by Amy L. Lansky, PhD

(For more information about Amy’s work, visit www.activeconsciousness.com, www.impossiblecure.com, www.amylansky.com)

Those of us who have tried meditating know that accessing the Now can enable us to hear things that we normally ignore or suppress from typical awareness — the sounds of birds, the wind, and, of course, the ever present noises of civilization.

The same goes for our vision. There is much more to be seen than typically meets the eye! Personally, I enjoy meditating with my eyes open and recommend in my book Active Consciousness that you at least begin your meditations that way. I have found that when I do, I often see things that are normally below my visual radar. These visual gems range from easily visible but somehow unseen wonders of the natural world, to phenomena that are accessible only when I attain a deeper state of awareness. I have found that when we do notice these things, we begin to experience a world that is so much more wonderful and awesome than we normally acknowledge — a world in which there is even more to be grateful for!

By: Angela Amirault | Ad Astra Therapy

I have a beautiful god-daughter who I think is one of the smartest, sweetest, most beautiful kids on the planet. After minding her I have a further appreciation of sleep and for all parents out there. Kids are wonderful teachers as they can see a world filled with joy and opportunities. I think we could all benefit from having such beliefs.

Below are some of things I have learned from her and other children, they are all adding light to an often dark and cynical world.

1. The world is an amazing place. With fresh eyes we can appreciate so much more around us. Helicopters and airplanes are a marvel. Our imagination is an incredible tool that we rarely use for good. Every morning is a gift and we should all wake up as excited as a child because it means a new day full of possibility.

The collective perception of humanity has been highly influenced by the scientific method, especially over the last few centuries. This consensus has continually evolved throughout that time by transcending old ways of thinking about the ‘reality’ of the universe. It hasn’t stopped either; the accumulating scientific evidence, especially from the quantum, psychological and parapsychological realms, is facilitating a meta-paradigm shift that is significantly influencing the course of humanity’s destiny.

A common mistake made in the mainstream mindset is assuming that science is a field which is an unadulterated snapshot of reality, but it does have its problems. First, the scientific establishment has become primarily an institution, and as with any human enterprise, it is subject to politics, corruption and corporate influence. Second, science cannot explain everything. Third, the established ‘facts’ that are derived through experimenting with the external world have consistently changed over time, effectively illustrating that many weren’t truths after all. And finally, philosophical bias ‘unscientifically’ plagues modern science.