Terry Lloyd's Blog, page 41

The Moral Gene.

Human behaviour is such a fascinating scope of interest. Once born, is there an itinerant direction of behaviour or is the social skill of morals slowly acquired by life lessons?

My first thought, when asking about moral motivation, was that of my mother who instilled them in me by telling me the story of the Pied Piper of Hamelin. It was the woe that could follow by not keeping my word that had my little boy self hooked on the idea of what consequences of an action could entail. Not a bad start until I realised many children's stories were lacking in what many might call moral fibre. I mean take Jack and the Beanstalk, just because there is a giant who fancies eating a child or two, is it OK to steal his golden egg laying chicken and when pursued kill the giant? The moral being two wrongs make a right. At least there is Aesop's fables although I question how popular and integrated these are in the notion of children’s literature in the current education system.

Civilisations depend on not just the rule of law but the prevailing moral practices that can alter and reflect the moral principles of that society. Take slavery, contraception, adultery and indiscriminate violence against society. These are everyday parts of life.

Can social behaviour be improved by a Confucius golden rule that one should treat others as one would like others to treat oneself or to forget injuries but never forget kindness. In the same vein a kind action should not just be returned but multiplied by being the first to act to all.

I remember reading what may be seen on surface value as a most depressing book by William Golding called Lord of the Flies. The theme was the destructive nature of humanity. There was a group of boys marooned on an island who when left to their own state of rule turned violently on each other. But how true is that in real life?

A much broader outlook can be seen by the very existence of society that depends on co-operation and in turn reflects in biology. Separate cells come together and form a more complex organism, working together for its own good and then forming a group of like purpose individuals.

Reality programs are an ideal opportunity to see at first hand what the current morality says about a particular example of people. It was quite touching to see an instance of generosity when two teams were set to compete against each other but unknown to one team the victors would win a prize for the opposing team. So by losing they actually had won. While of course at the time they were not aware of this situation, I am glad that most prizes were achieved for them and the short-term mistrust led to a stronger allegiance of the group.

I believe morality is a personal judgement on life's decision and formed by constant review of not only set principles but sometimes failure to achieve those principles. It is not the fall but the getting up that is so important.

As to the moral gene, how would it work? Moral positions can and should change in the light of positive thought on the consequences in human life. It is not a gene that we are all equipped with, it is our intellect to make considered moral personal decisions.

Brainwaves.

Brainwaves, that is the word and the connotations for it can be vast and varying. On a surface value, brainwaves are the stuff of life and death, of the conscious and the unconscious and the dividing line between those weird or wavering waking and sleeping experiences.

If you want to think about the mystery of the mind then you have to first approach how it is linked into the function of the brain. How varying frequencies in activity are bound to conscious awareness. How by understanding the regular natural process of the brain so much good health and potential improvement in everyday life is possible.

The brain is powered by electrical impulses that can be measured by an EEG machine and divided into the following divisions. When we are wide awake there is a range of feelings that show from thirteen to sixty pulses per second and these can be measured on the hertz scale. This conscious state is called Beta, which is the second letter of the Greek alphabet.

Proceeding towards the more passive state of mind, when totally at rest but still conscious the next state of the mind is often thought of as highly enjoyable and can feature in the first stages of meditation. This has the title of Alpha, the first letter of the Greek alphabet. It is when the mind is open to suggestion and the gateway to better health and achievements. This occurs when the pulses range down from thirteen to seven per second. There is a significant increase in endorphins, and dopamine, which enhance the processes of the brain and is a pleasurable experience. Within this area of relaxation is the state that can encompass creativity in imagery and subconscious problem solving.

The next state is the beginning of somnolence and reduced consciousness which occurs at seven to four pulses. This division is called Theta, which is the eighth letter of the Greek alphabet.

