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29 Jul 2006 @ 11:45, by Enocia Joseph
In one form or another I have always been interested in consciousness raising, which is focusing one's attention on a particular belief or cause. This motivates you to join groups or organisations focused on the same belief or cause. What you focus on gets magnified and that's all you end up experiencing for as long as you are interested.
Years ago when I reached a crossroads in life and I didn't know what to do next, I did voluntary work for our local Women's Group. I met lots of women, some feminists others not, and was encouraged to join consciousness raising groups that would help me become aware of the role of women in society. I joined a Black Women's Group where we discussed what it meant to be a black woman in Britain. I even got involved in a project interviewing black women who had made a huge impact in the borough I was living in, which eventually led to a photographic exhibition. It was a fun experience.
Then I decided it was time to go back to college. Ostensibly, I was going to do a degree in creative writing but as I was still exploring my identity, I got side-tracked into studying theories of race, identity, gender and such. While at college a friend and I decided we needed a consciousness raising group for women so we set up a Women's Group. Out of that group emerged other sub-group for women. (I was also a committee member of the society for black students). Then we decided the college needed more consciousness raising so we organised a women only disco. The guys wanted to join the party and couldn't understand why women should be allowed to have fun without them. We told them we felt the need to enjoy ourselves without men. It didn't stop them gawping at us though. Hehe. Blokes, don't you just love them?
You could say I spent most of my time in college in one form of consciousness raising group or another. What else was I going to do for three years, study? God forbid!
When I left college I lost interest in consciousness raising groups that focused only on identity because I knew I was more than a race, gender, or my past experiences. I explored religions and many spiritual groups. Invariably, I joined consciousness raising groups that matched my belief at the time until they were no longer appropriate and I left. I later realised that what I'd been searching for was a consciousness raising group that focused on love.
Life is love consciousness raising. In other words, becoming aware that every moment is love; and that we are love. And the more you are aware of Love the more of it you experience.
So I'm sitting at a bus stop waiting for a bus, naturally. I am chewing on some tissue paper. Don't ask me why I love eating tissue paper, I just do. Across the road is a traffic jam. The car in front of me has it's stereo blaring and the driver seems to be enjoying the music. A man rides by on his bicycle with a lollipop in his mouth. This is consciousness raising - being aware of love in every moment.
Note that being aware of the moment of love is not the same as judging the moment. If I was judging then I would be thinking the guy's music was crap. It doesn't matter that his music isn't my cup of tea; as long as he's enjoying it.
I could have judged the young man for sucking a lollipop while cycling. It doesn't matter if I like lollipops/bicycles or not; as long as he's loving it.
Someone observing me eating tissue paper could think I'm nuts. It doesn't matter if you don't like eating tissue paper; I do and I love it.
When you judge the moment you miss out on experiencing the love that is always present. Love is accepting what is. Love consciousness raising is about loving every moment as it is.
From time to time, I record moments such as the one I've just described in my blog. My blog is an ongoing project of love consciousness raising.
I'm going to end with part of the lyrics from one of my favourite rap songs, which describes the one moment of love.
[[[The Fresh Prince:]
It's late in the day and I ain't been on the court yet
Hustle to the mall to get me a short set
Yeah I got on sneaks but I need a new pair
Cause basketball courts in the summer got girls there
The temperature's about 88
Hop in the water plug just for old times sake
Break to ya crib change your clothes once more
Cause you're invited to a barbeque that's starting at 4
Sitting with your friends cause y'all reminisce
About the days growing up and the first person you kiss
And as I think back makes me wonder how
The smell from a grill could spark up nostalgia
All the kids playing out front
Little boys messin round with the girls playing double-dutch
While the DJ's spinning a tune as the old folks dance at your family reunion
Then six o'clock rolls around
You just finished wiping your car down
It's time to cruise so you head to the summertime hangout
It looks like a car show
Everybody come lookin real fine
Fresh from the barber shop or fly from the beauty salon
Every moment frontin and maxin
Chillin in the car they spent all day waxin
Leanin to the side but you can't spread through
Two miles an hour so everybody sees you
There's an air of love and of happiness
And this is the Fresh Prince's new definition of summer madness Summertime, D.J. Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince]]
All is Love.
Enocia
Related article: Awareness
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Category: Spirituality
3 comments
30 Jul 2006 @ 06:35 by atunmenra : Consciousness Raising
Enocia:
What you describe is sort of what Jeremy Taylor, a prominant writer of Lucid Dreaming, discovered when he was asked to bring his dream workshop to a local prison. He just couldn't imagine how he was going to get resigned prison inmates to talk about their dreams. But when it began to spontaneously happened, it was a consciousness raising experience.
I would add that, yes, love is an important ingrediant, but also Will and Strength has to be added too, or its just all love and no direction.
Nice topic.
I am interested, as I run a dream school online.
Dream on,
Sunwolf
Frater Dragons Mane
30 Jul 2006 @ 11:38 by : Dream School
Hi Autunmenra,
Thanks for your comments. Never heard of Jeremy Taylor or rather haven't been conscious of that aspect of myself called Jeremy Taylor so thanks for bringing it to my awareness. Sounds very intriguing.
[[I would add that, yes, love is an important ingrediant, but also Will and Strength has to be added too, or its just all love and no direction. ]]
The Love I'm referring to is all in all, therefore, Love is will and strength.
I'm going to check out your website now.
Love Enocia
24 Mar 2008 @ 21:21 by Kim brown @157.174.221.254 : Chewing Tissue Paper
I chew tissue paper too. I have been searching for an answer to the problem. I say it is a problem because it has to be bad for your teeth. I am addicted to it and would like to stop. I do enjoy it though but I don't want to end up sick.
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