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Which
came first... the chicken or the egg?
Which came first...
the chicken or the egg? Another version of this kind of debate has captured
the interest of mankind for centuries. The classic Greeks debated it,
and history traces it back even further. The question was, and for many,
still is: "What came first? Was it mind, or matter?" Did an animal somehow
learn to think, or did thinking (mind) somehow manifest into physical
form? Interesting question. Allow me to introduce you to some interesting
science. I don't propose the answer to the preceding question is answerable
by reading on, but none the less, will provide some insight and therefore,
deeper understanding. |
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Many
of you may be aware that Gary Craig is doing his first "EFT Masters"
workshop at the end of July this year. One of the many requirements
an EFT Master will have to have is familiarity with the Mind/Body Connection,
and he has asked the participants to watch and study the movie, "What
the bleep do we know?" Excellent! For those of you that haven't seen
the movie, but are curious, I thought I'd talk about the Mind/Body Connection
a little bit here, which will help prepare any of you that may be wanting
to apply for the EFT Masters program in the future.
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First, a little history. Descartes, a 16th century philosopher, wanted to study the human body. To do so, he had to make a deal with the Church. The Church would deal with the mind, spirit and soul, and Descartes would be allowed to delve further into the human body. To this day, there exists a division in the two subjects, mind (psychological) and body. Well, the fact is, they are one. Thanks to some brave pioneers of our time, the facts are beginning to emerge from the laboratory. The Mind/Body Connection seminar I present is a compilation of many researcher's work, which I have studied for the past 15 years, and is my version of connecting the dots. These researchers from various disciplines have been combining their knowledge and expertise to map out the pathways, from the mind all the way to the very DNA inside each cell. The term they coined for this exciting exploration is called Psychoneuroimmunology. Up until now the medical profession believed that the immune system was an autonomous entity, and therefore unaffected by mind and emotions. Until recently, the popular belief, especially in the world of science, was that a human could feel or experience severe emotional states and the immune system was well "immune" to these states. In other words, it is taught that the immune system is autonomous, that is operating on it's own, and unaffected by outside influences. We now know that how a patient perceives a situation can have an affect on how the immune system operates. The immune system has a memory. So does the mind/brain. And, they "talk" to each other, and share information. For the first time in our history, we are beginning to discover the actual physical "links" between mind (thought) and body (matter) used for exchanging information.
An interesting question at this point might be: "What do they talk about?" The message might be, "Make a little more of this protein," or "A little less of that one." The message might be, "Cells, stop dividing, we have enough for now." Now, before some of you begin to think all this is too far outside your model of understanding, too far outside your reality, I would suggest you recall the term "biofeedback." Biofeedback is used to effect all sorts of changes in the body, including blood pressure, headaches and anxiety, to name a few. Biofeedback equipment has been with us for some 30 years, and validates that inducing a different mind set produces measurable changes in the body. First, I ask you to make a distinction between mind and brain. To begin with, mind is an abstract. No molecular movement, no occupation of space, and no mass. Brain, on the other hand is physical, satisfying all three of the above rules. We think, which is a mental process somewhere within the realm of the Mindfield. This Thought - an abstract - sometimes has a travel mate - an emotion - that rides along. The emotion is the fuel that drives the thought. By way of an analogy, we have two vehicles in the driveway, a motor scooter and a car. Although one could wax poetic about their respected differences, one of the similarities is they both require fuel in order to run.
