Post: #1

I'm in a funk that's lasted WAY too long so I just need recommendations to get into a better place with the spirit/emotion element to the self-improvement triad. Physically (body), I eat pretty well and workout a ton. In great shape. Mentally, I could do some more but I'm learning Spanish. But with regard to the emotion/spirit aspect, I feel completely empty. I have a pretty nihilistic view on things so I think that's part of the problem. Just a general sense of purposelessness, that even if I made some major changes in my life it would essentially be me going through the motions until I die (not to be dramatic, that's just how I feel about shit). How do you combat this? Just looking for advice as this has been keeping me in a pretty serious funk for a few years now and it's getting worse (oddly, perhaps sadly, women seem to have responded favorably to this, but that's another story).

Post: #2

Quit drinking for awhile. Go off the grid for awhile - forums, faupcebook, email

Meditate.

Psychedelic stuff opens up the spirit.

Journal your thoughts in a notebook for awhile.
Writing stuff down helps me fights stuff out much more than just thinking about it all.

Post: #3

I have always held the belief that when you are on the correct spiritual / life path, your life will just flow smoothly. Generally, when people get into this kind of funk, it's because they are not living their life to their own standards.

Is there any kind of path that you think could provide you with a sense of purpose?

Post: #4

You need a change of scenary. And, you need to re-invent your entire life.

Whatever you are doing, stop doing it. Do something NEW..

New clothes, new route to work, new job, new girl, new social circle, new apartment, new attitude, new life. CHANGE EVERYTHING.

Break all old patterns!

If I were you, I would .. Get some magic mushrooms and go camping in the mountains with a few good friends.

Or, go to country that you have always wanted to visit.

You need newness and fresh perspectives!

Study some classic spiritual or philosophical works.

Post: #5

Church works for me.

Post: #6

I'm heavy into the idea that being "in a funk" has to do with the way that the body handles stress, particularly, that emotional issues cause chronic muscular tensions that we don't even recognize, because they have become so normalized. These muscle tensions reinforce the "negative" emotions.

Since about 1997, I have practiced a form of bodywork/body psychology originally developed by Wilhelm Reich (contemporary of Freud who had his research burned and lab destroyed by the FDA in 1957).

In Reich's work, he discovered that there were characteristic muscular tensions (which he called "armour") that ALL of of psychiatric patients had. He developed bodywork techniques to help to "dissolve" this "armour."
He noted that as these specific muscular tensions began to be relieved, patients would experience all manner of strange emotions... many times outbursts bordering on violence. This would be followed by their psychiatric issues being resolved.

I learned and practice these bodywork techniques. They are simple but REALLY effective.

Another technique that I really like--and it seems downright CRAZY to many--is what is called Dynamic Meditation. This was developed by Osho (Bhagwan Rajneesh). It is a very cathartic form of meditation.

Other than that, I've practiced many Qi Gong forms, tai chi chuan, & other Taoist practices since the 90s.

These things, plus being diligent about putting the best quality foods, adaptogenic herbs & drinks in my body, have helped me to be a very level-headed, emotionally optimal person.

Post: #7

(11-25-2013 02:26 PM)Mon Wrote:  Dynamic Meditation.

This was developed by Osho

Would you please explain this technique..

Thanks

Post: #8

Been feeling a little off myself for the last week or so.

Basically as my sleep has fallen off, I'm not being my authentic self. I've been feeling myself regressing here, just have to remember that it's the sleep deprivation at work here and not my actual self.

Been getting in my head a bit, feeling some internal conflict, not feeling as socially uninhibited as usual.

It's tough but you have to work on detaching yourself from your thoughts and really cultivating a higher consciousness so you can interrupt these regressions and negative thought patterns, disadvantageous behaviours, etc.

A lot of this can simply be avoided by sleeping optimally as much as you can.

Also I'd work on meditating and being able to hold a meditative state as much as you can and even as you go about through your day--it's actually wickedly effective for picking up girls too.

