Alex, I cannot tell you how much I appreciate this piece. Thank you for taking the time to synthesize what appears to be a lifetime of embodied wisdom. I relate to this deeply having taken decades to loose myself of the intense, critical scrutiny of a high-level education, which I experienced, basically, as a mind-made prison. I wonder often about how we might protect students from turning the critical methods of academia against their own selves. And wow...all the parts of me that were physically clenched when I opened this email--reading that section was like being confronted by a kind and loving witness. I first became aware of the left/ right hemisphere duality reading "My Stroke of Insight" by Julie Bolt Taylor. The author, a brain scientist herself, experienced a stroke that took her left hemisphere entirely offline until the blood was cleared via surgery. She spent several days in what can only be described as unitive consciousness--total, mystical bliss. And she lived to write it down. A gift.
Isabel! I haven't read 'Stroke of Insight,' but I'm very familiar with Julie and her story. So inspiring. With you completely, all this raises such interesting and important questions about education. Curious how you escaped the mind prison? I had to seek out right-brain experiences at Dartmouth through music/art classes, literature and .... lots of drug explorations :) But I still remained trapped for a good decade. Thank you sm for this - you just put a massive smile on my face.
I think you know my husband from Dartmouth. Chris Murphy :) I was reading one of your pieces on a flight and he looked over my shoulder and shouted "OLO!" To answer your question: I escaped the mind prison by having babies. First, I had to recover from my own addictive behaviors to become pregnant. Then, it was full embodiment. My mother gave me insight into the profundity of her pregnancies & I knew I had a chance for a sacred experience if I allowed it. And I did. I continue to feel that parenting is a mystical path. You can't dodge or escape (my preferred MO): you have to go all the way through. So many dimensions.
Amazing piece! After going through a period where I got great distance from all my obsessive consumption of screens and podcasts I've recently been ensnared by the news again. It's been so interesting to notice how the left brain builds such incredible momentum in its patterns, suddenly exiting linear ways of thinking and being feels damn near impossible. Do you find that right brain 'being' has a similar addictive momentum to it, or is that more a feature of the left?
Wow, super insightful "At first, I just wanted to stop drinking and using. But eventually, I saw the deeper engine beneath it all: an addiction to thought."
I totally agree, I remember when I started realizing this too. I was meditating as with a monk in Thailand. It hit me how thinking is the primary addiction that underlies all the others. So much clarifies from this point.
Alex I’m trying to go to bed but this piece is too good (and in depth)! As a climate impact Sherpa and consistent overthinker ADHD academic tendency maker but with a driving energy to change things this makes a whole lot of sense. John Doty’s book “into the magic shop” gifted to me by Abt Gaddie also talks through the processes to engage the right brain. Loved the piece - thank you.
This article is excellent! I’ve been struggling to feel my feelings, thinking there has been something “wrong” lately.. a protection that is making me feel off centre. I wrote about this on my Substack after finishing my PhD in vertical farming… realising the elegance of nature’s design cannot reduced to technological and academic tools… starting a spiritual journey.
I’ve been mulling over left & right brain stuff too, hemispheric lateralisation… but framing it as just a simple shift to right brain dominance is quite a motivating idea.. might take some practice. But now I have a sentiment of what I can un-focus on.
As far as practicing this, it's actually best to drop the terms "left and right hemisphere" and just notice more wholeness, in all the ways you can. And thank you so much for this note.
Alex, this one of the best summaries I’ve read about what McGilchrist is on about, and perhaps even more importantly, what to do about it! I’ve practiced Loch Kelly’s methods with good results, and would add that the Headless Way teachings point in a similar direction, including the “single eye” through which we see reality. Some of my most effortless-feeling periods have come when practicing these methods regularly.
I love the Headless Way! I was actually thinking of including that "imagine you have no head pointer" because it's one of the best to immediately drop into RH perspective. And thank you so much for this.
Oh my gosh! Thank you so much for not wishy washing the whole thing and going intensely deep into it. I know some really close ones who're exactly like this...and I immediately sent it to them.
I got excited when I saw that you had written about right vs left brain orientation. Certainly right brain coincides perfectly with the world-as-described by the mystics. But the thing I was interested in is not something you seem to have written about.
I've noticed, quite often, when I meditate, that at a certain point the perceived location of my awareness suddenly drops -- from my head to about my abdomen. I've called it many things, most recently "collapse." It's nothing I do, it just happens on its own, and I've come to wonder if it is my brain, switching hemispheres. From that point forward I usually have no more difficulty with thoughts stealing my attention. I wonder if you have felt this as well. So far no one I have mentioned it to has experienced it.