The Thought has fuel - the emotion (mentally drop the "e" from emotion). The brain - the great bio computer, is also a Transducer. What does transduction mean? Standing in a river, one can sense, can feel, the current flow. This current is potential energy - kinetic energy. If we then guide the water down a pipe, we can use this potential energy to do work - spin the blades attached to a generator. Now we have electricity powering your stereo. This concept of taking energy, in the form of water movement and converting that potentiality into electricity, is an example of transduction. The kinetic energy from the stream has been transduced into electricity, which in turn has infinite possibilities of use, only one of which is to hear the music. As the brain processes the thought/emotion, it transduces it into a 'language' the body can understand, and that "language" is - chemistry. The thought/emotion is now physical - from 'nothingness' to 'somethingness' - and - without stepping on religious toes - can be thought of as a form of "creation," i.e., one moment it's not there (a thought is non physical), the next moment, it is there, in physical form (chemistry). We cannot see a thought, but we can see the resulting chemistry. Dr. Candace Pert, a Research Professor (Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC) has 15 years of research behind the following statement. "The biochemical equivalent of the emotions are the neuropeptides." And what is a neuropeptide? A train, made up of amino acids, acting as the coaches. Each amino acid is like a microscopic battery, with a positive and negative 'pole.' A computer processes information via the use of a binary code, zeros and ones. It is the sequencing of zeros and ones in infinite combinations, that codes information. The variable sequencing of pluses (+) and minuses (-) is a binary code, and therefore is coded information. So the neuropeptide is binary coded information, and this information is now available to the cells. Once the coded information reaches the cell, the cell needs to 'read' it. Many years ago, two diametrically opposed theories finally clashed. Darwin proposed the genes were at the top of the hierarchy of control, and therefore head dictator. Lemarc proposed the cell was constantly adapting to the environment, therefore the environment was 'deciding.' Instead of agreeing to co-operate and blend their knowledge for the greater good, they chose to bang heads and kick sand until those with calmer minds said, "Knock it off, kiddies, play nice, don't fight." (That may not be an exact quote - I wasn't there at the time.) An experiment was proposed. The outcome of which was to resolve the conflict in favour of one or the other. The proposal was the following. Mate two mice. Cut off the offspring's tails. Mate the tailless mice. Cut off the offspring's tails and mate the tailless mice. Repeat for 'X' generations, and if a mouse is born without a tail at some point, Lemarc wins. If at 'X' point, the offspring born still have tails, Darwin wins. Well, Darwin 'won.' Lemarc, not wishing to lose his, tucked his tail between his legs and headed off to obscurity. We now have Darwinian Biology and the Genes are King. Or are they?
Let's review a modern experiment. If a cell is placed in a Petrie dish, and the DNA is removed, the cell eventually dies. On the other hand, if the DNA is left intact, and antennae are removed instead, the cell functionality terminates immediately. So, is Lemarc right? Oops! Almost got caught in the dichotomous approach, the win/lose frame, again. Back to the cell. The information, the environmental information, is now picked up by the antennae, and the cell acts upon it - the DNA now has instructions and, like a highly sophisticated and willing team, goes to work in the manufacturing business, filling the order, producing proteins, etc. The DNA then, is processing two sets of instructions. One is inherited, that is the cell produces proteins, etc. based on previously learned and stored information, about survival, growth, and evolvement. The second set, from the neuropeptide, is the upgrade information which eventually modifies the standard blueprint in order to adapt the factory to the perceived changes in the environment, and therefore, adapt the cell functionality to that perception of the environment. Now, let's take it one step further. Once a person's antennae is tuned through experience to the negative, then the processed thoughts evoke a negative emotional charge, producing a negative message within the neuropeptide. Given a sufficient intensity, this will produce a certain malaise, or discomfort, all the way down to the cellular level. I find this subject fascinating and enjoy sharing it with others. When I present The Mind/Body Connection seminar I use everyday language and take you on a journey from thought all the way down to the very DNA within the cells, and explain how thought and emotion affect the cell function itself. Then I introduce the ways and means, the how to, of improving the communication between mind and body. Some of you may think this is faith healing. Others will call it spiritual healing. Still others will call it science. I am especially pleased at how many people have said, "I now realize these are three different labels for the same thing." Some of you may
be wondering what does any of this have to do with EFT? The answer is
- Now that we understand how these negative emotional charges flood
the antenna of our cells, we have all the more reason to use
a relatively simple procedure to remove that negative charge. Enter
EFT! The Hidden Messages in Water
During the past ten years more and more people have become interested in, studied, and researched this fascinating field, and now there are numerous sources to go to for information. There is even a movie called What the bleep do we know?" which explores this subject. In the movie, one of the powerful visuals is a series of photographs by Dr. Masaru Emoto. Dr. Emoto discovered that crystals formed in frozen water reveal changes when specific, concentrated thoughts are directed toward them. He found that water from clear springs and water that has been exposed to loving words shows brilliant, complex, and colourful snowflake patterns. In contrast, polluted water, or water exposed to negative thoughts, forms incomplete, asymmetrical patterns with dull colours. The implications of this research create a new awareness of how we can positively impact the earth and our personal health.
