So I like perusing weird, oddball or unorthodox websites -
of the idea brand (as opposed to "grossout" sites). So you can
see me reading about archaeology, cults, cryptozoology, aliens
(only occasionally, it's a bit played out) and suchforth.
Anyway, it's a lot of interesting nothing, but I discovered
an actual bit of truth in the logjam.
Psuedoscientist/neural prophet Neil Slade describes a kind of
"brain massage" accomplished by guided
imagery - inducing a state of euphoria and enhanced creativity.
Wild claims are made, instant results assured, and the funny thing
is - it works. I've been playing with this process for
a couple of days now, and although I cannot speak for the
ESP or paranormal claims, I have experienced intense feelings of
pleasure akin to being narcotized, accompanied by a complete
removal of artistic blockage. As a mediocre-but-pleasant
poet and songwriter, I've averaged 4-5 completed pieces per
month, whereas I've written 3 complete pieces and several
fragments in the past day and a half. Music listening and
interpersonal contact seems to have been enhanced as well.
Here's the pertinent URLs:
http://www.viewzone.com/amygdala/index.html
http://www.neilslade.com/chart.html
These articles are written on a low-grade level, and contain many
bizarre, made-up-sounding elements. But they seem to have a kernel
of truth, and are worth disseminating.
Good luck.
― squirl plise (Squirrel_Police), Tuesday, 16 March 2004 20:38 (twenty-two years ago)
Observing one's free visual thinking to see what can be learned from it is an old trick dating back at least from the renaissance. Einstein used it: he used to hold a rock his hand when he was conducting this kind of daydreaming deep thought experiments (if he would fall asleep the rock would fall off and wake him up back in the state where he was).
His best success was the popular "train ride on a beam of light" that taught him his theories of relativity.
― Sébastien Chikara (Sébastien Chikara), Tuesday, 16 March 2004 21:25 (twenty-two years ago)
ok so I ve been doing my 'exercises' for 2 days,and I think yesterday could have had some amygdala action as follows;in the morning I rearranged my studio, made a table- makeshift but good looking- also a coffee table fitting that descpription, did alot of organising, made a cover for the hideous fireplace, after lunch I bought art supplies, went on a bike ride, covered alot of stuff in glitter paint- its kind of clear so it looks as though snails have been crawling everywhere, made a sculpture, did several drawings, went for a run, made a pot stand out of a ladder,rearranged my room, made a curtain, cooked 2 meals, sketched some more ideas and went to bed with my mind still racing but in a good way, I couldnt sleep for hours so I got up and read and did some more drawing and today I feel a bit tired but clear headed. My phone got sacrificed in the fray, I sucked it through the front forks of the bike and now I cant read messages or the time. It was kind of relentless mind activity which did get exhausting. Is this frenzy like something you experienced or am I just easily excited and really It was the coffee? rhetorical. Thanks
― jeskam, Thursday, 18 March 2004 23:20 (twenty-two years ago)