Retrieving Memory

My friend Cheater Bella got me up inthe air again yesterday. Each moment of living is an opportunity to observe the self. This past year and a half I've learned about the mind body connection on a deeper level in the process of reprogramming after experiencing PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder).

So much of flying involves layers of information taken in through the senses and the brain. Yesterday I experienced the retrieval of these memories. In the beginning it is a tremendous amount to learn but because it is built up on so many layers of "experiencing" the knowledge becomes embedded quite deep.

Cheater works with animals, particularly those that have been damaged. I have also worked with dogs I have rescued. Because animals cannot talk the only way to gather an understanding of what is happening to them is through observation and tapping into your own instinctual knowledge. This all feeds into a deeper understanding of humans. Yesterday Cheater spoke of all these layers of memory. He certainly would have come to this in his work with animals. Because they live more in their bodies than we do and are not so distracted by the constant flow of the thinking mind it is easier to see how they store knowledge in their body mind connection. We store it the same way, be it bad, in the case of trauma or good in the knowledge of a skill.

Pain and suffering are opportunities born in desperation to open the mind and try new things. In my healing journey I began using essential plant oils. After suffering from headaches brought on by the head injury I found that the application of particular plant oils could relieve my pain and that made a believer out of me. In a class I attended by Dana Young, he mentioned that if you are trying to learn something new you could apply Rosemary oil to the third eye area of the forehead. When you needed to recall that information, apply the oil. BodyBrain connection. The more senses you engage, layering associated knowledge, the better you will be able to recall what you've learned.

The simultaneous use of physical input can also be used in meditation to reach a calm state of mind. The more techniques ( focused breathing, chanting, visualization) that are employed at one time, the faster you can stop the barrage of thoughts and reach a zen state.

I have accumulated this knowledge as a dancer,psychology major, pilot, artist, journalist and meditator. In the experience of healing from PTSD I've certainly had to employ every ounce of knowledge I have acquired to this point. This crisis has taught me so much and continues to do so.