiosity can help us explore the world and our existence more profoundly.
⚡Conclusion
I have been collecting knowledge for 13 years, striving for my spirituality. This journey emphasized the importance of curiosity and the understanding that our perception of reality is highly subjective. Embrace curiosity and find ways to escape the trap of absolute truths. Stay curious, and keep exploring the infinity that exists within and around you.
Thank you for being receptive to these explorations. If you're inspired by what you've read, get in touch with me, and let's discover more about what is possible together. Remember, life is a journey of endless curiosity and exploration.