Full sleep takes place from four to naught point one pulses per second. This is called Delta and is the third letter of the Greek alphabet. This is a vital time for good health as the brain clears the accumulated detritus and important growth and repair for the body takes place. To deprive sleep is an extreme action of torture physically for the body, so it is important to get a full period of restful sleep, if only to improve the ability of brainwaves to function through the body.

REM or rapid eye movement takes place in connection with dreaming and during this time the body experiences a natural period of paralysis to protect the body from harm. Paralysis during sleep sounds frightening to some, but actually it is a natural means of the body keeping itself immobile during a vulnerable but restful stage.

Understanding brainwaves and the degrees of awareness can be very useful in exploring all the possibilities that conscious thought can give. If you need to come up with a good idea or have to revise for an important exam, then how relaxed you are can influence the brainwaves behind any given success.

There is a natural progression in the process of sleep as I have indicated but of course there can be interruptions that mean an individual’s sleep pattern may keep pausing and then drifting back into each state of awareness. However you do it, whenever you do, sleep is something that many living forms have in common. In some animals, movement is maintained even as they are at their most relaxed state and this could be a life saving ability for them against predatory advances. Brainwaves though, are a very intriguing topic of which to be aware, because how alert you are to the possibilities of what they can do could mean a lot to your life.

The Human Soul.

There are many twists, turns and intriguing perplexities one may encounter but for me, one of the greatest mysteries of life is in fact the afterlife. What happens in those precious moments when the heart stops beating and the lungs cease their constant exchange of oxygen for it then to be motionless. Is there life but not as we know it? The Egyptians and many other cultures left material objects for use in the new life, the one that began after a physical death and these artefacts depicted the concept of a departed soul, that essence of being.

Thousands of instances over time have been reported and investigated, these pertaining to people who have been termed as clinically dead yet on being able to once again regain life they could retell in detail, verifiable sounds and actions that took place during the time that they had been diagnosed as having ceased living. This phenomenon appears to happen with no relation to any thoughts or preconceived beliefs on the part of the person who has returned to life.

One of the things that occurred to me was, is there a progression of death and does this influence the evidence of the particular person who has experienced an NDE? That would make the testimony of a person who has been through a near death experience but seemingly reported evidence of hearing and sight when they should not have been clinically thought able to do so, extremely interesting.

Another thought that seems to go hand in hand with that of a life after death is, if there is one, what form would the afterlife take? Some animals are acutely aware of what appear to be areas of activity where there is nothing visible to other people around them. Why is this so? Do these animal awareness experiences pertain to them being able to see or sense something like presences or objects that others can not? Often in these referred to incidents, the animals in question have indicated having noted something to their human companion and tried to make them alert to its existence to no avail as on numerous occasions the references imply that they have not been detectable by other people.

Could it be that on the rare occasions that orbs of light appear and disappear these are in some way connected to the soul. This according to a little research suggests may not be too surprising as over ninety five per cent of the Universe is referred to as dark energy and matter that is completely invisible to us.

Science now is only just wrestling with something from nothing and this is where the soul resides. Jostling with the particles that literally appear from nowhere and then disappear. Where does this take place? Not just in space but within the centre of atoms that constitute the visible earth and universe. Energy and matter are in different states of the same existence and are detected by vibrations. Maybe because of its nature the soul is not detectable in the same way.

The soul may not be tangible but it is understandable with out innermost feelings. We may even say that piece of music or work of art has touched my soul because as a concept it has come from many multiple examples of awareness of it and what it means, throughout history. In that sense there is no doubt of the soul’s existence and in the material form there are so many instances of particles with no mass that exist. So surely the soul’s existence can not be in question.

The joy of life is learning, facts in different circumstances can change and then change again.
Nothing can travel faster than the speed of light except for the inflation of the universe but apparently that does not count. You can not be in two places at once. Well you can, if you are a particle.

The point is I believe this life should be lived well with integrity and principles no matter how you regard an afterlife and a novel idea is that the afterlife should be lived without any contemplation of future lives. Facts may change but morals should relate to the current life that you are living.

