How To Enter Expanded States Of Spirit Consciousness
Part Three: Welcoming Expanded Consciousness/Spirit Into Your Life
With last week and this week, we now have ten ways to enter expanded states of consciousness. As I said, I have practiced all these, finding some that fit me and others that did not. But I have tried them all! You can too.
6. Primal Rhythms, Beats, and Sounds
Shamans are often depicted beating their drums because the beat induces a trance state needed for inner journeying. Primal rhythms, beats, and sounds have been used by various cultures throughout history as a means to expand consciousness, induce altered states of mind, and facilitate spiritual or transformative experiences. These rhythmic patterns and sounds can be found in traditional music, ceremonies, and rituals across different parts of the world.
Here are a few examples:
Drumming: Drumming is perhaps one of the most ancient and universal forms of primal rhythm. The repetitive beats of drums can help synchronize brainwave patterns and induce trance-like states. This has been used in shamanic practices, African and Native American rituals, and even modern therapeutic settings like drum circles.
Shamanic Chants: Shamanic chants and vocalizations often involve repetitive patterns and rhythmic intonations. These chants can help create a meditative and trance-inducing atmosphere, allowing individuals to access altered states of consciousness and connect with the spiritual realm.
Sacred Mantras: Mantras are sacred sounds, words, or phrases repeated either silently or vocally. They are found in various spiritual traditions, such as Hinduism and Buddhism. Chanting mantras can help focus the mind, create a rhythmic flow, and induce states of deep meditation and expanded consciousness.
Sound Baths: Sound baths involve immersing oneself in a bath of sounds created by various instruments such as singing bowls, gongs, chimes, and other resonant objects. The harmonic vibrations produced during a sound bath can help induce deep relaxation, stimulate the release of tension, and promote a sense of expanded awareness.
Avoid music in a sound bath sung by those who speak your language because the rational mind becomes too involved when it comes to recorded sound. The point of inducing a trance is to move past the rational into the fluid state of the deeper Self.
7. Spiritual gazing
Spiritual gazing, also known as Visio Divina, contemplation, or sacred seeing, is a practice that involves focusing one's attention on a specific object, such as icons, other people, or even oneself, to expand consciousness and deepen one's spiritual connection. It is a common practice in various spiritual and religious traditions and is rooted in the ancient practice of icon gazing.
When engaging in spiritual gazing, the act itself becomes a form of meditation or contemplation. By directing your attention to the chosen object, you create a space for introspection and a deeper connection with the divine, the sacred, or your own inner self. This takes at least five or more minutes.
Gazing does not work with blank walls and works best with objects that are not moving. Here are a few forms of spiritual gazing:
Icons or Sacred Images
In many religious traditions, icons or sacred images serve as focal points for contemplation. By gazing at these representations, practitioners aim to connect with the spiritual qualities they symbolize. This practice can evoke feelings of reverence, devotion, and a sense of unity with the divine.
If you are looking at a scene with many objects, they may begin to blend with one another. A stationary object may begin to move. This can initially be frightening until we get used to it. The unknown is often scary until it becomes known. Remember to stay grounded and anchored where you feel safe.
If your eyes glaze over when gazing at an icon during spiritual practices, it could be a sign that you are entering a deep state of focus or meditation.
Gazing at Another Person
Spiritual gazing can also involve focusing on another person, such as a spiritual teacher, mentor, friend, or group member. By gazing at another individual, you aim to see beyond their physical appearance and connect with their inner essence or divine presence. This practice can foster empathy, compassion, and a recognition of the interconnectedness of all beings. You may also begin to see an aura around them. There can emerge a slight iridescence around them with flashes of light.
Spiritual Gazing at Oneself
By observing your own reflection and maintaining eye contact with yourself in a mirror, you can delve into self-reflection, self-acceptance, and self-love. This practice can facilitate a deeper understanding of your own divine nature and help you connect with your inner wisdom and authentic self.
The mysterious but powerful reality of gazing, especially at yourself in a mirror or directly at another person and having them return your gaze can lead to a direct experience of God's presence. However, we must first overcome our embarrassment and learned avoidance of this sustained looking. In much of modern life it's called “staring” and frowned upon. When our gazing comes from our heart center, it becomes more natural to gaze at one another, mutually engaging our deeper Self.
Gazing From Our Four Centers
Our Dalmo Mendonca created these psychospiritually active images. They each bring deep associations. Let yourself gaze at each of these images of your four centers as you reflect on the words and notice what your body senses and feels.
When I gaze at an image of Jesus (or other spiritual masters), I begin gazing from my HEART as I merge with his heart.
Then I drop down to my FEET, knowing that he walked on the same earth that I walk on now. I let that lead me to sense his grounding in nature and mine.
Next, I move up to gaze from my SPIRITUAL WOMB. I merge with Jesus's womb space. I let his divine self-realization, his courage, and healing energy seep into me.
Finally, I move up to my HEAD. I soak in Jesus' wisdom. I may become aware of thoughts, insights, and ideas that emerge. Or I sense his way of looking at life.
8. Visualization
An important quote from Carl Jung that I find meaningful is, “Deep transformation happens primarily in the presence of images. They alone can touch the unconscious - in one invasive and healing reconfiguration of the soul.”
These can be the transforming images we have around us or find in books or online. Or ones we create ourselves in our visualization.
