Trapped in a Web of Certainty (Addendum)

Trapped in a Web of Certainty (Addendum)

By Paul W. Marko, Ph.D.

Since writing and posting the article, Trapped in a Web of Certainty a month ago, I have had much positive feedback from readers. Some have used the techniques proscribed as personal development cues and others have employed the ideas as teaching tools and points of departure for working with clients on growths issues. I thank everyone for taking the time to give me feedback, both positive and developmental.
Because of the feedback, I am motivated to post an addendum that explains two additional techniques that might serve to expand realities and break up developmental impediments.
Because of the adoration and reverence for normal waking consciousness (NWC) the rational, left-brain dominates the perspective of the conventional (C1 and C2) consensual network that most people refer to as reality. The main part of the brain, the cerebrum, is divided into two hemispheres with independent, but shared functioning. Although linked together by the corpus callosum, and able to communicate, the two halves have different functions and specialties. The left half is responsible for critical judging, verbal expression and logical thought while the right hemisphere maintains a different focus. It houses the imagination, spatial relationships, abstract concepts and the ability to access intuition. In some areas in South America, the right brain is called the “God Brain.” Autopsies done within the recent past demonstrate that the two hemispheres at the time of death are seldom the same size. This inequity results not in an overuse of one half, but the underemployment of half of the brain.
In order to free ourselves from the habitual conventional mindset it is important to work our way out of the domination of the left hemisphere and open our perception to some of the insights that the right brain has to offer. Of course, the first step involves realizing the extent to which your thoughts and actions are ruled by the ambient C1 and C2 worldview. The main body of this article articulates a broad brush of ideas related to this topic. Minimizing the viewing of or reading mass media from conventional sources (corporations, governments and others with a vested interest in keeping you in the confines of conventional thinking) is a good first step in cleaning the lens of your mind in preparation for new awareness. The elimination of coincidence, allows the non-logical right side of the brain to play (the right hemisphere is the playful half) with holding ambiguity and fostering creative insights. Other ways to engage non-conventionally oriented parts of the brain include meditation, the contemplation of koans (conventionally illogical propositions or questions), vision questing and various other forms of consciousness alteration or absorbing creative endeavors. Below are suggested two additional ideas that will contribute to the journey to full brain functioning.
The first suggestion, laughingly entitled surfing the HYP, exploits a time when the left brain (and its firm bonding of individual perception to the consensual network) is less than fully engaged in order to momentarily increase the frequency range of our current perceived reality. Upon awakening, we look around and see that we are again in normal waking consciousness. Immediately the left hemisphere takes charge; begins to make judgments and switches on the internal dialogue system to attempt to screen out direct insights by confounding right brain intuition with analysis and superfluous diversions. NWC attends to making judgments and finding diversions until an alternative mode of consciousness (for example; sleep) begins. In effect, NWC, tunes only to a one channel (the 5 senses of awareness or the 5 cents network) excluding all other frequency ranges of consciousness (of which there are many) outside of our very limited field of perception. Accessing these alternative channels allows glimpses into different realities and may have the affect of loosening the stronghold, (stranglehold) that NWC and the left brain has on what is allowed to be seen and known. One way to access these censored channels is to capitalize on a window of time when waking awareness is maintained, but only to a limited degree, and to seize on a time when NWC is not in total control.
When entering and leaving sleep humans pass through states of consciousness that are neither waking nor sleeping. Known as the hypnopompic and hypnogogic states (HYP) these momentary windows present opportunities to glimpse outside the frequency range of NWC while still in semi-conscious awareness. It allows access to other forms of knowing while still maintaining a mindfulness of what we are observing and that we are the observer.
To practice, one can access HYP while in the process of awakening or just before falling asleep. Be mindful as you begin to awake or as drifting into sleep as to your state of mind and attempt (rather than springing into full NWC or plunging into sleep) to “Surf the HYP” by staying in HYP as long as possible. Encourage your brain to keep you from sleep and roll back into HYP if you begin to pop into NWC. Benefits from this band of consciousness are often realized by sudden insights upon awakening or extremely vivid dreams that occur in the early morning and seem freakishly much more real than a dream.
I personally have benefited from insights gained in this range and you may recall benefiting as well. Using this method for gaining direct insight will foster a trust in your instincts and encourage using intuition (knowledge gained from the inside).
A second suggestion arises from research done regarding evolving consciousness. It has been shown that exposure and training in the concepts and ideas held in the expanded ranges of consciousness can stimulate the releasing of limiting conceptualizations and the embracing of more complex and profound ideas. This process likely involves the cognitive recognition of the idea and, if not immediately rejected, can involve the consideration and perhaps the understanding of the concept. The leap from understanding to embracing might involve the unfolding of life’s process (time and circumstance) or a concerted effort to place the new idea into practice. At any rate, the second idea involves looking at the concept of self and exploring this concept at various stages of consciousness development and then using the new concept of self to help eliminate routine fears, improve confidence and perhaps improve self- understanding.
As stated in the main body of this article, an overwhelming majority of individuals today, exist in C1 or C2 consciousness. In other words, most people see reality, make value judgments, and define good and bad based upon this collective worldview. This viewpoint represents the consensual network that most people are plugged into and determines to a large extent how human kind and its institutions act. This perspective, because of its power of influence and total authority to define right and wrong bares the responsibility for all of society’s triumphs and foibles. It defines what’s for dinner and who eats.
The type of consciousness experienced prior to this range can be referred to as preconventional. Most humans pass through this worldview on the way to the conventional viewpoint that for most of us falls into place around the age of 7.
This perspective could be characterized as one of radical self-interest. Might makes right and life is a jungle where only the strong survive. From this perspective, society and its structures are viewed as something that can and should be outwitted in order to get what one wants. No long term consequences are considered and only a basic set of emotions color the experiences for this no holds barred construction of reality. Most individuals will revert to this worldview from conventional consciousness or beyond when faced with extreme danger in the instances where fear melts away valor.
Many worldviews have been defined beyond the conventional range and involve more complex viewpoints and an ever expanded concept of the self. Where the preconventional personality defines the self as the individual – in the time frame of today, the conventional mind can see him or herself as part of a family or a cultural group – over the span of many years. The postconventional personality beginning with self-concepts and timeframes just slightly more encompassing than the conventional worldview, can eventually expand to see all of mankind and perhaps all of existence as self and view its continuation over an infinite amount of time. This radical expansion of the concept of self and the overwhelming empowerment that accompanies it is the focus of the second idea. And like in the first idea, the hemispheres of the brain play a role.