Lateral Thinking.

Thinking, one of the most powerful and intriguing abilities at our disposal. We all do it and we may all have different thoughts that we prioritise but thoughts are the building blocks for behaviour and direction. Notable historians, pioneers, explorers and theorists may differ in their view points and individuality but thoughts are what they have all had to use as a starting point. Even how we think those thoughts can mean something and in approaching this process there can be a lot to learn about who we are.

One of the insights in life I have become aware of is the creative possibility of what the human thought process can achieve. In particular what can astound is the ability of thinking itself. At one time I was disappointed to learn that IQ is fixed, although it puzzled me why after practising IQ tests the scores could improve, one has to deduce because of this that with experience my applied thinking capability can increase. Do not let anyone tell you that you can not succeed in an area where you may have previously struggled because practice does seem to suggest that with experience can come achievement.

How I go about thinking is the key to increasing my mental capability. There is a book written by Edward de Bono called Lateral Thinking that explains and outlines the process but later when I read his six coloured hats I became aware of organised group thinking. You have probably heard of the phrase of thinking outside of the box, well for this theory you need to start off as someone who can think within the box. Thinking within the box is to follow logical thought processes which means it may be linear but not solve a particular problem. Then from this one can associate that comparatively thinking outside the box is to identify the object of the task and use imagination so that with a fresh perspective one can come up with some answers, which at first may not have appeared at all logical.

A recurring theme is the hidden problem which does not appear until some steps have been taken so that it would appear. The first actions made in illustrating this example were mistakes but they are necessary steps to solving the problem. Great steps in science would not have been accomplished if the necessary mistakes had not first taken place. In fact, science works on stating a thesis and other scientists will try to find its faults. The thesis stands until it is proved a better one can take its place.

Brainstorming popularised by Alex Faickney Osborn in 1953 is a group activity of generating random ideas and stating them on a board so they in turn could inspire collectively more thoughts on a given subject.

A part of lateral thinking is changing the learned practice of thinking in a straight line and assuming facts in a given order. So what if? Why does that happen? Would it still happen if I do this or that?

Complicated problems can be approached by breaking them down into smaller parts and associating relevant information that is more easily done by writing facts down, then working though each part for a result. On a similar theme mind maps as popularised by Tony Buzan are visual pictures of associated thoughts with multiple links although inspired for better memory recall of a subject, it also can be a problem solving technique as it incorporates lateral presentation of information.

The brain is a fabulous structure and like all parts of the human body needs exercise and its capacity as well as its efficiency can be improved by learning how to think creatively. I have often thought a fourth learning skill should be added to reading, writing and arithmetic and this may well be how to think creatively. It is an important life skill, and can improve independent thought ability and problem solving, so should stand as a subject in its own right. Versatility is important in so many areas and should therefore be encouraged in how we think, approach problems and hopefully succeed at life.

Intelligent Animals.

Owning pets is a popular and passion-filled part of life for multiple populations. Many countries will have those conventional and slightly less ordinarily thought of pets, who at times will live alongside their human counterparts as integral members of the family. Often a question will come up in these pet inhabited households and that is one of intelligence. We live in an increasingly competitive and educated society where mastering skills is a necessity and not a luxury and so you well may ask, how bright is your pet? I am sure that like me you when you look at an animal that has been taken to heart, you will have noticed not just the character of the pet but the intent, emotional understanding that some can display.

