Connection - Steve's November Newsletter
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Dear
I hope you are all well. I recently finished my next book DisConnected – at the moment, I’m going through the manuscript, doing some editing and putting together the references and bibliography. The book explains how human evil is the result of separation, and how goodness and kindness are the result of connection. One thing it’s the made me keenly aware of
is the importance of creating connection on a daily basis. We can do this simply by being friendly, and treating the people we encounter with respect and kindness. When I was younger I was shy and reticent, but nowadays I'm always chatting to people in shops and cafes, or on trains. I always chat to taxi drivers or to people standing next to me in queues. Sometimes people are a little surprised, but I've learned that they always respond with good will. It doesn't really matter what you talk
about - the important thing is to make a connection. Connection drives away conflict and fear. It feels so good because connection is our natural state, beneath the illusion of ego-separateness.
New Podcast Episode
Speaking of connection, a couple of weeks ago, I met up with Zak Khan, who shares one of the most amazing stories of spiritual awakening in my book Extraordinary Awakenings. Zak is such an inspiring
guy - after going through many severe health challenges and a conscious death experience, he shines with spiritual radiance. He has also decided to do a PhD with me, at Leeds Beckett University, so I'm really looking forward to collaborating with him. We recorded a new episode from my 'Clear Light' podcast. You can listen to it in the following
ways:
Or you can go direct to the podcast host here
Here’s a photo of Zak and I together. When I enlarged the photo later, I noticed the words on the wall behind us. Interesting!
The Bigelow Afterlife Essay Competition
A few months ago I saw a post about the 'Bigelow Afterlife Essay' competition on facebook. A few years ago, I made a plan for a short book about the possibility of an afterlife, so I decided to enter the competition, using some of the materials I had. And lo and behold, the winners have been announced and I am one of the runners up! I feel rather flabbergasted to have won some money, plus a trip to
the US for the awards ceremony. The winners are at the link here.
They also gave me some money to cover a trip to Las Vegas, for the award ceremony, so I’m travelling there with my 18-year-old son Hugh, on Nov 30th. The only danger is that I might spend all my prize money in a casino! Only joking – I don’t like casinos, or glitzy entertainment in general, so I’ll stay away.
My Instagram
Recently, I've started an Instagram page, where I've been posting extracts from my poems. If you have Instagram, feel free to have a
look!
New Articles
A new article of mine from The Conversation, about my book Extraordinary Awakenings, including the stories of Adrian (who underwent an awakening in prison in Africa) and Eve (who underwent the same after 29 years of alcoholism).
New Poems
As usual, let me finish with a poem. I didn’t write any poems for two or three months, but they have started coming back to me over the last week or so. Here’s a new one called ‘Slowing Down.’ It stemmed from a phrase which came into my mind: ‘The slower you move, the more you see.’ About 15 years ago I worked at a college and used to drive there in the mornings. Then I decided to switch
to cycling. It took about twice as long (half an hour instead of 15 minutes) but I realised that cycling is a wonderful way to start the day. I also realized that by driving I had missed so much of the reality of the journey. I was aware of so much more by moving at a slower speed, and by not being enclosed inside a metal box – so many interesting houses and buildings and trees and plants I hadn’t noticed. And of course, the same applies when we walk: we notice even before than when cycling!
Slowing
down
When you move fast, your vision is blurred.
The world around you is an unreal haze.
Objects merge, space collapses.
In your speed, you bypass beauty and meaning.
As you slow down, you see more clearly.
Waves of new details reveal themselves.
Objects grow more vivid, shapes more distinct.
Colours grow brighter, spaces deeper.
And as you stop, and come to rest,
your vision becomes as clear as a child’s.
Beauty shines from every object
meaning flows through every space.
Then at the point of perfect stillness
distance disappears, duality dissolves
and you know the simple truth of oneness
between the seer and the seen.
All best wishes and blessings, Steve
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