The Bridge

There is just a small bridge between me and the PLAI perspective. One little bridge that can transform everything. All I have to do is… well, cross it.

  Do you know that spilt second of a moment before the words come out, before the thought has come, before the action is made? It is this small spilt second where you can actually feel that unknown space.

In that moment the unknown is lingering like a fog, whispering the echos of unlimited choices. These choices are running wild in this unseen world. They run free. Their freedom is almost scary sometimes. Intimating to believe and to be aware of how free these choices run around in the air, alive in their chance and potential. Then as this spilt second falls and the words come out, the thought is made, the action is done… well, they freeze. 

These once free choices dancing among the unseen world, FREEZE.

Suspended more likely, as if each one some how has been put in a cage. Hit a dead end. Trapped. Ugh, wow does that feel heavy to spell out. But I feel it is important to spell out. Because, it really does feel that way. The once wispy air full of breeze turns to concrete! What is happening here?! That is a big change and it must have an impact on our energy. 

I started to ask myself these questions. These feelings must be articulating something. After some reflection, I have come to realize that the in between space ( the unknown) is life. It is not ‘life’ in the terms of, ‘oh, that’s what my life is like.’ But more like ‘life’ in the terms of,

 ‘The beating force that creates living beings.’ It is our natural make up to be in unknown. We are UNKNOWN. That is what organic matter is! It is organic, it changes, it is abstract, it is unpredictable!

 Why is it then that I often find myself still trapped in definite choice making? Trapped in thought patterns like, ‘these three choices are my only options, there is no other way, that cant work.’ These thought patterns hold: judgment, expectations, standards, and defeat. That energy is what creates the CONCRETE that traps the freeness readily available. 

The in-between space, that spilt second where choices run free, is the energy of play. Play as in being curious, open, unlimited possibilities, and freedom. Play is the energy I must sit with more. This energy in between words, thoughts, and actions must be nourished. The freedom needs our attention. It is our true make up of life, yet how often to we deny it? Correction, how often do we even pay attention to it? 

In the busyness of our routines we sometimes can not even recognize the space between our thoughts, words, or actions. I find this more often then I’d like to admit. 

The Bridge.

Bridges hold symbolism from so many cultures and have a huge impact on psychologist like Carl Jung. It is found in practices of sand tray, art therapy, and more. 

I could do a whole blog just on the history of this symbolism, but I will save that for another time. In this moment I want to just reference Jung’s description of his concept, the active imagination. Active imagination is a state of being that Jung believed was key to bridge our unconscious and consciousness to create wholeness.  

“The great joy of play, fantasy and the imagination is that for a time we are utterly spontaneous, free to imagine anything. In such a state of pure being, no thought is ‘unthinkable.’”  (p.5, Jung on Active Imagination)

In this it describes how imagination is our bridge. Imagination is freedom. To bring this into my life more I am going to begin to practice a simple meditation to nourish this state of pure being. I would love for you to join me in this practice.

The practice is call “On the Bridge.” It is not about getting to the other side and I want that to be known. It is about just simply being on the bridge, existing between lands and just being. 

To shift into this perspective and see it nourish the freedom in your life begin with the first step. The first step is to discover that moment that exist before your thoughts, words, and actions. Once you can become watchful of that moment, no matter how quick it is, see if you can slowly expand that moment. Letting that time exist a little longer. Then let yourself send love to those moments when they emerge.

Visually, to aid the process, you can picture yourself stepping on to the bridge ( before a thought, word, or action) and taking a seat on the bridge. While taking the seat on the bridge simply just breathe and be watchful. I fully do not expect this time to feel like nothingness and quiet. I expect this time to feel like you are simply observing all the wild choices flying in the breeze around you. Just watching, even allowing yourself to tap into the feelings of awe and wonder as you watch the mysteries of unknown. Then when your ready continue on into your routine. 

This can look like 30 seconds to a 10 minute experience. It does not have to be long, but you might find after a few times that you crave to stay on that bridge a little longer as you grow more comfortable with the unknown. 

The first step described is a way to practice this perspective in every day life. To learn to expand that energy and nourish it deeply this can be done as a full meditation either at the beginning of your day or the end of your day. 

I have developed a simple worksheet template and meditation audio you can download when you subscribe to PLAI. Simply sign up with your email and you can receive these to expand your practice. I look forward to practicing this with you, let me know how this experience impacts your day!

Practice & Play 

Wishing you free, 

Jenn Matthes