The left brain analyzes and the right brain synthesizes. The analysis process breaks things apart, sees separation, labels components and highlights differences. The synthesis process does just the opposite, it unites, brings together, finds similarities and “unlabels.” In preconventional consciousness reality is broken down to the self (the individual body) as the unit of concern. Everyone else is the “other.” Actually, in this range of consciousness the individual often refers to his or her hands, or other body parts as being separate perpetrators of actions acting independently from the human body unit as a whole. From this vantage point, one is small, separated and alone, a viewpoint that must engender fear, although often this fear is often expressed as anger. Consider the helplessness of this perspective.
Conventional consciousness exists as a bit more synthesized, but still dangerously separate. In C1, reality morality and beliefs often define the other and limit the self-concept to those with similar values. Religions often, although not always, form a repository for housing separate identities with which the self can identify. Of course there is always a diversity of beliefs in the world (the left brain at work) and so the role of sole moral standard barer is often treacherous and inspires endless crusades (wars) to protect the self-concept of the righteous individuals who hold a particular viewpoint. This is an uncomfortable position huddled inside of a belief system, especially since analysis keeps creating new others from within the ranks of self. The C2 worldview sees the world and the self in a similar way. Although tending to prefer more secular divisions (city, state, country), the self is still vulnerable from the attacks of other C2 and C1 groups. Corporate sport team business reinforce and play on this nationalistic (unit of self) tendency in C1 and C2 individuals to create allegiances and emotional involvement (and of course money). These perspectives necessitate armies to protect borders and waive flags to inspire the ultimate sacrifice for the avidly held, miniscule, self – identity of a country, religious doctrine, economic system or ethnic identity. Prisons to house the others eat up a large part of natural resource and the sweat of human labor to protect this fear encrusted, conceptualization of self. The most expanded ranges of consciousness live in a very different reality.
In the most expanded ranges, the parts of the cerebrum play different roles in the constructing of reality. The left brain is employed at the discretion of its owner and used primarily as a tool to communicate to individuals seeing the world in more constricted stages of consciousness. The right brain allows the individual as observer to take an enormously protracted vantage point. At these highest levels, one becomes one with infinite consciousness which is everything that is. Others don’t present a threat because there are no others. Consider the power of a self-concept of infinite consciousness – all that there is. Vulnerability vanishes because infinite consciousness cannot be destroyed. Death becomes a non occurrence since the life that is being experienced today is simply a vantage point taken by infinite consciousness to subjectively observe objective reality. Life becomes a flow of experience as the novel writes itself and the flow of the action can be fully experienced in all of its delight and color without the numbing and blinding affects of fear. Imagine how empowered you would be if you were to embrace this perspective.
Therefore, the second idea involves simply imagining the limitations that these other viewpoints have and trying to imagine the power and fun you would have by embracing the idea that you are limitless consciousness – free to experience life to its fullest.
Be prepared, however, because it is certain that your left brain is not going to let you get away with this exercise so easily. It will analyze and throw up problems with any idea outside of the range of consciousness that you are now seeing the world through. I invite you to take control of your left brain (it won’t like this either) and tell it to be quiet and take a break for a while. And then, in a calm and relaxed manner, read over the description of infinite consciousness (written in italics above) with a blank and empty mind. Do it as often as possible without the help of your left-brain. And since the devil demands its due, promise your left half a good old fashion corporate sporting event, political discussion or simply having great fun analyzing the faults of your spouse, child or parents.

