General Advice

I wrote this as a response to someone that wrote in. I thought it might be helpful to others too so have posted it here.

I am sorry to hear that you have been suffering and living in fear and confusion. I know what this is like, and I know you must have a great deal of strength and courage to carry on. Good for you - and keep going!

There are a few things I would like to say to you. Please bear in mind though that this is only my opinion and I could easily be wrong. Sure I now have things largely controlled, and haven't been put away in hospital for 10 years and have been off medication for almost as long, but things are still sometimes difficult. I work full-time though, as a lecturer in computing, and live what I generally think is a worthwhile life. But sometimes it's hard and I still have doubts whether I'm doing the right thing (should I not be doing shamanism full-time?). I do shamanise to some degree, through healing, dreams, astral travel, writing, nature walks, music, and without these I think I would soon become insane again.

Anyway, from what I have myself decided, other people can't read your mind. It really seems like they can, but I don't believe they can anymore (although I once did). I just think that you are floating in the "interconnectedness of everything" and can see all the connections, the currents that flow throughout the world and its implicit consciousness. In a similar way, when people are on mind-altering drugs then it always seems to them that everyone else they meet is also on these drugs - which they aren't. I do know how you feel though. It is this prolonged exposure to the "interconnectedness of everything" that sends us crazy, not the consciousness itself. If you can find your way back to "ordinary reality" then you will be fine. I know it's a hard thing to do when all you really want is to go deeper into the mystery. But don't worry - the mystery will still be there when you are ready to return again.

To gain this control over your consciousness you must overcome your fear. It is normal and natural to feel fear, but you must lose this fear now. First of all, lose your fear of losing this special consciousness (for you will truly keep this consciousness forever if you wish to). Then lose your fear of other people. Lose the fear that you have of your words or deeds causing disaster in the world. That fear will cripple you.

So how do you lose the fear? By stilling your mind. By accepting that you are "already dead". By daring to be alone in a vast and mysterious world. By ridding yourself of emotions. If possible, avoid having a sexual relationship. Do not look to others for the answers (except perhaps helpful characters in dreams and meditations) - they are all inside you.

Once I started to lose the fear my recovery was extremely quick - just a matter of months, although I had previously been constantly psychotic and extremely scared for 4 years.

I hope that this helps. It certainly worked for me, but do remember that your path may well be somewhat different from my own.