Here some examples from Dr. Emoto's book:
Dr.
Lees Live Interview on Internet Radio Topic: “Improving Self-Esteem with EFT” The link for listening in to the show "live" is www.health.voiceamerica.com and you go to that link at 12:00 noon Pacific time on Monday June 6th to listen in. You are invited to call in during the show to ask us questions. Episode Description: Host Carol Look will interview Dr. Alex Lees of Vancouver on the topic of How to improve Self Esteem with Emotional Freedom Techniques. Dr. Alex Lees has been working in the field of self improvement for decades and enjoys helping people correct any emotional blocks that get in the way of their personal and professional success. For more on Dr. Lees, visit his web site www.DrAlexLees.com Join Carol and Alex in a lively discussion about Self Esteem and how using EFT could change how you see yourself and the world. The show will be "live" at 12:00 noon Pacific time on Monday June 6th, and will be rebroadcast several times later in the week. In addition, subscribers can go to Carole’s web site at www.carollook.com/voiceamerica and listen in to the archived shows.
The blossoms are gone, but now I can enjoy the flowers I planted last weekend. There's something really satisfying about digging around in the dirt, pulling up weeds... if you have any anger or aggression towards anything... pull out lots of weeds and you'll feel better in no time... and, you'll have a better looking garden! I got my birthday present early this year... a digital camera. My beloved Pentax which Alex gave me over 25 years ago has been put out to pasture. It's funny but I resisted buying a digital camera 'cause I didn't think they took as good a photo as an SLR... especially a Pentax! But seeing the photos friends were taking, and the added convenience of downloading them onto my computer, where I can "play" with them, finally hooked me. Once I learn how to operate it I know I'll have a lot of fun, and you'll see some of my photos in upcoming newsletters. Speaking of my birthday, I will be celebrating it listening to my husband talk! Alex will be giving a talk on the Mind/Body Connection on Saturday, June 4th, during the workshop presented by Steve Wells and David Lake, from Australia. We're looking forward to seeing them again, and any of you that might be attending their seminar. Alex is going to be doing more talking when he is interviewed by Dr. Carol Look (from New York) on Internet Radio. Alex did a live radio show when we were living in Spain which was a lot of fun, and the people he interviewed were interesting. The only problem he had was mangling a few Spanish words. Speaking with Carol and the people that call in shouldn't pose a problem 'cause hopefully they will all be speaking English! The subject will be "Improving Self Esteem with EFT," so please tune in, and if you are so inclined... call in and talk to Alex and Carol. We are doing one more seminar - EFT Approved Level I - on June 18th and then we'll be taking a break from seminars for the summer. I saw a report on TV a week ago and it said that we were going to be in for a long, hot summer... wouldn't that be wonderful! Today is a beautiful, warm, sunny day and it would be so easy to slip into "summer mode," but I've still got lots to get organized for the month of June, before I can start to enjoy those long, lazy days of summer. I best get to it! Till next month,
take care.
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When
I first started to present The Mind/Body Connection seminar about
ten years ago I had two main references - Dr. Candace Pert and Dr. Bruce
Lipton. Both were pioneers in the emerging field of Psychoneuroimmunology,
and I highly recommended Dr. Pert's book, Molecules of Emotions
and Dr. Lipton's video The Biology of Consciousness.
Berit's
Corner
One
day, when a seamstress was sewing while sitting close to a river,
her thimble fell into the river. When she cried out, the Lord
appeared and asked, "My dear child, why are you crying?" The
seamstress replied that her thimble had fallen into the water
and that she needed it to help her husband in making a living
for their family.
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(C) 2005 - Dr. Alexander R. Lees & Associates Inc.