Trapped in a Web of Certainty

Trapped in a Web of Certainty

By Paul W. Marko, Ph. D.

Both collectively and individually we are ascending the ladder of expanding consciousness. Together we climb, as if knotted in the strands of a spider’s web, each of our personal transformations influencing the whole of mankind. Through lessons learned from our personal defeats and triumphs we move constantly forward bound together as one – one organism, one consciousness. As each of us arrives at a new rung on the ladder, a new individual platform for viewing reality is achieved. Simultaneously, our collective knowing increases and mankind advances along the path of communal unfolding. 
This phenomenon of the evolution of consciousness has been observed and studied down through the millennium both as a shared experience and as a personal event. The demarcations in this growth have been charted by all the great spiritual traditions and more recently by lay researchers as well. Because each individual in each lifetime conveniently recapulates the growth process, it has been possible for characteristics of each stage to have been inventoried, labeled and studied. These efforts reveal how each stage of development or platform for viewing the world differs from one another. Each successive new perspective on life demonstrates a conceptual expanding on the definition of the individual, moral framework and conceptual complexity.
For the sake of clarity, expedience and the purposes of this article, it can be said that the bulk of mankind at the current moment view the world from two general stages of consciousness development. In other words, most of us are seeing the world through two separate lenses within a range of understanding called conventional consciousness. In this article these two worldviews will be referred to as C1 and C2 consciousness.
The C1 lens is strongly influenced by conventional group wisdom and conformity to societal morays. This mindset sees great wisdom in traditional approaches and collectively established morals and ethics. This lens defines right and wrong by conventional wisdom. All deviations from those norms are suspect. Values favored by the majority of the group strongly influence judgment and the unwavering application of concrete rules most often supersedes the consideration of case by case exceptions. To this worldview, rules and regulations must be strictly enforced because mankind, left to its own devices without the necessary societal framework, would degenerate into chaos. Harsh consequences for divergence from these norms riddle the cultural infrastructure because to this mindset, the administration of swift and just retribution for divergence from the rule of law is considered critical in maintaining the operational nature of society.
The C2 lens is more strongly influenced by a logical approach although group norms and political correctness often prejudice the application of objective critical analysis. With this worldview, basic morality surrounds hard work as a prime virtue and the achievement of success as the ultimate goal. Although influenced by traditional ethics and values, situational wisdom can be manufactured on the spot to expedite circumstances and produce a winning result. The favored approach to problem solving and decision making is generally the use of a scientific process based in logic. Especially favored by this platform is quantitative analysis which converts information to numbers in order to use formulas to arrive at “findings.” Where the C1 group relies heavily on structure, morals and traditionally established doctrines as their primary source of reliable information, C2 can deviate from these canons and justify actions on logical analysis and situational ethics.
For both groups, common themes prevail because each mindset is closely related and temporary movement between stages frequently occurs. Both find that “time is short” as C1 is imbedded in a work ethic (idle hands are the devil’s workshop) and C2 constantly strives toward financial success, security and the manifestation of materialistic desires. Both groups demonstrate an eagerness to vigorously defend their worldview as if it were the only viewpoint worth considering. They appear to operate blind to the fact that there exist many other versions of reality equally as valid. Some of these other platforms on reality allow for a more all encompassing glimpse of reality that afford an openness to other sources of information, new mental processes and more reliable and accurate forms of knowing. Because of the self imposed blindness within these conventional mindsets, each exist trapped in worldviews that can offer little more than a continuation of what has been accepted in the past. Each play a perpetual rerun as their thoughts wear deeper and deeper ruts into old mental roadways that lead to the same conclusions using the same processes and relying on the same methods of inquiry to get the same results. Unfortunately, their absolute assuredness of being correct tightens the trap of conventionality and as a consequence the mystery of life disappears into certainty and predictability as they eagerly trade the acquisition of deep wisdom for the security of paralysis.
