Baddogma's Other Meta Cafe- Polite Discussions About Scientific Mysticism and General Weirdness

OMG I had the most amazing dream tonight. They came in a huge Enterprise-like ship. I watched how they circled a bit and landed on a big meadow. They were almost human, but light blue, different hair and headform a little bit, but OMG!

So cool

originally posted by: Mousygretchen
a reply to: TEOTWAWKIAIFF

I would be afraid that if I tried that my inner dialogue would go crazy. Or I would fall asleep.

Actually I think the salt water tank would be the ultimate sleep container. Better than any mattress.

There was a time Joe Rogan would not shut up about his deprivation tank haha. What was it called "altered states?" Some terrible movie he likes about the subject John Lilly I guess is in that. He tried to prove mental telepathy with dolphins if I remember right. He was taking disassociatives on top of it all.. I forgot to look for watercress last time I was at the store, it sounds like it would be a cool taste to make dressings for.

Anyway meditation is it's own sensory deprivation.. That's one of the basic reasons why it's so damn cool. Of course it only goes so far, if you hear something like a truck go by, and your body is of course feeling whatever you are falling into from gravity.

It was a bit of an obsession of mine in my younger days to make my own sensory deprivation areas, without ever knowing it was a concept other people used. The closest I got was a solid body high and an insanely soft bed, pitch black darkness, and meditation.. I used to meditate laying down on my back.

And then I flew through the electric light universe!



Hey Teot I see your NIMH and raise you one NTNU!

The Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU)

"Given the popularity and effectiveness of meditation as a means of alleviating stress and maintaining good health, there is a pressing need for a rigorous investigation of how it affects brain function," says Professor Jim Lagopoulos of Sydney University, Australia. Lagopoulos is the principal investigator of a joint study between his university and researchers from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) on changes in electrical brain activity during nondirective meditation.

During meditation, theta waves were most abundant in the frontal and middle parts of the brain.

"These types of waves likely originate from a relaxed attention that monitors our inner experiences. Here lies a significant difference between meditation and relaxing without any specific technique," emphasizes Lagopoulos.

"Previous studies have shown that theta waves indicate deep relaxation and occur more frequently in highly experienced meditation practitioners. The source is probably frontal parts of the brain, which are associated with monitoring of other mental processes."

Alpha waves were more abundant in the posterior parts of the brain during meditation than during simple relaxation. They are characteristic of wakeful rest.

"This wave type has been used as a universal sign of relaxation during meditation and other types of rest," comments Professor Øyvind Ellingsen from NTNU. "The amount of alpha waves increases when the brain relaxes from intentional, goal-oriented tasks.This is a sign of deep relaxation, -- but it does not mean that the mind is void."

Neuroimaging studies by Malia F. Mason and co-workers at Dartmouth College NH suggest that the normal resting state of the brain is a silent current of thoughts, images and memories that is not induced by sensory input or intentional reasoning, but emerges spontaneously "from within."

"Spontaneous wandering of the mind is something you become more aware of and familiar with when you meditate," continues Ellingsen, who is an experienced practitioner. "This default activity of the brain is often underestimated. It probably represents a kind of mental processing that connects various experiences and emotional residues, puts them into perspective and lays them to rest."

Science daily

I used to argue with people that their thoughts are not their thoughts, but it never seemed to sink in what I meant.



So... Remember the Theta waves from above?

(Figure 1 represents the relationship between sleep stages and EEG, EMG, and EOG patterns.) When awake, most people exhibit brain wave, (EEG) patterns that can be classified into two types of waves, beta and alpha

The first stage of sleep is characterized by theta waves, which are even slower in frequency and greater in amplitude than alpha waves. The difference between relaxation and stage 1 sleep is gradual and subtle. As the sleeper moves to stage 2 sleep theta wave activity continues, interspersed with two unusual wave phenomena.

web.mst.edu...

Basically when I used to meditate I needed a lot less sleep. You can move much faster into stage 3 and 4 and REM if you already can do theta on your own. I guess I mean, that's what it seemed like to me.. Like I didn't need that because I already did it.