Chimpanzees, although they may be the closest in DNA to humans have a significant difference in the number of chromosomes that has occurred in their genetic makeup. At a particular time in the divergence of humans and chimpanzees from a common ancestor six or seven million years ago, these two distinct species began. The chimpanzee has a versatile ability to understand the notion of language and use tools, this is very impressive to see as there are examples of these animals who have been only momentarily exposed to new stimuli going on to manipulate and master how to use them. In an example of a gorilla who was kept in captivity, when he was unwell a vet administered to him and medication was prescribed for him. All was thought to be in hand as the medication was concealed in a jam treat that was one of the gorilla’s favourite snacks. This gorilla was a cartoon watching animal and would routinely sit in front of a television that had been set up for his morning entertainment. Unfortunately for the keepers when the jam treat was presented to the gorilla, even though it had not been prepared in front of him, in an example of instinct he took apart the offering and with his finger located the pill which he then promptly took out and placed on the floor. Medication having been discarded he then proceeded to eat his jam snack. The keepers were perplexed but had another idea and on another occasion ground up the pill into a fine powder which was then mixed into the layer of jam, but once again the humans were foiled by the gorilla who on this attempt opened up the snack and on locating the white traces of the medication wiped it out with his fingers and then ate the rest of the jam. The keepers were astonished! It was found not to be possible to easily give the gorilla the medication and in an unexpected turn of events when the gorilla was let out into his outdoor enclosure he went straight up to a bunch of growing wild flowers that he normally took no notice of, he then began to eat those same green shoots and in the time that followed began to improve in his health. On this particular occasion it seemed to everyone that the gorilla knew his own route to health and acted on it.

In another example, the bottlenose dolphin has a distinct personal song that can be used as humans will readily utilise and associate with a name. This important ability is shared by the whale whose personal song can carry many miles underwater and has been shown to have an important significance in terms of hunting, tracking and even transferring of information.

Elephants have shown to have an outstanding memory that can help them locate important sites over hundreds and hundreds of miles. This ability, instinct and skill at group parenting could put some humans to shame. Their understanding of loss and grief for not only their own kind but human keepers that have passed away has astounded and often brought up questions about how elephants process significant relationships.

When it comes to birds that are smart, the grey parrot has a lot to say on this point. Other birds have been well known to mimic human speech, wild crows are not slow at working out problems for themselves as they can use twigs to obtain the most inaccessible of food. Aesop’s famous story outlined how dropping small stones into a pitcher of water raised the level of liquid so it could be drunk and this proved how one witty bird exhibited the ability to be a problem solver extraordinaire.

The most unjust reputation is maybe that of the pig. So often this species is maligned as dirty and greedy yet behind that snout is an intelligent brain. What would you do if you overheated and had no sweat glands to cool you down? For the pig, mud glorious mud is the answer. In fact, contrary to established beliefs the pig is a clean animal with perhaps some bad table manners. They can be trained like a dog and answer to their name and for many can be much loved pets.

Another misconception is that of the humble sheep whose mental capacity is not that different to the lorded sheep dog who by nature has a rapport with the human shepherd. Quite simply sheep can recognise faces and are aware if a sheep in their flock is missing. If intelligence is in question, then did you know that sheep have an ability to learn the correct way through a maze?

Octopuses, although their brain cell capacity is much less than that of the human, exhibit amazing adaptability. Maybe thought as weird but true, for a start octopuses have brains in each of their arms and the ability to regrow lost limbs. What is more amazing is if one of their arms is severed, the separated limb will still collect food as if still attached to the octopus. Octopuses or octopodes have a very complex DNA structure, in fact they have more genes than humans and that maybe why they can camouflage themselves so quickly, a skill that is essential for survival.

The ant despite its size has a collective social force that can overwhelm much larger creatures. They pick up information and communicate together. Ants began farming long before humans and enslaved their fellow creatures as well as their own kind. The last part of course is perhaps not an enviable quality but it does show undoubted organization and intelligence. Their in lies an interesting moral question regarding the ant. What to do with a defeated army of ants? Simply destroy all of them or subjugate them as slaves. Maybe it was more expedient for the ants own survival to utilise their defeated foes.

There are so many more intelligent creatures. I hope those that I have mentioned show what a diverse subject intelligent creatures is and how their adaptability and problem solving is an example of how one can appreciate the variety of life.

Exploring the Brain.