In defense of those viewing the world from the vantage point of conventional consciousness, their entrapment is not entirely of their own making. Many cultural and social factors collude to make these conventional levels of consciousness a particularly dangerous developmental cul de sac. Because the overwhelming bulk of society sees the world through one of these two lenses, there exists an avalanche of peer pressure to maintain these worldviews and discredit all others. Deviations seen by conventional society in the form of opinions coming from both the preconventional and postconventional realms are marginalized and at times dealt with extreme prejudice. Opinions and the people who hold them that stand outside of the conventional viewpoint stand the risk of being criminalized as political deviants or hospitalized for a mental pathology. This confining censorship makes thinking outside of the conventional box not only strange and unfamiliar, but potentially dangerous. In addition, popular media, pander to the conventional stages, because of the large numbers holding those values and the fact that they are easily manipulated because of known limitations on allowed sources of information and the rigidly followed and enforced moral and ethical codes held by both groups. Media constantly reinforces the worldview of conventionality through tales of crime and punishment, success and failure and the graphic depiction of a violent end to the deviant other. So imbedded in the culture of conventionality are the C1 and C2 personalities that it is difficult “for the fish to see the water.”
Realizing the trap of the conventional mind set provides a glimpse of the possible worlds outside of conventionality. Recognizing that there are other realms of meaning making can provide motivation to expand and explore. Studies have shown that cognitively understanding other viewpoints of a more encompassing nature can propel a developmental shift. In addition, self-reflection and the increased understanding of oneself, one’s habitual patterns and automatic tendencies often clears the path toward self-expansion and a broadened viewpoint. Careful study of ones actions and the mindful reflection on life events has the potential to break the stronghold of conventional patterns of thinking and holds the possibly of one seeing considerations never before imagined.
One mechanism that locks in the mindset of each stage is the parameters of accepted information and therefore; it is possible for one to purposely work to expand this aspect in order to work toward a more encompassing worldview. For example, most of us are currently in the stage of human consciousness where logic reigns as the primary form of giving credibility to information – “it is only logical!” The merits of logical processes are numerous and this mechanism for the creation of knowledge and decision making is a valuable tool for human existence. Numerous limitations, however, exist with this sacred process and I believe that it can hardly be held as the ultimate way of knowing for human kind – it is simply a natural steppingstone in the growth process.
Logic demands the use of many processes strung together, most often in a linear fashion the output of one process becomes the input for the next. Each process requires time and is fallible in its own way. In spite of the time demands, for a logical decision to be totally accurate, it must be made on all the data. This totality of information is seldom if ever available. Most decisions are made on all the data available and seldom on all of the data. Missing data can leave holes in the input process necessitating the manufacturing of facts and figures deduced from similar circumstances or supposing statistics based on a linear estimation of the most likely numbers. The passing of time that transpires as the problem winds its way through the algorithm makes the decision a moving target and therefore increases the inaccuracy of the results. In addition, sources of the information, what information is chosen and how data is weighed and manipulated are often colored by the politics of the field (i.e. Engineering, archeology, sociology etc.) and the intended outcome. For example, the American decision to attack Iraq was sold based upon the logic of the threat posed by weapons of mass destruction. The most important quandary posed by holding logic as the supreme method of problem solving is its limiting nature. It stands as a brick wall sealing off other methods of inquiry, inspiration and wisdom. Making logical reasoning the ultimate process held as sacred by conventional consciousness shuts down the growth potential for each individual and therefore in the broader sense, human consciousness.