Brainwave basics:

The frequency of beta waves ranges from 15 to 40 cycles a second. Beta waves are characteristics of a strongly engaged mind. A person in active conversation would be in beta. A debater would be in high beta.

Alpha brainwaves are slower, and higher in amplitude. Their frequency ranges from 9 to 14 cycles per second. A person who has completed a task and sits down to rest is often in an alpha state. A person who takes time out to reflect or meditate is usually in an alpha state.

The next state, theta brainwaves, are typically of even greater amplitude and slower frequency. This frequency range is normally between 5 and 8 cycles a second. A person who has taken time off from a task and begins to daydream is often in a theta brainwave state. A person who is driving on a freeway, and discovers that they can't recall the last five miles, is often in a theta state

Individuals who do a lot of freeway driving often get good ideas during those periods when they are in theta. Individuals who run outdoors often are in the state of mental relaxation that is slower than alpha and when in theta, they are prone to a flow of ideas. This can also occur in the shower or tub or even while shaving or brushing your hair. It is a state where tasks become so automatic that you can mentally disengage from them. The ideation that can take place during the theta state is often free flow and occurs without censorship or guilt. It is typically a very positive mental state.

The final brainwave state is delta. Here the brainwaves are of the greatest amplitude and slowest frequency. They typically center around a range of [1.5 to 4 cycles per second. They never go down to zero because that would mean that you were brain dead. But, deep dreamless sleep would take you down to the lowest frequency. Typically, 2 to 3 cycles a second.

It is a well known fact that humans dream in 90 minute cycles. When the delta brainwave frequencies increase into the frequency of theta brainwaves, active dreaming takes place and often becomes more experiential to the person.

Scientific American

a reply to: Peeple

Jealous!

I hanv't had an alien dream in so long.. I think the last one was fake Nibiru around the dark star and a few other planets.. then fake alien invasion with giant robot exterminators.. I died a lot in that one, the damn missiles could lock on to your body and the lasers... ugh.. AND I picked up a pizza and only got to eat one piece azzholes.. LMAO..

Any more detail peeps?

Now I'm excited to go back to sleep.

a reply to: Reverbs

My heart races, there wasn't that much happening, like a disk with a "habitat module" cube attached, which made it look almost like Enterprise. Absolutely no sound.
They just landed and at least 5 "people" came out. One of them caught my eye more than the others, but details? Difficult to say. The gist seemed to be they're collecting some of us before shtf. Global blackout and stuff, volcanos going off, all at once...

I'm slightly weirded out by the nose dive the plane took on that highway + a Russian plane went down in Syria today too.
I wanted Berlin to burn and Paris went up in flame. Plus german military hardware seems to be continously malfunctioning.

Oh gosh I hope nobody embarrasses me and pulls some trigger happy bs.

a reply to: Peeple

German military sucks and has sucked. I don't think the people have the will for it.. You know history and all that.

and planes crash. The American plane was 50 years old. The Russian plane who knows, sounds like engine failure, they say due to birds. It was in a non combat area.

who's going to get trigger happy? 200 Russian mercenaries were wiped out by major us air power near a us position in Syria earlier this year, and Russia didn't do anything about it.



As far as dreams I had a very close encounter last night hehe. she was blue...



there were zombies in the house, i had to kill them.. then we were discussing with her friend who was more greenish blue which powers we had. green girl could run really fast, blue girl died a lot could shapeshift into a little baby goat thing haha.. but you cant kill her she just warps back together.. I of course as always can fly, and go through walls..

they had their cars outside my brother was there he got in the front car with blue chick, I got in the back car but greenish girl didnt get in she grabbed the car door window was down and started running hahaha.. she was driving the car flinstone style and crazy fast..holy # of course in front of us are all these ramps like hotwheels car ramps.. it was ridiculous.

then we were in like an alien hideout.. which was a regular hotel room. the cable tv however was a communication device. those alien chicks had the cheekiest smiles.. I learned about guns and ammo.. from the tv, and they had their instruction.

so then we flew through space and I had to take out the asteroids.