Meditation= mental clarity, not a single thought going through your mind, completely at ease, a sense of calm and stillness within, radiating positivity, feeling of connectedness and unity, truly understand/feel what it means to be in the moment, feel as if you're part of the fabric of life, complete presence

^^I recently experienced this and I know I just have to get back to it

Post: #9

Giovonny: Dynamic Meditation is a 60-minute, five-stage process... and VERY intense. Osho designed it to break old body-mind patterns that keep you locked in time-bound, useless, outdated thoughts/feelings/emotions/behaviors. He believed that Western man, with our stressful, hustle-n-bustle lifestyles, simply aren't able to participate in deep, still meditation without first experiencing deep catharsis. This form of meditation was to prepare us for being able to participate in deep, still meditation.
Each stage is to be done with the eyes closed. Use a blindfold if necessary.
I recommend getting the "OSHO Dynamic Meditation" CD. You can order it from amazon. Each phase is timed to different music on the audio CD. You therefore know when each phase begins & ends, without having to worry about a timer.
FIRST STAGE: For 10 minutes, the person is to do what is called "chaotic breathing" through the nose. This breathing is to be deep, fast, and intense. It's generally recommended to move your arms up (above the head) & down (around the solar plexus area). Allow your body to simply move without consciously controlling the movement. The primary focus is on the exhale, as the body will take care of the inhale itself. You will generally feel an EXPLOSIVE energy building up. DO NOT LET IT GO YET.
SECOND STAGE: For the next 10 minutes... EXPLODE!!! It is recommended you let out what needs to be let out. Yell, flail about, cry, jump around, laugh maniacally, roll around on the floor while yelling and/or growling, punch, kick, etc. Allow the body to do as it pleases, throwing off what should be thrown off. The key is to NOT allow your mind...the critical factor... to interfere with what you're doing. DO NOT HOLD BACK.
Osho did understand that your living arrangements may not allow for gut-wrenching yelling. Therefore, it was recommended to act it out bodily... allowing your body to act as the yelling, growling, etc. I also recommend that if you feel like you MUST yell, but don't want the cops called, grab a pillow and have at it.
THIRD STAGE: For 10 minutes, with your arms raised above your head, jump up and down while repeating "Hoo, hoo, hoo." Make sure this comes from DEEP within. You want to time each "hoo" with landing on your feet. Osho said that with the combination of landing on the flats of your feet & repeating "hoo, hoo, hoo," you should feel each "hoo" in your "sex center."
FOURTH STAGE: Just STOP!!! When this phase of the music starts, you FREEZE, in whatever position you're in. The point is to REMAIN AS STILL AS POSSIBLE. THIS WILL LAST FOR 15 MINUTES.
You are not to clear your throat; you are not to adjust your position; you are not to scratch an itch; NOTHING!!
It is said that this will dissipate the energy for which you've worked to cultivate in the previous stages, pretty much sabotaging your efforts. I can tell you from experience that, at least for me, this is true. Osho advises that you simlpy "witness" what is happening at this stage, without attempting to judge it, analyze it, or intellectualize about it. SIMPLY WITNESS IT.
FIFTH STAGE: This is considered the celebratory stage. You're simply advised to express yourself through dance for 15 minutes... whatever the word "dance" means to you.

If you decide, Giovonny, to use your yourself as a laboratory and experiment with this, let me know about your results.

There have been occasions when I did this for an hour and afterward, I'd realize that an "issue" from years prior (an "issue" I didn't even realize I had until that moment) was INSTANTLY no longer an "issue."

I often combine it with Reichian bodywork, hypnosis (with my girlfriends), and self hypnosis. I've gotten phenomenal, CRAZY results.
The type of shit I don't normally talk about, as it will be written of as "bullshit" since it's so beyond most people's sense of what can be done.

Post: #10

I know how you feel with the sense of purposelessness.

For me personally I know I have a desire to do something with my life, but its numbed by not knowing what exactly to do.

Throughout university I always thought my purpose would come to me, one day I'd just know what I want to do with my life. People would ask me what I would do once I grad and I would say "oh, I'll just work some job till I figure it out"

Now that I'm working, still waiting, I'm beginning to realize you just have to pick something and just move forward. You don't have to know exactly what you want, but you need to know what you can do.

I'd say pick something you can work towards and put your efforts into that. If you don't like the direction you've picked, pick another one, and so on.