One word of assurance to those fighting with their egos to accept this line of thinking is that expanding one’s viewpoint does not mean losing access to previously held patterns of thinking. Each individual continues to have access to all of the capabilities, thought patterns and worldviews of all previously held ranges including all aspects of conventional thinking. Reverence for group wisdom and the appropriate use of reason and logic remain available for use when the individual wills and the situation merits. Other sources of knowledge, however, such as intuition, inspiration, imagination and direct, process free insight can be developed and serve to augment previously developed sources of knowledge and wisdom.
In current society, it is difficult to put logic in its place and move toward other forms of knowing. Language itself limits alternatives by making not using logic – illogical. In some arenas, (often big business) not having used a logical process of analysis constitutes a career limiting act. Moving beyond logic often requires study and practice and a strong intention to be open to other information sources. Albert Einstein alluded to the importance of developing these less linear forms of functioning by noting that he felt that imagination was more important than intelligence. Down through the centuries, mankind has employed a myriad of practices to break the bonds of structured, left brain dominated, process oriented thinking. Practices such as meditation, contemplation, vision questing, creativity enhancing practices and courses of study designed to develop one’s intuitive senses have been used by those trying to see into realms beyond common understanding. I would like to suggest a simple practice that might facilitate the breaking up of the opaque lenses of tradition, dogma and logic and reinsert the mystery that is necessary for growth.
One concept that when used obscures the development of intuitive seeing and deep understanding is that of the coincidence. This word quickly dispatches concurrent circumstances not easily explained by attributing what has been seen or experienced as being of a random nature occurring purely out of chance and not worthy of additional attention. Happenings placed in the “coincidence” category dwell as flukes or twists of fate never to be revisited for deeper meaning, further understanding or to find additional connections to what is known or unknown. Maintenance of the concept of coincidence allows a conventional viewpoint to maintain dominion because it eliminates as happenstance phenomenon that do not fit into the currently accepted lens on reality. Thus insuring that all lived experience (outside of those labeled as mere coincidence) can be explained by currently held paradigms, dogma or logic. To move beyond conventionality, mysteries that cannot be explained by the existing perspective must be open to investigation and pondered to allow for growth. Cultivating tolerance for living in the mystery of life allows for the germination of new ideas and concepts paving the way for continued growth. Living in the absolute knowing while tucking all uncomfortable inquiries neatly into either the known or the coincidence categories thwarts the advancement process and stunts consciousness development.
One personal story that I have often used to attempt to propel conventional thinkers into embracing the mystery of life involves a spider who lived on the Hillsboro River in Florida. My wife enjoys photography and is drawn to photographing the mundane often seeing the ordinary in a breathtakingly beautiful way. I often joke with her saying that she could probably photograph spit on a rock and make it a work of art. She was particularly drawn to photographing spider’s webs and on this particular day she was photographing webs from a canoe. I maneuvered the canoe while she worked, trying to put her in the perfect position where she could get a unique shot of the sunrise through the web. I worked to keep her steady while she took shot after shot. While maintaining her position, I glanced around to find an egress and plot a course from the scene to continue our trek downstream. As I scanned the possibilities, I realized that in order for us to progress we would have to pass through a neighboring cobweb, which was equally as stunning as the one with which she was working. Even considering their temporary nature, we both regretted destroying these things of beauty although at this point it seemed necessary. As she finished her shot, I told her that alas we would have to break through the adjacent web to travel further down stream. Just as I made the announcement to my wife, the proprietor of the netting in question emerged and began disassembling the web. Remarkably, in a matter of minutes the spider had disassembled the entire web making a perfect exit path for the canoe.
The web that had been photographed remained in tact and nothing in the environment had changed except the removal of the web that blocked our path. As we proceeded downstream, we confirmed with one another the truly remarkable event that we had just witnessed. Although we ran through several scenarios that might explain the phenomenon it remains to this day a mystery.