Brain training and brainstorming may be the on-trend topics of talking about it but take a few minutes out from this mindful matter because I would like to bring to your attention the mystery of the human brain, an issue which is an ever perplexing door of possibility.

Here is the science bit, the average brain has eighty six billion neurons that are connected by synapses. These are available for thinking and all the other associated processes of the body. While there is a large amount of them, only a tiny number are utilised at any one time. Age can be a bit of an ally and an opponent because when we get to the age of thirty, seven thousand brain cells die each day. I know, sad but true! You can however have a hand in how this cell grief affects you because different circumstances can increase this loss, for example drugs, headbanging, lack of enough water or oxygen and even not getting enough sleep.

Age can be an advantage in brain balance! An interesting study has shown that at a younger age one side of the brain is used at a time but with maturing years more of the brain is used in a combination that would suggest more efficiency. Yay for the ageing process!

Factually this changing capability of the brain gives hope for people who have suffered a stroke and loss of speech because the effects of this can be potentially reversed over time. Studies have shown that the brain can be a marvellous organ as it can learn to adapt. There have been examples where loss of function in the brain has been overcome as control has then been reallocated to other undamaged parts of the organ. Patients with brain injuries who have been told they would not regain mobility have in many examples shocked medical opinion by their resolute and persistent striving to regain full function of their bodies. Tasks can be learnt to be managed by the brain’s own power to redistribute control.

This inherent body repair mechanism could be fully deployed in all circumstances as it has been found even when the spinal cord that carriers messages from the brain has been severed, a new bridge can be made by using material of similar form and over time lost nerve response and control can be restored. This as a treatment is being carried out now in many research departments.

There have been indications that in some examples the body itself can overcome medical thought impossibilities and when there has been a slow blockage in blood flow has attempted to bypass the obstruction by allotting the function to tiny new blood vessels. In some instances where a person has been declared clinically dead they have in actual fact been able to be aware of information that proved brain activity and recall of specific information was present, this was true even after someone had thought to have suffered a loss of life. In those examples when the person was fully conscious again evidence of what they knew and heard during that time was then validated by other people who had been in the room with them. I find this quite intriguing.

Knowing how your body works is a key to maintaining good health. Even though brain cells die every day there are more than enough to last a lifetime. At one time it was thought once your brain cells have been used up that is it, there are no more, but that is not the case.

If I want to look after my brain cells the remedy seems clear. Drink enough water, exercise and get a good night’s sleep. Also research has shown activities that involve movement and thinking at the same time produce the best results for stimulating new brain cell growth. Some examples of this involve dancing or playing tennis, walking and for me, even thinking of ideas for my blog!

They say use it or lose it! This could not be more apt when it comes to brain cells. Knowing how to use your brain cells gives you the possibility of what could be, it can be that stimulation for you to get healthier and persist at giving yourself an improvement in an area where a thought or two really counts!

Music Dimensions.

Although music is one of the greatest mood changers around, I am a firm believer in the idea that everyone has their own independent likes and dislikes, musical preference can say a lot about someone’s personality. While each historical time frame seems to shift with the musical background that it creates, to love music you do not have to be a follower of the current popular music themes. I have turned to more classical pieces that continually stimulate my emotions but in my early teens Elvis Presley seemed to dominate the airtime followed by Cliff Richard and then the Beatles. I appreciated their talent but there were times that for me when I wanted something else to motivate my emotions I then heard and discovered the Ride of the Valkyries by Wagner. I let my imagination gallop along aside the music with a heart pounding crescendo. That was followed by The Planets by Gustav Holst. Each piece with it evokes a particular shade of colour and set of feelings. Music does appear to be a go to, and as an example widely recognised is the notion that if you want a more sombre reflectional time for thought then the Madame Butterfly aria by Puccini does the job.

