Mind

Odilon Redon, Sita, 1893
“We call the unconscious “nothing,” and yet it is a reality in potentia. The thought we shall think, the deed we shall do, even the fate we shall lament tomorrow, all lie unconscious in our today.” (Carl Jung)
Some counsellors aren’t interested in dreams and won’t attach much importance to them, or even discuss them - however significant they are to a person. I take a different view and believe that dreams can provide a valuable window onto our unconscious world. I see dreams as real events in people’s lives and I recognise that for some people they form a vital part of their experience, sense of self and even their spiritual life. If a client wants to explore their dreams in order to better understand themself, I consider it a privilege that they are prepared to share with me such an intimate and private world.
The functioning of our conscious mind is determined by structures of the brain and how they work. These structures affect how we process experience and respond to situations in life. The left half of the brain is most used for rational thinking and the right side has a greater role in intuitive, creative thought. The prefrontal lobes are important for decision making and the left prefrontal lobe in particular regulates our emotional responses. People often wonder “why do I get so angry or afraid when X happens?” The anatomy of the brain is actually playing a part. This is because the limbic system or ‘emotional brain’ stores memories of earlier threatening or stressful situations. When we are presented with a similar situation, this can trigger a reflex emotional response over which we seem to have little control, such as losing our temper. In counselling, a person can retrain their brain and modify these memories so that they have more control over how they respond. Whatever patterns we learned along the way, we all have the power to change.
Some counsellors aren’t interested in dreams and won’t attach much importance to them, or even discuss them - however significant they are to a person. I take a different view and believe that dreams can provide a valuable window onto our unconscious world. I see dreams as real events in people’s lives and I recognise that for some people they form a vital part of their experience, sense of self and even their spiritual life. If a client wants to explore their dreams in order to better understand themself, I consider it a privilege that they are prepared to share with me such an intimate and private world.
The functioning of our conscious mind is determined by structures of the brain and how they work. These structures affect how we process experience and respond to situations in life. The left half of the brain is most used for rational thinking and the right side has a greater role in intuitive, creative thought. The prefrontal lobes are important for decision making and the left prefrontal lobe in particular regulates our emotional responses. People often wonder “why do I get so angry or afraid when X happens?” The anatomy of the brain is actually playing a part. This is because the limbic system or ‘emotional brain’ stores memories of earlier threatening or stressful situations. When we are presented with a similar situation, this can trigger a reflex emotional response over which we seem to have little control, such as losing our temper. In counselling, a person can retrain their brain and modify these memories so that they have more control over how they respond. Whatever patterns we learned along the way, we all have the power to change.
Consciousness
I hope you enjoy the following videos on the subject of consciousness:
Peter Russell - The Primacy of Consciousness
Included with the kind permission of Peter Russell
Peter Russell - The Primacy of Consciousness
Included with the kind permission of Peter Russell
Rupert Spira - The Seamless Intimacy of Experience, interview with Renate McNay
Included with the kind permission of Rupert Spira
www.rupertspira.com
Included with the kind permission of Rupert Spira
www.rupertspira.com