I left out a few sex scenes and a lot of zombies, flying, house break ins.. ammo collecting, new weapons..

but yea good morning ATS..

a reply to: Reverbs

Meditation is such an interesting thing..

I think there are also a TON of different ways to do it. That may seem obvious, but when you think about it.. the same concepts are generally used to describe it by most folks.

My experience with it seems to be the antipode of most. I do the opposite of sensory deprivation and attempt to let ALL sensory information come through simultaneously.

I use the "falling" feeling of gravity as a constant and a foundation. Things like a truck driving by end up deepening my meditation as a matter of course.

I think the difference might derive mainly from one thing: many use it as a form of escapism, or disconnecting. Or, at the very least a way to "reduce" sensations like stress.

It always felt more natural to me to go in the opposite direction. To remove the limited focus we generally place on our perceptions. Hell, we tend to use the center of our vision so much that it wears out at a different rate than the rest. Though, I do suspect that is at least in part due to changing environment and the nature of our tools.

Anyway, meditation for me has always been about integration. The systems within my being, and then the system of my being with existence. I actually found the whole practice of disconnecting (shut off the mind, shut off thoughts, etc.) to be detrimental, especially when used as the only "being practice."

I have no doubt, however, that it can yield benefits. Just that it embroils us further into the very things we are attempting to escape. That whole landscape is funny like that!

a reply to: Reverbs

I have a light and sound machine that takes your attention, focuses it upon alpha, slows down to beta, and go to theta and delta (sleep), then it reverse ramps you back to being awake! In summer time, there is near 20 hours of daylight and popping wide awake at 4 am was keeping me from sleeping properly. So I bought one. It is a set of "sun glasses" and headphones that block out those senses.

The sound part is binaural beats. They sync to 4 different colored LEDs. They flash in time with the music tones (just a basic tone but you can side-chain in another music source if you want). Anyway, the swirling lights, the alternating flashes, the binaural beats, train your brain to track onto it. There are something like 40 different programs on there. Like deep relaxation, or a 15 minute nap! I used it for deep delta. I would get an hour of held delta waves which made up for the loss of sleep. The meditation ones are cool. One is for creativity. You are talking my speak!!

I got good enough to induce sleep when needed that I hardly touch it anymore.

I should probably break it back out for having fun with the oatmeal between my ears!!

@Peeple, my sleep has been utilitarian of late. Glad you are glad and that you had a good one! One that I had that I remember is a whole bunch of ships just appearing in the sky one evening. I went on board and there were many species. I tried one of their beers. I gave them a mushroom and they one upped me with this blue stuff I shot up with. Tripped balls like NPH in Harold and Kumar!!


For you Reverbs (and everybody else thinking about The Other and maybe going out searching), some music I am listening to...

a reply to: Serdgiam

my meditation was sort of a mix of what you described and what other people talk about. my thoughts do go away, but Im not trying to be blank.. for me its a cut the noise enhance the signal game..

like raise up the energy!


bbbbbzzzzzzZzzZZZeeeeeEEEEEEEE!!!

I later found a meditation similar to it and it was called kundalini meditation. Made perfect sense to me based on my experiences ha.


I also used to do what you describe because it was for me to be more conscious. like stretch out my awareness.

a reply to: Reverbs

Theta wave state seems like a good place to find oneself. The subject might be afraid of what they see. Sounds like the danger zone. Like flying for the first time. It's liberating but also risky.
I experience mood swings which leads to shifting emotions and that messes with my thoughts.
You would think thoughts would be more solid than feelings but I find this is not so.
And yeah do watercress with a vinaigrette but you can do cream based dressing too I suppose.

