Having Your Mind Blown - Continued

In my last blog, I discussed aspects of, "having one's mind blown" that result from personal experiences that are deemed, "impossible" by the Consensus Scientific Belief System.

In today's blog, I want to explore other ways of, "having one's mind blown." One of these ways is through personal research. The vast majority of learning, (Indoctrination) in the Western World has been, and is still, controlled through the Public Educational System. In the '60s, however, there began to trickle into the, "mainstream" awareness printed information, challenging the Consensus Belief Systems. A major factor in this change, from a trickle of information to a river, was the cracking of the strangle-hold the major book publishers had over what got into print, by the small, independent publishing houses. With the advent of the Internet, the river has become a flood.

Personally, up to that time--the '60's--I was as indoctrinated into the Consensus Belief System as the vast majority of other people. The reality-shaking that was the hallmark of the '60s, shook up the lives of many people in many ways, blowing holes in Belief Systems right and left. That shake-up affected me as well, however, learning about hypnosis, and its many discoveries about human capabilities was the major "bomb" which truly, "blew my mind."

Our Programming and Indoctrination through the Public Educational System has resulted in a faith in the printed word; if you read it somewhere, it must be true! Unfortunately, much of what has gone into print has little to do with, "facts" and much to do with what someone, or the Powers-that-be, want to be accepted as facts. Nevertheless, in today's world there is much information available in printed form, and on the Internet, which can start blowing small holes in your personal Belief System, if you will only allow it into your consciousness.

Even words can have this affect. When I was a young teenager, I remember the affect learning the word, "infinity" had on me. Just looking out into space and trying to take in the possibility of, "infinity" almost drove me mad trying to comprehend it. Other things took my mind off "infinity" eventually--probably boys--and I returned to, "normality," not to emerge again until the '60s!

A major mind-blowing factor for many in the '60s were the books of Carlos Castaneda. Those familiar with them will remember, perhaps, the effort don Juan spent on trying to get Castaneda to, "Stop the World." (For me, Castaneda is/was the epitome of an individual Programmed and Indoctrinated by the Western Consensus Scientific Belief System.) Don Juan was completely free of that indoctrination, and, because of this, Castaneda was frequently terrified by what he experienced when in don Juan's presence.

In a similar way, traveling or living in other countries and/or societies can become mind-blowing experiences, because of one's personal Belief System, coming face-to-face with entirely different Belief Systems. It is the acquiring of, "changes in perception." It has been said that, "What you cannot conceive, you cannot perceive." What one can conceive of is entirely controlled by one's Programming and Indoctrination, that is one reason it is so important to discover what you believe, if you want to experience anything different.

With that, I end today's blog.

Shirley Gallup