“Yours is the energy that makes the world. There are no limitations to the self except those you believe in.” ~ Jane Roberts
I just got back from the 2013 Victor Wooten Bass Camp, and I feel energized. Why is it that certain places, or events, even certain people, seem to give us that feeling? The feeling that we have more energy than when we started…the sense of being more alive… our senses are sharper… awareness is heightened… what is that? Perhaps you’ve heard it said before that our thoughts are energy. But what does that really mean? All I know is what I have felt myself and I can talk about my own experience or opinions, so I’m going to make an attempt to do that, if you will indulge me. I’ve been thinking about it a bit lately, because of a series of events that very recently have led me to discuss this, and some other very similar topics. The seemingly ‘random’ events in and of themselves are not random at all, but another creation of energy that show how interconnected we all are as human beings…but, I may save that for another day!
I think that our own personal energy emanates from us, an energy field so to speak, and that this energy field is sensed, though not seen (by the average human being). When we interact with people, these fields are co-mingling. When we are paying attention to someone or something, we are actually ‘giving’ some of our energy to them, or it. We are focused, some of our energy field actually reaches out and boosts that person’s energy. Think about a time where you have seen a friend who might be sad and you really want them to feel better. Without even touching them physically or saying a word, maybe they are even across a room, you smile, you try to convey some loving emotion through your eyes and what happens? They seem to be grateful, maybe they smile back a little. Perhaps they come over to sit with you. How about two lovers? Have you ever watched them across a room? The energy is supercharged! They are sending their energy back and forth so intensely it’s almost visible.
The flip side of this, are the energy suckers, or vampires. These are people that are doing their best to feed off your energy to build up their own. Usually, these are people who are controlling, angry, putting you down to make themselves feel better. You can witness that clearly from across the room as well. Have you ever watched a couple in an argument where one of them clearly is the aggressor? Or worse still, an abusive relationship? The aggressor is just taking as much energy as possible from the victim so he/she can feel larger than life and feed their own energy. The victim visibly ‘shrinks’, losing their energy…
But here’s the thing about all of this…it has to do with where you “Attention” is. Are you present in the moment? This world has been on such a serious path of disconnect with the constant blast of media available at our fingertips…TV, internet, video games, cell phones, texting, etc. We prefer texting and emailing to picking up the phone and hearing a voice to have a ‘real time’ conversation because that takes too much time and attention. Worse than that, we are texting, watching TV while people are talking to us. Now…where is our attention?!! Where is our energy going? Are you present in the moment?
Why is it that new lovers are supercharged and then it dies down? They aren’t sitting there texting other people while with each other, are they? They are focused on each other and there is a wide open channel for that energy exchange to occur. That energy expands exponentially! As all relationship become more familiar, that attention no longer focuses only on each other and thus, the energy begins to focus outward toward other things in their lives. All relationships evolve.
Think about this, though. You are in control of this energy — it’s yours. If you are aware of it being there, you can direct it for the good of others. Awesome strength!! What an amazing being you are! Try it…next time you are in a conversation with someone, look at them – I mean, REALLY look at them. Pay attention and consciously think good thoughts about them. Think ‘love’. Face them — your whole body, not just your head turned toward them. BE THERE !! If you want to try an exercise with a friend, you can switch on and off during a conversation while each of you takes turns either 1) paying attention and thinking positive, good thoughts, focusing energy, or 2) thinking about themselves instead, perhaps looking away – break eye contact, and fiddling with something else like a cell phone. The difference is astounding.
Another thing…paying attention to one person at a time will never be forgotten by that person that you genuinely touch that way.
As a musician, this can be a powerful tool as well. In a band situation, you all need to listen to each other. This is one type of attention that you need at all times during a song. It’s an awareness king of attention. However, when one of your bandmates is soloing, you can focus your attention on them and ‘give’ your energy to them to boost what they are doing. It’s their moment! You are there ONLY for their solo at that point, and if you are present for them, their solo will be that much better. Go ahead — pour your energy into them!
Group prayer helps people for the same reason. It is many people focusing on healing someone, or for a purpose. This is a pooling of energy fields and focusing that stronger energy out into the Universe can only do good.
Again, anything I say is always just my thoughts and ideas about things and you can take it or leave it.
with gratitude – Toné