Visualization can be a powerful tool in meditative prayer to facilitate an expanded state of consciousness. You can deepen your connection with your inner self and the divine by engaging your imagination and creating vivid mental images.
You can do this by first finding a quiet and comfortable space. Choose a serene environment where you can relax without distractions. It could be a dedicated meditation room or any peaceful corner of your home or in nature.
Set your intention: Before starting the visualization, set a clear intention for your practice. This could be to connect with God Beyond you, Beside you, or Being you and your Oneness with the universe.
Relax and center yourself: Close your eyes, take a few deep breaths, and allow your body and mind to relax. Release any tension or stress you may be holding.
Create a sacred space. Imagine yourself in a sacred and serene environment if you are not already in one. It could be a peaceful garden, a mountaintop, or any place that resonates with you. Visualize the details of this space, including colors, textures, and sounds. Feel a sense of safety and tranquility within this sacred space.
Connect with your breath: Focus your attention on your breath. Feel the gentle inhales and exhales, allowing them to anchor you in the present moment. Let go of any thoughts or distractions that arise, returning your focus to your breath whenever necessary.
Now, imagine a radiant light surrounding you, starting at the crown of your head and slowly spreading throughout your entire body. Visualize this light expanding beyond your physical body, enveloping the space around you and connecting you with the vastness of the universe. Feel yourself merging with this expansive light, experiencing a sense of boundlessness.
Open yourself to divine guidance: In this expanded state of consciousness, invite the presence of the divine, however, you perceive it. You may envision a specific spiritual guide or an energy of pure love and wisdom. Feel a deep connection and trust in this presence, knowing it guides and supports you.
9. Binaural beats
You might also like to experiment with binaural beats, which are sound frequencies that invite you into an altered state of consciousness. Years ago I began meditating with the binaural recordings from Holosync and it helped me with my first regular experiences of trance.
Underneath music or sustained chords, binaural beats simultaneously deliver two tones with slightly different frequencies, one in each ear. This signals the brain to interpret the two frequencies as one beat with a completely different frequency of its own, leading us into expanded consciousness. This only works with earpods or headphones since the sound going in one ear is slightly different from the sound in the other ear.
If you're interested in exploring binaural beats for consciousness expansion, I recommend that you use them as a complementary practice rather than a standalone solution. They can be used to accompany meditative prayer, mindfulness, or other practices.
10. Collective practice
Finally, engaging in meditative prayer as part of a collective can be a powerful catalyst to expanded consciousness spirit.
Being part of a collective can help individuals stay more focused and disciplined in their practice. Meditating with others who are dedicated to their spiritual growth can be highly inspiring and motivating. Witnessing the commitment and progress of fellow practitioners can encourage individuals to deepen their own practice and strive for greater spiritual development.
This also allows for the sharing of wisdom, insights, and experiences. People can exchange ideas, techniques, and interpretations, broadening individual perspectives and enhancing personal growth.
When a group of individuals comes together for meditative prayer, the combined energy can create a heightened spiritual experience.
Group meditation creates a field of energy that facilitates a deeper exploration of the inner self, transcending individual limitations and connecting to higher states of consciousness. The more potent collective energy field generated there allows individuals to tap into higher realms of awareness, insight, and spiritual experiences. It can lead us into a feeling of unity and deep belonging.
Finding even one other person who can enter some degree of expanded awareness and doing meditative prayer together can dramatically increase the depth of your trance state. Luke Healy, cofounder of ICN, and I have met for two hours every week for six years to share, strategize, and take thirty minutes at the end of our time to do meditative prayer and then share what we experienced. This has been the most transforming practice I have ever engaged in.
Last week, as I was writing this article, our mediative prayer time together (on Zoom) was exceptionally powerful for me. In the beginning, we merged into one another in the deep experience of Oneness. This, as usual, began in our heart space. As we connected, I was immersed in a powerful inner flow of love and bliss, filled with visual streaks of exhilarating lightening-like flashes. It was almost too much to take. At one point, I sensed I should move up to my head space, taking the love/bliss/light flashing heart energy with me.
Some time ago, I realized Luke engaged his head space in a deeper way than I was able to do. I asked him to transmit his transcendent head space energy to me. As he did, my head began to tingle, and I emerged into a much deeper state of transcendence than I usually do. This opened my head in what seems to be an always-open way now.
Building on this, now I was immersed in an unusually powerful sphere of swirling energy in my tingling head space. It was out of this palpable energy flow, that the feminine face of Sophia emerged, as I referred to last week. She seemed to be the source of this field.
The face disappeared as I let myself sink more deeply into this field, although I now regularly connect with her. This was all so excitingly full of ecstatic rapture I began to cry tears of joy and bliss. I could understand why the Greek word for trance is ἔκστασις (ékstasis), from which we get our word "ecstasy," I also experience something of this on Sunday mornings in the ICN gatherings.
I encourage you to explore any of these practices that you are drawn to and see if they deepen your meditative prayer experiences.
With last week and this week, we now have ten ways to enter expanded states of consciousness. As I said, I have practiced all of these, finding some that fit me and others that did not. But I tried them all! You can too.
Next week, we look at the powerful path of devotion in entering expanded spirit/consciousness.
Reflections . . .
1. Which of these five practices have you explored?
Primal Rhythms, Beats, and Sounds
Spiritual Gazing
Visualization
Binaural Beats
Collective Practice
2. Which ones did you find most helpful and least helpful?
3. What are your current meditative prayer practices?