Physiological States of Grace

By Christine Waddell

When a child pauses, staring with unfocused gaze, he or she is momentarily entering what I call a 'physiological state of grace'. Joseph Chilton Pearce, in his book The Magical Child, says children shouldn't be disturbed by 'Hey where are you? Come back!' because in that brief moment of 'space-out' the hemispheres of the brain are balancing, allowing for much needed assimilation of experience. The intense focus and multi-tasking required by the pace and complexity of post-modern society gives us very little daydream or trance time as adults. Yet, study after study show the extraordinary benefits of this kind of time far beyond childhood, one example being the contemplative art of meditation.

Here we are after the push and hustle of the holidays, when our seasonal clocks said: 'lovely, the quiet season, the dreaming time has begun... time for more sleep and rest, time for quiet, long peaceful nights by the fire...'. Instead we had full social calendars and spent long hours in crowded stores and traffic snarls. The holidays for many folks were a time of heightened stress, family dramas or loneliness and depression. We begin the New Year full of resolve to do a great many things and also more than a little weary. The next year seems to bear down on us before we've had enough downtime to enter it properly.

Breakthrough science in the fields of Biophysics and Neurobiology have decisively shown that our bodies, minds and emotions are not distinct and separate from one another, but function as an interconnected system. These scientific developments not only establish that there is a biomolecular basis for what we feel, but a profound effect on our health when we keep pushing beyond what we feel in order to 'carry on'. In survival situations it's imperative we do so. As a way of life it becomes detrimental to health and well-being. Refusing to acknowledge and express our emotions actually creates blockage and constriction in our physiology, but we can't possibly know what we're feeling unless we stop long enough to pay attention.

So, first on our list of resolutions for a healthy 2006 might be tending to overdue restorative rest, receiving and refueling from physiological states of grace. A physiological state of grace lends itself to peace, compassion, forgiveness, tolerance, understanding and acceptance. It's accessed by anything you do that turns off your 'fight or flight' mechanism or the 'gotta go, gotta get it done' edge. You know you've 'achieved' grace when you catch yourself staring out the window while the tea kettle overflows, or you're so comfortable sitting, you just stay put.

Physiological states of grace attune you to the mystery, the sublime and wavelengths of ease. I have a boulder meditation that works wonders. Within minutes it can move me into Alpha rhythm, shortly thereafter to Theta. I've gotten really good at it. Hopefully, everyone has their own special routine or trick that turns down busy frontal lobes and gets those neuropeptides of peace flowing, those biochemical inducers of ecstasy nurturing your nerve endings. Sometimes it takes a good cry or a long heart to heart with your best friend. Sometimes a walk alone in the hills, or at rolling surf's edge. Whatever clears your mind and vision, while allowing your body to restore itself, encourages a physiological state of grace. This makes you more receptive to fulfillment, gratitude, smiles and kindness and sometimes the much needed good deep cry. This year I've made a list of my favorite physiological grace inspirers; guaranteed to chase away the winter blues:

1. A weekend, a day, an hour of blessed silence - no conversation, no telephone
2. A gratitude walk - with every few steps "I'm grateful for..."
3. Meditate with pen and paper nearby to write instructions from the interior, then follow
4. Dance 'til trance sets in
5. Bath with aromatherapy salts and candles
6. S l o w d o w n – in the car, at the market, during meals
7. Pretend it's a black-out and spend an evening in candle-light (turn off and unplug ALL electrical appliances - you'll be amazed at how quieting and restful this is!)
8. Meditation of course
9. Shamanic journey to find prayer of guidance for the year
10. Eighteen complete breath cycles (inhalation / exhalation count one) as full, slow & complete with undivided attention
11. Sleep, sleep, sleep and more sleep
12. Chant with favorite CD or group chant
13. Put someone else at ease who needs it
14. Get out the drum - play until self-consciousness disappears
15. Mantra repetition into altered state
16. Breathe together hugs
17. Declare a personal day of peace, do or undo whatever that means for you

Enjoy. Make a list of your own favorites, share them with friends and encourage each other to continue all year long! By the end of 2006 you'll be an expert at knowing when you need to enter a state of grace and how best to get yourself there.