Hello there. It's a deep pleasure to share this idea with you. Sometimes, the simplest shifts in perspective can unlock a whole new kind of peace. This is based on a talk I heard online and gives a unique perspective. The Trauma-Informed Witness Let's be honest, the concept of self-love can feel somewhat complicated. We see the inspirational quotes, but when anxiety flares or the inner critic pipes up, you just don't like the person staring back. It’s a myth that you have to like every little thing about yourself to practice self-love. You don't. That feeling of dislike is just a temporary state. Think about it this way: Loving yourself is a job. It's a fundamental, non-negotiable responsibility, not a fluttery feeling that shows up when you’re having a good day. But this job has a powerful, healing component: you are also the Trauma-Informed Witness for your human. The Dual Role: Caretaker and Witness Imagine that on the day you were born, you were handed a tiny, fragile human to look after—your person. This human is you. You are the custodian of your own human. This shift creates a little healthy distance. When you look at it as a job, you stop getting so tangled up in the drama and the self-judgment. You're no longer the subject lost in emotion; you're the objective, compassionate caretaker. Every morning, your job description kicks in. You ask yourself the practical questions: - What is truly important for my person today? (Nourishment? Movement? Rest?) - What do they need right now that will contribute to their well-being? But here is where we blend in the deeper wisdom, recognising that your person is likely carrying old wounds (trauma responses). You have a higher duty: to be the Non-Judgmental Witness for their internal experience. The Non-Dual Strategy: Unconditional Presence Your human’s difficult emotions (shame, anxiety, a sudden urge to self-sabotage) are often protective reflexes from an injured nervous system. They aren't personal failings.

Hi everyone, I thought we could use this thread as a space to share books or other helpful resources (podcasts, documentaries, articles etc) as we go through integration processes. I have two recommended to me by my mentor - a Buddhist therapist who has experienced non-dual states. I haven’t read these yet but am planning to. Would love to see your recommendations too. The Wakeful Body: Somatic Mindfulness as a Path to Freedom https://amzn.eu/d/6p8ODXQ In Touch: How to Tune In to the Inner Guidance of Your Body and Trust Yourself https://amzn.eu/d/cTI6c9x (Apologies for the Amazon links - I would search for these on Abebooks or Worldbooks instead)

Isn't it funny how some concepts, which once felt so far away, are now popping up everywhere? It's as if non-duality is having its moment, suddenly appearing in podcasts, on social media, and in various spiritual circles. We've got to wonder what it even means to us, here and now, in the middle of our chaotic, modern lives. Non-duality, a simple idea with a big history, literally means "not two." It's the understanding that there's no fundamental separation between you and everything else, between the observer and the observed, or between the self and the universe. A hundred years ago, this concept was mostly reserved for mystics and monks in remote monasteries. It was something you dedicated your entire life to, often giving up worldly possessions and human connections to pursue. The non-duality of a century past was often about escaping the material world to find a deeper, singular truth. But today, the conversation is different. It's more about how to live this truth right here, in the messy, dualistic world we inhabit. We aren't all moving to a mountaintop. We're trying to figure out how to be "not two" while paying bills, raising kids, and navigating social media. This is where the struggle comes in. It's easy to read a book or listen to a talk and feel a glimmer of non-duality, but putting it into practice is a different matter. That's a whole other story. Here are some challenges: - The "I" is Sticky: We've spent our entire lives building up this identity, this "I," with all its stories, preferences, and fears. Suddenly being told it's not real, that it's just a concept, can feel disorienting and even threatening. How do you go to work and get things done if there's no "doer"? - Emotions vs. Detachment: Non-dual teachings can sometimes be misinterpreted as being emotionless or apathetic. People worry that if they don't experience anger or sadness about things, they won't be able to stand up for themselves or others. Non-duality isn't about getting rid of emotions; it's about seeing them for what they are, just passing sensations, without letting them run the show.

Very occasionally, I have lucid dreams. I had one a couple of days ago (don't worry, I'm not going to bore you with lots of details 😉). It started in a busy bar, where I ordered a drink and just sat, listening to the conversations around me. The content isn't important, but what amazed me, being fully conscious and aware, was that it was identical to waking reality. Not similar, completely identical. It made me realise that our instinctive suspicion of the concept of Maya is unfounded - there is nothing about reality that can't be a dream. Anyway, I've bought a book about lucid dreaming because it's something I would like to do more. I would be interested in hearing if anyone else has had similar experiences. Peace. 🙏

Exploring 5-MeO-DMT as a pharmacological model for deconstructed consciousness