This tale is one of many of my life experiences that I hold as precious. I could have easily labeled it as a coincidence, but by not dismissing it as chance or a fluke I opened up the opportunity for deep speculation and/or simply allowing the event to exist without explanation, leaving the ambiguity open as part of life’s wonderment. Allowing a mystery to exist should not be viewed as an indictment of lack of intelligence or a shortcoming in understanding; it is simply part of life – an opening for deeper understanding. By making a practice of noticing events such as this, one can cause them to be seen with increased frequency and can add to one’s personal collection of wonderment.
Often holding this type of event open, without the concrete explanation that washes out all other possibility, allows for learning through the gleaning of metaphor or the seeing of synchronistic relationships to other happenings. Being open to seeing life as a web of happenings and possibilities instead of a random collection of coincidences presents opportunities for deeper understanding and growth. Allowing yourself to “sleep on it” or to tolerate indefinite not knowing are important steps to beginning to see more of life than is available to conventional 5 sense reality.
I invite you to use three techniques that can begin to insert mystery back into your life, help rekindle wonderment and set the stage for a greater ability to see.

• Eliminate the word coincidence as part of your vocabulary. Understand how and why it is used. When you hear it know that its purpose is expedience and see the bleaching effect that it has on the tapestry of life.

• When viewing a circumstance that you would have previously seen as a coincidence, try to look for synchronicities, other events that seem to be related somehow or occur precisely at the same time. Seeing these patterns will open your eyes to more awareness of life’s unfolding process and may hold the key to deeper understanding of who you are, what you are about or revelations previously obscured by coincidence.

• In situations that you might have previously regarded as coincidental, look for physical or metaphorical meaning. This may be a process of seeing but it is also a process of creating. Meaning making is a natural, ongoing practice of the human mind and it has the possibility of creating fantastic realities and extraordinary possibilities. Always see metaphors that expand opportunities for an exceptional life and do not allow limiting or fear invoking messages that can have the effect of restricting your prospects.

At first, this practice might be uncomfortable, bothersome and unnatural. Tolerance for ambiguity is one of the highest of mental functioning and for some takes practice. Individuals that hold concrete opinions naturally have trouble with living in the mystery. In addition, since you will be using the right hemisphere of your brain more and not the logical, opinionated left hemisphere, don’t be surprised if some of the revelations seem comical and make you laugh out loud. Life you will find is a mystery, a grand puzzle for your amazement, amusement and transformation.