Music is a kaleidoscope of enjoyment, colours and memories. It can stimulate the mind and stir the feelings that then go on to influence you in life. Indeed music as a technique for improvement in how people function has been used in schools, care homes and rehabilitation centres. Why is this? In the areas of education and recouperation, music has been found to do wonders for calming the mind or for stimulating the more energetic capacity to put effort to work. Studies have shown that a little music goes a long way, improvement in work done while carried out with music in the background, has in fact radicalised not only how well people have functioned but also how altered the sense of how enjoyable the tasks were to do.

There is no doubt that music has many dimensions. What do I mean by this? Music is varied and multi-layered, it can be thought about and used in many ways. I never tire of familiar themes of particular pieces of music, as I have no doubt Beethoven's 5th Symphony will be an example of this for many listeners. Beethoven is considered a musical gem by many and for those who appreciate the classical tones, it can delight the soul. There is another aspect to music that enhances its ability to captivate. Historically individuals such as Beethoven were able to prove that talent as such could inspire and move a generation to look to the future. In this world it so easy to be defined by cultural or theoretical boundaries and that is why I find the music in The Hunt for Red October so moving in its portrayal of united determination. It is the combined sound and tempo that is so compelling. The music interwoven into Close Encounters of the Third Kind sparked my imagination, as it has a haunting scene which has at first only a few notes produced by a computer and then a musical response that alludes to contact with alien life. You imagine, think and then literally see with the mind’s eye the themes that the music has given. Tubular Bells is a pleasant interlude to listen to, it can be a stimulating setter of themes. Everyone has their own musical memory book, but what is so important is what it means to you?

Classical music may be seen as categorised by some but it can be every bit as relevant to the day that we live in. Tchaikovsky 1812 overture with deafening canons and church bells peeling is intriguing because it can be reminiscent depending on the person, to places, events or significant personal history. Vivaldi’s Four Seasons and Nessun Dorma are examples of how music can be historical and modern because no matter when, they can influence the emotions. As pieces of music, generation upon generation can not fail to be moved by them and there are so many top quality renditions that they can positively affect multiple cultures.

Music, I am happy to say, is now no longer only a pastime for the privileged few but a love for everyone who would like to access it. There are free tools that mean time or money now need not be a restriction as for how one would like to appreciate such a stimulating ally in life as music, it is there for the taking and for that fact the making. It gives enjoyment, inspiration and moreover it can be the basis as for how someone taps into and speaks to the communities, cultures and nationalities that they would like to learn about and be a part of defining.

Mind and Spirit.

There are so many natural wonders in this world but I want to draw attention to what has been for some people, unexplainable events, the type of things that deserve the title of miracles. It is well known that there is a connection between the mind and body. In fact there have been demonstrations of people who in a subconscious or euphoric state have withstood extreme discomfort with apparently no physical damage done to their bodies. The kind of demonstration that under normal conditions would definitely have ended in serious harm to themselves.

When some conditions involve health issues and all normal channels have been exhausted with no beneficial result, this can be a traumatic time. What alternative can there be? In some cultures they turn to witch doctors with a situation that at first conjures up the notion of intimidating evil powers. Although they certainly do poses a formidable power, most of the time they concern themselves with normal social problems, such as to find a lost cow or the need to remove a painful tooth.

At one time in the past there were beliefs about individuals who lived on their own and specifically for those who may have been in their latter years, rumours may have circulated about the potential of their knowledge and abilities. In some cases elderly spinsters living on their own were known of as to have developed a knowledge of using herbs that were combined with particular instructions to remedy different ailments. They too were given a title of witches. As so often happens, people need something or someone to blame if things go wrong. The so-labelled witches were an easy target and unjustified accusations abounded resulting in a terrible despatch of many people.

Historically and in that of the present day, it could be said that there is a lot in a name. Connotations can be made, for example, when I use the term of mind and spirit. Does this mean in a holistic sense or is there a wellbeing or mindful approach to this term? There have, over time, been many associations of thought to a name. As a distinction many modern day witches claim to be white witches who can through their knowledge of the environment establish their good intentions.