Alex, I cannot tell you how much I appreciate this piece. Thank you for taking the time to synthesize what appears to be a lifetime of embodied wisdom. I relate to this deeply having taken decades to loose myself of the intense, critical scrutiny of a high-level education, which I experienced, basically, as a mind-made prison. I wonder often about how we might protect students from turning the critical methods of academia against their own selves. And wow...all the parts of me that were physically clenched when I opened this email--reading that section was like being confronted by a kind and loving witness. I first became aware of the left/ right hemisphere duality reading "My Stroke of Insight" by Julie Bolt Taylor. The author, a brain scientist herself, experienced a stroke that took her left hemisphere entirely offline until the blood was cleared via surgery. She spent several days in what can only be described as unitive consciousness--total, mystical bliss. And she lived to write it down. A gift.
https://bookshop.org/p/books/my-stroke-of-insight-a-brain-scientist-s-personal-journey-jill-bolte-taylor/17488679?ean=9780452295544&utm_source=google&utm_medium=pmax&utm_campaign=gift_cards&utm_content=6443417794&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=16235479093&gbraid=0AAAAACfld43LSUt3zYrEPSjh68cq_F-SU&gclid=Cj0KCQjwjo7DBhCrARIsACWauSmfsDd8Sdmv4evjyUinXYe9VeasLnPfI4uIbw7wxjertVxyZLpyVXgaAjxaEALw_wcB
Isabel! I haven't read 'Stroke of Insight,' but I'm very familiar with Julie and her story. So inspiring. With you completely, all this raises such interesting and important questions about education. Curious how you escaped the mind prison? I had to seek out right-brain experiences at Dartmouth through music/art classes, literature and .... lots of drug explorations :) But I still remained trapped for a good decade. Thank you sm for this - you just put a massive smile on my face.
I think you know my husband from Dartmouth. Chris Murphy :) I was reading one of your pieces on a flight and he looked over my shoulder and shouted "OLO!" To answer your question: I escaped the mind prison by having babies. First, I had to recover from my own addictive behaviors to become pregnant. Then, it was full embodiment. My mother gave me insight into the profundity of her pregnancies & I knew I had a chance for a sacred experience if I allowed it. And I did. I continue to feel that parenting is a mystical path. You can't dodge or escape (my preferred MO): you have to go all the way through. So many dimensions.
WHAT?!!!! Yeah I do!! No way. That is truly wild. Talk about small world. Pinging you now
Amazing piece! After going through a period where I got great distance from all my obsessive consumption of screens and podcasts I've recently been ensnared by the news again. It's been so interesting to notice how the left brain builds such incredible momentum in its patterns, suddenly exiting linear ways of thinking and being feels damn near impossible. Do you find that right brain 'being' has a similar addictive momentum to it, or is that more a feature of the left?
Strictly a feature of the left! And thank you so much
Wow, super insightful "At first, I just wanted to stop drinking and using. But eventually, I saw the deeper engine beneath it all: an addiction to thought."
I totally agree, I remember when I started realizing this too. I was meditating as with a monk in Thailand. It hit me how thinking is the primary addiction that underlies all the others. So much clarifies from this point.
Thanks for expressing it so clearly.
Just love hearing that you had the same insight in Thailand
What an incredible post. Thank you so much for every word of it — science and spirituality dance here in a beautiful union of truth.
🥹
Alex I’m trying to go to bed but this piece is too good (and in depth)! As a climate impact Sherpa and consistent overthinker ADHD academic tendency maker but with a driving energy to change things this makes a whole lot of sense. John Doty’s book “into the magic shop” gifted to me by Abt Gaddie also talks through the processes to engage the right brain. Loved the piece - thank you.
Haha, sorry for keeping you awake, mate! And thank you so much.
This is a life-changing read
🙏
This article is excellent! I’ve been struggling to feel my feelings, thinking there has been something “wrong” lately.. a protection that is making me feel off centre. I wrote about this on my Substack after finishing my PhD in vertical farming… realising the elegance of nature’s design cannot reduced to technological and academic tools… starting a spiritual journey.
I’ve been mulling over left & right brain stuff too, hemispheric lateralisation… but framing it as just a simple shift to right brain dominance is quite a motivating idea.. might take some practice. But now I have a sentiment of what I can un-focus on.
Thank you for sharing this 🙏🏻
As far as practicing this, it's actually best to drop the terms "left and right hemisphere" and just notice more wholeness, in all the ways you can. And thank you so much for this note.
Reading this was like a meditation in and of itself! Thank you for sharing this, and sharing how simple it can all be.
I'm so glad to hear the simplicity came through - thank you, Jess!
Alex, this one of the best summaries I’ve read about what McGilchrist is on about, and perhaps even more importantly, what to do about it! I’ve practiced Loch Kelly’s methods with good results, and would add that the Headless Way teachings point in a similar direction, including the “single eye” through which we see reality. Some of my most effortless-feeling periods have come when practicing these methods regularly.
I love the Headless Way! I was actually thinking of including that "imagine you have no head pointer" because it's one of the best to immediately drop into RH perspective. And thank you so much for this.
Art of Seeing - by Huxley has some good stuff on how to use your eyes properly
Very cool, I did not know that!
Oh my gosh! Thank you so much for not wishy washing the whole thing and going intensely deep into it. I know some really close ones who're exactly like this...and I immediately sent it to them.
Thank you, Shruthi! Really appreciate you sharing it
I got excited when I saw that you had written about right vs left brain orientation. Certainly right brain coincides perfectly with the world-as-described by the mystics. But the thing I was interested in is not something you seem to have written about.
I've noticed, quite often, when I meditate, that at a certain point the perceived location of my awareness suddenly drops -- from my head to about my abdomen. I've called it many things, most recently "collapse." It's nothing I do, it just happens on its own, and I've come to wonder if it is my brain, switching hemispheres. From that point forward I usually have no more difficulty with thoughts stealing my attention. I wonder if you have felt this as well. So far no one I have mentioned it to has experienced it.