The Gate

Ok. Check specifically your gut feelings.

Loving,

Do you still want to be guided here? Have you ghosted the thread?

Hi Stacy,

I'm sorry, I haven't ghosted. I had a spring break trip that I needed to focus on. But I'm also feeling a little in the gut that this isn't fully true. It's true - yes, we had a spring break trip and I needed to focus on the trip and all the logistics of it - but it's not the complete reason why I've not responded. It felt more nuanced than that. But to be honest, I really don't know all the reasons.

Back to questions 1 & 4.

1. Is one truer than the other, and If so, which one?

In the last couple of weeks, I've felt into this more. The experience where "I" wasn't attached as a label felt truer.

4. Did you notice any differences in the body?

It's been very subtle most times, but I do feel lighter when not labelling anything.

Oh, good. So, let's move on. Pay attention to how it FEELS to LOOK.

Label-Reality Correlation

There is a belief that labels have a one-to-one correspondence with ‘reality’. But there isn’t. Just like it is a generally accepted belief that labels like ‘good’ and ‘bad’ are inherent characteristics of ‘things’. But actually, they are not.

When you look at the word label ‘GREEN' , what is the actual experience?

Is the color red ‘experienced’, or is the color green ‘experienced’ as the label suggests?

Does the label ‘GREEN’ have a one-to-one correspondence with ‘reality’? Or does the label suggest something else other than what is here now (red colour)?

Is 'green' associated in any way with the experience of the colour red; or is green just a label that overlays the actual experience of red?

If the label ‘GREEN’ is replaced with the label ‘GOOD’ or ‘BAD’ , is the redness affected in any way as the labels suggests?

Does redness become ‘good’ or ‘bad’, or do the labels have no affect whatsoever on ‘reality’?

Let me know what is SEEN.

Loving,

When you look at the word label ‘GREEN' , what is the actual experience?

I see a grouping of letters than spells out the word 'GREEN'. The seeing sees the color that is red. It word looks funny in red.

Is the color red ‘experienced’, or is the color green ‘experienced’ as the label suggests?

The color red is 'experienced'.

Does the label ‘GREEN’ have a one-to-one correspondence with ‘reality’? Or does the label suggest something else other than what is here now (red colour)?

The label does suggest something else other than what is here now.

Is 'green' associated in any way with the experience of the colour red; or is green just a label that overlays the actual experience of red?

It is the overlay.

If the label ‘GREEN’ is replaced with the label ‘GOOD’ or ‘BAD’ , is the redness affected in any way as the labels suggests?

Not at all affected. The labels seem silly to me.

Does redness become ‘good’ or ‘bad’, or do the labels have no affect whatsoever on ‘reality’?

It has no effect whatsoever on 'reality'.

Yes, Very good.

Now those one.

Palm Flipping Exercise

1. Hold a hand in front of you; palm turned down.

2. Now turn the palm up. And down...and up and so on.

Watch like a hawk.

Don't go to thoughts – examine your direct experience.

Do this as many times as you like, and each time inquire:

How is the movement controlled?

Does a thought control it?

Can a ‘controller’ of any description be located?

How is the decision made to turn the hand over?

Track any decision point when a thought MADE THE DECISION to turn the hand over and the hand turns over immediately.

Who or what ​ chose which hand - the left or right hand for the exercise?

Can you find a separate individual or anything that is choosing when to turn the palm up or down?

Loving

How is the movement controlled?

My (the?) mind reads the instructions and then initiates the movement. Or sometimes a thought comes “I should try this exercise one more time.” After that, I don't know how the movement is controlled. The hand is turning up when it's down, and down when it's up and so on. But I don't think about moving the hand. I see that it's up, so then it turns down. I SEE that it's down, and then it does the opposite. Sometimes I look away or at something and I am aware (maybe feel?) that it's in one position, and then it flips, over and over. It just does it on its own.

Does a thought control it?

No, except for when I make the effort to have a thought control it. There's a lag with the thought. Thinking about doing the movements with "turn up, now down, Up" is tiring and cumbersome, lagging, and leads to more thoughts.

Can a ‘controller’ of any description be located?

No.

How is the decision made to turn the hand over?

I don’t know, but it seems that no decision is made. It just happens. It turns when it’s ready to be in the opposite position.

Track any decision point when a thought MADE THE DECISION to turn the hand over and the hand turns over immediately.

Only when I think… “make the decision” and then start making the “decisions” does a thought turn the hand over. BUT… it doesn’t really feel like it’s the thought making the decisions. It feels like there’s a big lag. Or a thought occurs a little after the fact. Or I think “turn hand over”... and the hand stays as it is and then moves after some time on its own.

Who or what ​ chose which hand - the left or right hand for the exercise?

Whichever hand was free (i.e. not holding something) in the moment was the hand that was “chosen.”

Can you find a separate individual or anything that is choosing when to turn the palm up or down?

No.


I did this exercise several times. And after most times I was left feeling a bit frustrated despite my answers and realizations.

Hi,

Don't let it frustrate you. Yes, we have no control in spite of any thoughts that say we do.

Only when I think… “make the decision” and then start making the “decisions” does a thought turn the hand over. BUT… it doesn’t really feel like it’s the thought making the decisions. It feels like there’s a big lag. Or a thought occurs a little after the fact. Or I think “turn hand over”... and the hand stays as it is and then moves after some time on its own.

Yes. thought occurs *after* the c hand turns.

So, exactly how does a thought make the hand turn? Especially, if i hasn't happened until afterwards?

Loving,

Hi,

Don't let it frustrate you. Yes, we have no control in spite of any thoughts that say we do.

Only when I think… “make the decision” and then start making the “decisions” does a thought turn the hand over. BUT… it doesn’t really feel like it’s the thought making the decisions. It feels like there’s a big lag. Or a thought occurs a little after the fact. Or I think “turn hand over”... and the hand stays as it is and then moves after some time on its own.

Yes. thought occurs *after* the c hand turns.

So, exactly how does a thought make the hand turn? Especially, if i hasn't happened until afterwards?

Loving

Hi,

Don't let it frustrate you. Yes, we have no control in spite of any thoughts that say we do.

Only when I think… “make the decision” and then start making the “decisions” does a thought turn the hand over. BUT… it doesn’t really feel like it’s the thought making the decisions. It feels like there’s a big lag. Or a thought occurs a little after the fact. Or I think “turn hand over”... and the hand stays as it is and then moves after some time on its own.

Yes. thought occurs *after* the hand turns.

So, exactly how does a thought make the hand turn? Especially, if i hasn't happened until afterwards?

Loving

Hi Stacy,

So, exactly how does a thought make the hand turn? Especially, if i hasn't happened until afterwards?

I don't believe that a thought makes the hand turn at all. There's the intention to turn the hand... an intention to do so after reading the instruction, but there are no thoughts during the hand turning. There's just a looking, a seeing that the hand turns. But my mind is void of any thoughts that I can observe/notice; I am not aware of any thoughts. Unless I make the effort to conjure some up before/during/after. And then it's funny because they are completely pointless.

*Should* there be thoughts? Thoughts are so effing ridiculously frustrating sometimes [insert angry emoji]

Intention is a thought.

If you think not, then what is it?

Loving,

Hi Stacy, I'm sorry I'm so tardy with my responses. I really do appreciate your time in all this.

Yeah, I understand that intention is a sneaky thought.

If you think not, then what is it?

I don't know what it is. I think it is nothing and everything. It is just awareness.

You're fine.

Okay, So intention is just another thought & thoughts have no mechanism or power to turn a hand.

How does your hand move?


Loving ❤️

How does your hand move?

The hand just moves.