There are many varied means of historically documented and culturally spoken of healing evidence. There are those who offer the hope of help when all orthodox treatment can not resolve an issue. This is a true account of a patient who had no chance, with conventional medicine, to improve a condition that they had experienced and one which at the time they did not even known about. On travelling to see an eminent holy man at first it seemed as if her journey had been in vain as her condition was unchanged and the gentleman’s laying of hands on her head had done nothing. It was only several months later that it was discovered that she needed an emergency operation and any second she could have died as her spinal cord was constricted by bone and could have left her paralysed at any time. The operation was successful but an interesting check before the operation was very puzzling as a highly technical equipment test to monitor her ability to move registered no activity or sign of messages travelling down her extremely constricted spinal cord, and yet the patient could move her arms and legs, which according to the medical staff should not have been possible. The family and the person themselves were left confused by the situation. The damage which should have been already done to the spinal cord was not there and having thought back they questioned if they should have so hastily assumed that nothing had been achieved by their encounter with that healing based individual. What they had thought of as a failure because it had not cured one condition may have actually been the reason of a life saving healing elsewhere. On reflection the family believed there to have been something extremely beneficial in that of the blessing that had been received.

An interesting medical TV show explored the truth behind many well believed homegrown and individually found remedies. Most of them were proved by the doctors not to have any scientific validity but intriguingly many of them in a practical, everyday sense worked well for those suffering with the ailments. This for me, brings up an interesting question, can the same kind of test always be used to test a well thought of fact? If it does good, should one question the potency of the positive effect? It can be tricky to make a sweeping statement answer because I think that each example of belief is based upon one’s own experience and if this is not fully understood by someone else who is on the outside then a true assessment of it may not be possible.

Artistic Appreciation.

Art. What does it mean to you? One of the great things about life is opinion. Art is one of those areas where application of what you like can define your sense of statement and style.

An appreciation of art can range from the old masters’ technical ability to create in dazzling reality everyday objects to the then captured historical and biblical scenes. Certain examples of this are so precise in detail that one’s breath can truly be taken away. Although two dimensional the pictures have depth and can be awe-inspiring lifescapes of individuals or scenes caught in dramatic pose for all to admire. Moments frozen in time! They can make you think, evoke emotion and stir the soul.

Historically artists have pursued individual ways of representing their view of artistic impressions on life, loves and literature. Whatever the form, sculpture, painting or sketch I like art that is more than just a photo-like representation. I need the picture to stir my emotions or make me think, for example imaginary concepts can intrigue… If I see something that can get me thinking but does not need the artist to have to explain what it is, then for me, that is the kind of art that has achieved a thought provoking aim.

The shock element can revile or restore interest depending on who you are. I am not a keen observer of the revolting carnage that could stimulate nightmares, although I do remember a poignant painting of vivid potential revenge. The female artist had the misfortune to have her virginity violently taken from her and this left a pent-up loathing and fury at the opposite sex. The picture portrayed vividly her emotions and the terror of impending final retribution on the face of the victim held by one hand and the glinting sharp blade of justice in the other hand. How oddly reminiscent this was to me of an example in that of the statue depicting an individual dispensing justice over the law courts of London. A formidable blindfolded lady with two symbols of legal justice held in each hand.

Some of the most enjoyable pictures for many have hidden gems of wit and humour, for example a most distinguished very rich lady had a consuming passion for her grand mansion to be painted by a person thought to be a rascal but at the same time an extremely talented artist. At first the artist refused all offers of financial reward, he however had a mischievous plan and demanded a more personal payment. On completion of the work of art without first viewing it herself, the wealthy lady, arranged a public showing of it. Not only was this intended for her husband but for all the gentry and locals. Soon a sharp eyed local voiced the question of why there was a ladder standing at the open bedroom window of the Ladyship.