Post: #11

Running NLP & self-hypnosis sessions on oneself can work WONDERS. These are a part of my daily ritual(s).
These "in a funk" issues reside in the subconscious/unconscious part(s) of the body-brain-mind.
Trance-work (e.g. NLP/hypnosis) goes deep down and handles those areas of the body-brain-mind.

Post: #12

I find it quite simple; go out and find nature. Make yourself feel insignificant. Be in awe of nature, which is separate from the typical bull shit which the world throws at you. On a beautiful sunny day or a clear, starlit night, get out. Stand on top of a mountain. Go to the middle of a lake. Just get lost.

I just remember when I was in Finland and the Northern Lights were out; I journeyed to the farthest place away in the wilderness and just took it in. There's nothing like it.

Post: #13

Some good books I recommend are, the works of Don Miguel Ruiz (The 4 Agreements, The 5th Agreement, The Mastery of Love), also his son, Don Jose Ruiz's book The 5 Levels of Attachment, they are supposed to be based on Toltec philosophy and are all available on amazon.com

I recommend the Tao Te Ching for Eastern philosophy, the Bhagdavad Gita is also not bad, although it can be tedious to read and some passages didn't interest me.

Another book I enjoyed greatly and is a good introduction to Rastafari spiritual philosophy is called "Rasta Heart", the author may have been a little opportunistic in finding a good angle to write a book about, but basically Robert Roskind the author was a former hippy living a pretty typical middleclass lifestyle, and he goes on vacation to Jamaica and becomes interested in Rastas because of their peacefulness, and positivity, he then travels back a bunch to meet with Rastas and learn about their beliefs.

Post: #14

Peter Ralston's "The Book of Not Knowing" is worth checking out. I've only skimmed through it once and plan to read it more carefully. He's written mostly about martial arts in the past, but this one is more about recognizing the illusions of self and the outside world. I'm pretty cynical about books like this, but there are truly profound passages.

Post: #15

Great advice here.

Keep working on yourself. Write a journal and find some practises to do as others have mentioned. Holotropic breathwork or rebirthing is also worth looking into.

Drink Ayahuasca. Smoke DMT. Drink a Cactus Brew.

Do a fast. Preferably a juice fast, with bentonite clay and psyllium husks, do enemas/colonics, this will really clear you out and let you move forwards. Drink good mineral water.

Go deep out into nature, far away from the other people, go camping.

But mostly, I think just give time to yourself, think and process through whatever is there, try and resolve what is blocking you from moving forward.

Post: #16

(11-25-2013 07:03 PM)Mon Wrote:  Giovonny, to use your yourself as a laboratory and experiment with this, let me know about your results.

I will.

Thanks

(11-25-2013 07:03 PM)Mon Wrote:  The type of shit I don't normally talk about, as it will be written of as "bullshit" since it's so beyond most people's sense of what can be done.

Yeah, I agree. Most people have no idea what their mind and body is capable of..

To be honest, I didn't really believe in any "6th Sense" type of abilities until I got deeply involved in game.

Basically, "game" is about having an effect on a womans mind. I experimented with this so much that I started to notice things that were outside of our normal five senses.

My mind and thus my awareness opened up. Girls would sometimes display uncanny awareness and "instincts".

I believe in this stuff now, because of what game has taught me.

