Rapt In Awe

rapt in awe is to writing what jazz-fusion is to music. It is a collection of spontaneous mind-drift riffs exploring the nature of reality and how we experience it in each moment. The content of this book is simultaneously very complex and very simple. rapt in awe is full of such paradoxical contentions as it delves deep into the nature of our perceptions of reality, challenging certain common held beliefs. The complexity of the material comes in terms of the language used, often a specific vernacular outside of common use and in terms of deconstructing popular assumptions about the universe and life within it. When one is able to let go of such commonly held beliefs, opening up to a variety of alternative ways of seeing and saying, then the premise of rapt in awe is rather simple. The book is intended to unfold as an exper-iential process for the reader to unveil this inherent simplicity within the myriad complexity of daily life within one’s skin, senses, and extended thoughts. It is my contention that each of us is fully equipped to experience awe in each instant.

Ultimately following conventional modern outlooks leads me to see myself as contained within my skin. This premise influenced all successive perceptions of reality. I take this whole idea head on, challenging this modern mindset, referencing contemporary science, ancient wisdom traditions and spontaneous insights. The aim is to provide a frame-work for interpreting reality – individually and collectively – that supports the ongoing evolution of consciousness. From ‘Unwinding the Mind’ to ‘Revisioning Reality’, rapt in awe is written to inspire personal transformation, recognizing that this is a process unique to each of us and not a linear formula. rapt in awe is intended to start the conversation and the reader’s input in open source dialogue is deeply desired. The content of this book is open to collective revision, remixing, and interactive dialogue. rapt in awe is open to the evolution of consciousness.

Drawing from one particularly catalytic incident in my life that transformed my consciousness, rapt in awe delves into cosmological origins. An incident that verged on being personally catastrophic emerged as a profound personal awakening. At the cusp of global crisis – be it economic or climatic or pandemic – I project the insights from my experience into a call for collective action. I have found that sharing my story in conversations with others has opened opportunities for more complex and intimate relationships with everyone that I encounter. I see this dilation of opening hearts and minds as being the bridge to global trans-formation. Exploring the idea of flow, what I like to call our cosmic groove, and the implications this holds for us as we surf the crests and troughs of moment flowing into moment, rapt in awe invites the inspiration and innovation of the human spirit for collective transformation. I see conscious-ness as something all pervasive in the universe, stretching well beyond you and I, which is able to evolve toward greater complexity. By collective transformation I mean that all of us participate in ushering in more sophisticated modes of being, changing the world as we know it.

What I have found from embracing positivity and possibility is more meaningful relationships and more fulfilling moments. Smiling into the Apocalypse explores how it is that our very thoughts, words, and actions contribute to what comes next. A consistent contention within rapt in awe is how our contemporary assumptions about both reality and consciousness actually inhibit the constructive progression of both. With the pervasive emphasis being placed on barriers and challenges and what is often deferred to being “human nature”, we are constantly co-creating a fragmented reality, a world of separation and isolation. I maintain a simple guiding principle derived from tangible experience with skiing: if you look at the trees or rocks or obstacles, that is what you will hit, if you look at the way in between, around or over, that is where you will go. rapt in awe takes this simple philosophy of looking at the spaces in between and extends it onto all other aspects of life. One of the most topical sections in rapt in awe is Climate Change as a Collective Opportunity our truly first collective global unifying challenge. I contend that transformation requires a catalyst and there is nothing better than imminent crisis for inspiring change.

The Self-Reflecting Universe is a way of seeing ourselves in everything around us. The concept has deep roots in many Indigenous worldviews and finds validation in the fields of quantum theory and theoretical biology. As co-creators of our reality, our personal development is integrally tied to the broader evolution of consciousness. Awareness of personal shadow as the dark matter that we protect and project helps in-form a better world. rapt in awe presents the idea of collective co-creation as the foundation of purpose for each of us. To change the world, we must simply change ourselves – a collective critical mass of us.

At this junction of evolving consciousness and creation, rapt in awe explores the links between our personal development and that of the Cosmos as a whole. Scratching the surface of questions like – Why are we here? What is this all about? What is my purpose in it all? – rapt in awe is an invitation for a broader conversation to aid in collective transformation. Thus rapt in awe will: • Explore emergent perspectives on the nature of reality, and in doing so challenge many commonly accepted outlooks, • Use personal stories as an invitation for the reader’s own personal reflection, • Invite insights and dialogue about frameworks for personal and collective transformation, and, • Provide an interactive platform for such stories, insights, and dialogue to take place. I invite your stories, reflections, and spontaneous insights.