On a visit to a stately home I was admiring the scenes depicting riders and horses but was surprised to see all the horses did not have hooves but cows feet. On inquiry it was explained the tapestry makers usually worked on depicting cows and that explained the lack of symbolic hooves.

Appreciation of art obviously is something personal but sometimes you can find a new twist to a repeated theme. Optical illusions are well known but what catches my attention are instances when they are integrated as part of a regular picture. In this case two faces of an elderly couple facing each other and in between there is a vase. Of course if you see the faces then you do not see the vase and when you see the vase you lose the two faces.

Another interesting optical twist on a picture clearly shows a bowl of flowers standing on a shelf which is fine until following the edge of the shelf it is then obvious that the dimension you think it is in is an impossibility, the joining of the shelf holds the key to the impracticality of the vision you may think you see. Does it make you think? If it does, then artistic appreciation may only be the beginning of what art can do for you.

Third Eye.

Some time ago I became enthralled by a TV serial centred around a novice learning some pretty impressive skills. What made it a must-watch for me was that these skills were learnt by way of monastic eastern school that taught almost superhuman abilities linked with an inspirational philosophy of life.

Whilst this TV show was appealing in a wait and watch drama, it silently for me, posed the question come thought about how great would it be if I could open this mystical third eye and I too could see beyond normal sight. Does this sound too sci-fi? Being an avid sci-fi lover, of this I am not abashed but in actual fact there might be a bit more to this mystical scenario than simply fiction or sci-fi. On investigation I learnt that the third eye is a concept that is at the heart of many a practice and belief. In a physical location on the forehead, the third eye is placed in front of the brain and from outside looks to be situated above the conventional eyes. This position is thought of as the sixth chakra counting up from the spine. Chakras are centres of energy in the body.

At the base of the brain is an important master endocrine gland about the size of a pea. This tiny pituitary gland is responsible for a great number of life processes and is indirectly connected to the pineal gland that is referred to as a third eye. The pineal gland works in relation to the pituitary gland and controls sleep patterns and is light sensitive. It is very significant despite only being the size of a grain of rice. It is located under the centre of the brain.

Using the third eye involves awakening all the other senses to their fullest capacity. Senses such as sight, hearing, feeling, taste and smell. It is very important as a notion because the third eye is associated with many of the attributes of rest and awareness, this in turn promotes a healthier life. If one is able to be in as balanced shape as can be, not only will this aid a healthy outlook but it is then an optimum position from which one can gain the best results in opening the third eye.

How is it possible to test for a sixth sense? A system of what are called Zener cards are randomly shown and correct prediction would indicate if there is an unusual ability in this area. There are five Zener cards showing distinct shapes, a square, circle, wavy lines, cross and star. If you do not get a high score that does not mean there is no opportunity to develop your natural senses as the test is focused on only one of the possible ways of assessing this kind of awareness.

One way of opening mental awareness is by visualisation. I make myself comfortable and starting from the number one I close my eyes and visualise one. To make this more easy for each number I impose over the number an easily recognisable object for example a lighthouse and for number two a swan and so on up to ten.

Recall is a useful way of training and sharpening your awareness of senses. Memories are very important for associating what we feel about something, for example I recall a mishap when at school I fell over and banged the back of my head on the tarmac. I had a strange tingly taste in my mouth that was a new experience but what is more satisfying as significant reminders are memoires of people, the smell of maybe tobacco or perfume. The sound of voices, the feeling of touch or taste in maybe a fizzy drink or a cup of tea.

To open my third eye is not a passive activity. It needs persistence and inventiveness to explore all types of available senses. The third eye, for me, is a concept that brings up the subject of history and ancient practical use of sense awareness. Historically many individuals who trained under an ancient eastern wisdom based culture put great importance on the ability to balance the mind, spirit and body. If one is more aware of what they see, hear and feel then there can be a better understanding of the self and an opening of potential in how one tackles rest, work and play.