Post: #17

(11-25-2013 07:03 PM)Mon Wrote:  Giovonny: Dynamic Meditation is a 60-minute, five-stage process... and VERY intense. Osho designed it to break old body-mind patterns that keep you locked in time-bound, useless, outdated thoughts/feelings/emotions/behaviors. He believed that Western man, with our stressful, hustle-n-bustle lifestyles, simply aren't able to participate in deep, still meditation without first experiencing deep catharsis. This form of meditation was to prepare us for being able to participate in deep, still meditation.
Each stage is to be done with the eyes closed. Use a blindfold if necessary.
I recommend getting the "OSHO Dynamic Meditation" CD. You can order it from amazon. Each phase is timed to different music on the audio CD. You therefore know when each phase begins & ends, without having to worry about a timer.
FIRST STAGE: For 10 minutes, the person is to do what is called "chaotic breathing" through the nose. This breathing is to be deep, fast, and intense. It's generally recommended to move your arms up (above the head) & down (around the solar plexus area). Allow your body to simply move without consciously controlling the movement. The primary focus is on the exhale, as the body will take care of the inhale itself. You will generally feel an EXPLOSIVE energy building up. DO NOT LET IT GO YET.
SECOND STAGE: For the next 10 minutes... EXPLODE!!! It is recommended you let out what needs to be let out. Yell, flail about, cry, jump around, laugh maniacally, roll around on the floor while yelling and/or growling, punch, kick, etc. Allow the body to do as it pleases, throwing off what should be thrown off. The key is to NOT allow your mind...the critical factor... to interfere with what you're doing. DO NOT HOLD BACK.
Osho did understand that your living arrangements may not allow for gut-wrenching yelling. Therefore, it was recommended to act it out bodily... allowing your body to act as the yelling, growling, etc. I also recommend that if you feel like you MUST yell, but don't want the cops called, grab a pillow and have at it.
THIRD STAGE: For 10 minutes, with your arms raised above your head, jump up and down while repeating "Hoo, hoo, hoo." Make sure this comes from DEEP within. You want to time each "hoo" with landing on your feet. Osho said that with the combination of landing on the flats of your feet & repeating "hoo, hoo, hoo," you should feel each "hoo" in your "sex center."
FOURTH STAGE: Just STOP!!! When this phase of the music starts, you FREEZE, in whatever position you're in. The point is to REMAIN AS STILL AS POSSIBLE. THIS WILL LAST FOR 15 MINUTES.
You are not to clear your throat; you are not to adjust your position; you are not to scratch an itch; NOTHING!!
It is said that this will dissipate the energy for which you've worked to cultivate in the previous stages, pretty much sabotaging your efforts. I can tell you from experience that, at least for me, this is true. Osho advises that you simlpy "witness" what is happening at this stage, without attempting to judge it, analyze it, or intellectualize about it. SIMPLY WITNESS IT.
FIFTH STAGE: This is considered the celebratory stage. You're simply advised to express yourself through dance for 15 minutes... whatever the word "dance" means to you.

If you decide, Giovonny, to use your yourself as a laboratory and experiment with this, let me know about your results.

There have been occasions when I did this for an hour and afterward, I'd realize that an "issue" from years prior (an "issue" I didn't even realize I had until that moment) was INSTANTLY no longer an "issue."

I often combine it with Reichian bodywork, hypnosis (with my girlfriends), and self hypnosis. I've gotten phenomenal, CRAZY results.
The type of shit I don't normally talk about, as it will be written of as "bullshit" since it's so beyond most people's sense of what can be done.

This sounds cool. I think that I'll try it this weekend.

Post: #18

(11-25-2013 02:26 PM)Mon Wrote:  Since about 1997, I have practiced a form of bodywork/body psychology originally developed by Wilhelm Reich (contemporary of Freud who had his research burned and lab destroyed by the FDA in 1957).

In Reich's work, he discovered that there were characteristic muscular tensions (which he called "armour") that ALL of of psychiatric patients had. He developed bodywork techniques to help to "dissolve" this "armour."
He noted that as these specific muscular tensions began to be relieved, patients would experience all manner of strange emotions... many times outbursts bordering on violence. This would be followed by their psychiatric issues being resolved.

I learned and practice these bodywork techniques. They are simple but REALLY effective.

Do you have a suggestion for a keystone book or some concise primer for this?

Post: #19

(11-29-2013 09:47 AM)theArbiter Wrote:  Do you have a suggestion for a keystone book or some concise primer for this?

Reichian Therapy: The Technique, for Home Use by Jack Willis
This guy worked CLOSELY, for years, with the guy from whom I learned this stuff. Although the guy that I learned from pioneered some additions to the bodywork, this book is an excellent book that can get you on the road to... "otherness."
http://www.amazon.com/Reichian-Therapy-J...an+Therapy

Books by Alexander Lowen are also excellent works on this topic. Lowen worked directly with Wilhelm Reich. Some of my favorites are:
*Language of the Body
*Depression and the Body: The Biological Basis of Faith & Reality
*Bioenergetics: The Revolutionary Therapy That Uses the Language of the Body to Heal the Problems of the Mind
*Joy: The Surrender to the Body and to Life