If I could magnify the theta state of mind then I could exist in the space between.
And the psychics would have nothing to listen to!

a reply to: Mousygretchen

im thinking some sort of simple fresh lemon and oil base hehe..

so I have to think more about cooking now and making up recipes. i think ill do a fried flounder plate some sort of fresh slaw and fries for tomorrow special..

this is our testing period. if we hold it together get the orders right then we will get a nice pay increase..

im going to help make the schedule tomorrow.

this is why i focus on mundane for now. im on to the next step of running my own kitchen. or actually it hasnt sunk all the way in but im co kitchen manager now... long day time for a drink.

a reply to: Reverbs

Yeah lemon juice is always nice or you could use lime juice. Next time you make a salad try adding peach slices and grapefruit juice. Or apricot slices.
Congratulations!!!! ^.^ those little potatoes are good for roasting too.

a reply to: Mousygretchen

It would be easier to talk food with you if I knew what kind of food your customers are used to eating, how much your spending (because I know restaurants have to be cost efficient) and the foods you are most familiar with.
I know it's not ideal, but you have to be grounded in reality for now.

a reply to: Mousygretchen

haha I can spend what I like I just have to cost it out and price it at a certain margin. for now its going to be simple Im going to use old menu items people miss as specials. like we serve pan seared scallops for instance.. ny york strips, on down to burgers and salads, wraps.

but food talk is not really my thing i like to just make it up and surprise people..

it depends on what I need to get rid of. right now thats flounder and cabbage.

thats easy.. i just changed the mac recipe to actually goodness. very simple. mainly its the business end because its many people helping and its many companies to order from so communicatiin, and business savy is key... fir instance we have graduation and mothers day not this sunday but next... so we better have the right ammount of food..

thats what i need to nail down and be aware of events like cinco de mayo too.

stock up on ingredients for pico de gallo and nachos.

it feels like a weight lifted off my shoulders. odd taking on a lot more feels like less weight.


scheduling.. thats also key.. we now have holes.. i might have to work 7 days for a week or two. but Ill figure that out tomorrow if we are slow eniugh because at the same time we are the only line guys.


so since the only good line guys are also the rest too we will have to figure out when we can jump off the line for an hour. I dont have a ton of options scheduling wise we are down to like 5-6 people.

a reply to: Reverbs

a reply to: Reverbs

Can you get off the line after lunch?

a reply to: Reverbs

It sounds like you have every thing under control.... you know what to expect in terms of when it gets busy. It's always safe to be cautious and buy enough so that you won't run out of food. I want you to succeed. I think the management part is trickier though.

a reply to: TEOTWAWKIAIFF

I just remembered I didn't ask if you were at the Frank Turner concert, how was it?

Can you believe that piece of sh1t was stalking me a few years ago? Showed up where I worked, hacked my laptop camera and everything. Yet when I tried to talk to him when I was in England they treated me as if I was the problem.

Also he #ed a little girl in Sierra Leone and wasn't even ashamed to post the most irritating obviously pedophile picture on his blog when he came back.
If there is one person on this planet I want to see rot in jail it's him.

a reply to: Peeple

I didn't make it.

Now it sounds like I am glad I didn't! It would have been a good test of my super-bad-vibe-dar though! I was in a class
with this guy I didn't like. I never could really put my finger on why but he was one of those "try too hard to be your friend" types which I hate anyway. One day I walk into class, we are talking and the teacher mentions dude wont be coming back. Later found out that he did not put his time he did for possession of kiddie porn on his application to be a student. They booted him out and I think they have to put why on the exit paper work.

But that seems to work on people for me. I just know which ones are off. I may not know why but it does work.

Had I gone, I wonder if it would have set off the alarms!

What have been up to, baby?

(Seriously, I have Nine Inch Nails on, All Time Low, is playing. He ends a couple lines, "...baby." I'd put on but I think the lyrics thing prevents me. It reminds me of RHCP in a trippy kind of way! It ends with, "...baby. And stretch across the sky. Stretch across the sky...")

a reply to: TEOTWAWKIAIFF

It's always the ones collecting "friends" like stamps that are psychopaths. And those preaching forgiveness who need it the most themselves.

There's a German comedian who says "die mit allen Wassern gewaschen sind, sind meistens nicht ganz sauber" super funny.
I was the last few days mostly busy eating healthy (fill up on minerals and vitamins) and not much tbh.
Disapointed I still didn't get my spaceship.
And I was planing a trip to Etna, when I saw your contribution in the volcano watch thing... now I don't know with my luck I go there and it crumbles and errupts probably...
baby