February 9
Day whatever I’ve stopped counting: taking it to the max
I’ve thrown the plan out of the window
It wasn’t working. I really needed an epiphany and I was getting nowhere fast. So it was time to really up the ante. This evening I did a monster practice as follows:
- The entire series for Level 3, using 8 different words for the 4 horizontal and 4 vertical positions (H: Clarity, Awareness, Intuition, Heart; V: Blissful, Energised, Peaceful, Synchronised – these were targeted as I was after some answers around what made me happy). With my eyes closed. And my feet off the floor. (Yep, I was falling about all over the place).
- Followed immediately by a super quick run through of all of Level 2 with eyes open and feet off the floor.
- Followed immediately by a super quick run through of Level 1, saying the positions at speed, with my eyes closed and feet off the floor.
I really wanted an answer, ok.
The result
I had originally just decided to do the first part, but even though I slowed right down at times and was constantly falling over, I still wasn’t getting that brain stuck moment. [Ok, I finally caved. I've emailed Havi (or rather marissa, I hope someone gets it anyway) and have asked for the info for the higher levels.] So I decided to keep pushing and quickly made up parts 2 and then 3.
Same result. The odd stumble. The occasional realisation that the sequence was a little off and start that section again, but no complete brain-freeze stuckness.
[Disclaimer: I'm sorry if this seems like bragging, or rubbing it in to anyone reading who might be struggling with Level 1, but I'm trusting you to understand that my motivation here is simply to express where I'm at with the practice, and not to try and make me feel big with it, or you feel small.]
What next?
Well, I have a couple of ideas:
- Let it be known that I want to take it further and see what info comes my way – DONE
- Make up something completely freaking crazy, like a pattern that never comes back to where it starts, or does so only after 64 moves or something like that – TO DO
I figure I’ll give plan A bit of time to kick in before launching plan B. Either way, could be interesting.
That’s the spirit!!
By the way, when I was practicing DoS, I usually did about an hour a day at the limit of what I could comprehend. I know Havi recommends starting with 5 minutes, but I didn’t come across Havi’s stuff until much later.
Keep on confusing yourself,
~Duff
Duff’s last blog post..duffmcduffee: My purpose in life is to give up trying to know my purpose, to stop living so purposefully and live more ridiculously.
My fingers typed “patience dancing geek shivanaut James” although my brain was going – patience, what are you talking about patience. I wanna do what he’s doing like he’s doing it and be all good and Not sucky at this and I don’t even have Havi’s Starter Kit yet.
Plus you can’t have thrown the plan out the window because you have a Plan A and a Plan B. I’m just sayin’ is all…Now I’m back to doing the arms on your color coded video.
The epiphany will appear when and where you least expect it.
Man what are my fingers typing….I’m leaving now
Minerva’s last blog post..Shiva Nata – Andrey Lappa
happy to see one plan thrown out the window at least…hope no one on the street was hurt!
I’ve just joined the Shivanauts so I’m going to be following this as well…
I agree with Charlie – it’s always fun to through a plan out the window!
Joely Black’s last blog post..How Twitter helped me work out that the universe is hitting me over the head with a bunch of metaphorical cats
@Duff – I would humbly suggest that if you could manage an hour you are either a behemoth of brain power or not making it hard enough! Still, that’s after sucking as much info out of Havi as possible, I don’t know what you were using to learn DoS before you caught up with her. Personally, I find that if I do much more than around 10 minutes a day for a few days I end up feeling really tired.
@Minerva – lol. Just cause I throw one plan out doesn’t mean I don’t have several to replace it! My name’s James and I’m a plan-a-holic.
@chas – the people on the street were fine, I’m the one trying to wave my arms and legs about with my eyes closed whilst standing on one leg!
@Joely – congrats on becoming a Shivanaut! I look forward to reading about your exploits either here or on your blog.