Barefoot With Nature

Expanded Awareness (Part 1)

Categories: Things You Should To Know, With Nature

Tags: Distractions, Expanding Awareness, Into The Heart of The Earth, Meditation, Nature, The Woods, Walking

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Published on: February 29, 2012

In a number of my previous posts I have mentioned and touched on Expanded Awareness, and each time I do I keep saying I’ll be posting more about Expanded Awareness at some point in the future, well that point is now.

Before I get into the details I must say that Expanded Awareness is something that is best experienced firsthand, I will try and describe the process of entering a state of Expanded Awareness (this will be in ‘Expanded Awareness Part 2’) and the experience as best I can but as I say it’s something that is best experienced for yourself.

Please excuse the plug for my friend and mentor’s courses that are going on this summer in the South of England, “Into The Heart of Earth”, during these courses Ben guides you through the process of Expanded Awareness and allows you to experience it and work with it both physically and spiritually. His contact details are on the above link give him a call if you have the slightest interest.

What is Expanded Awareness?

Assuming for no disabilities we all have five senses, seeing, hearing, smelling, feeling, and tasting. The various organs that are responsible for these senses send information to the brain, the brain filters and processes this information resulting in the awareness that we have of the physical world around us.

It is important that you note that the brain filters the information that it receives from the various sensory organs. What you actually ‘see’ is only a fraction of what the eyes actually take in; in fact it’s only a very small fraction. The same applies to the other four senses as well. A prime example of this is the person who moves into a new home next to a busy road, the first couple of weeks the noise of the traffic is a conscious hum but after a while the brain filters this hum out to the point where the person doesn’t hear the traffic at all.

Also when we concentrate on something our brain filters out information that is not related to the subject of concentration. Have you ever been engrossed in a book and not heard your name being called, we’ve all done it.

The process of Expanded Awareness is to remove these filters that the brain applies to the sensory information it receives, so that we can perceive more of the physical world around, so we can see more, hear more, smell more, taste more and feel more. We literally increase our awareness of what is going on around us, we Expand our Awareness.

What Are the Perceived Benefits?

Expanding Awareness is more than an increased perception of the physical world, it is a subtle shift in consciousness and the way we use that consciousness to experience the world around us.

1. Expanded Inner Awareness

The way we see the world around us is to a greater extent governed by our consciousness. There is a saying ‘as above, so below’ or ‘as within, so without’. Expanding our awareness of the outer world, the physical world around us, also expands our awareness of our inner world or inner self, the person we are inside.

So the first benefit of Expanded Awareness is an expanded inner awareness of what is going on in our inner world, that world that only we know about, a greater understanding and appreciation of the inner self, the true you.

2. Inner Peace and Calm

The process of Expanded Awareness is a form of meditation. Any process, routine or exercise that changes the brain wave patterns from beta to alpha is a form of meditation. Expanded Awareness does just that, it is a quick and very effective way to enter a meditative state, and as such brings with it a deeply relaxing feeling and an instant sense of peace and calm.

I will add here that just because it’s a form of meditation is doesn’t mean that it’s practiced sitting cross legged on a yoga mat, although it can be. Once in a state of Expanded Awareness I would recommend moving around while staying in this state, the way you perceive the familiar world around will be totally changed.

3. Being Present

In this modern world there is so much to think about that sometime you just feel as if your brain will explode, thoughts about what went on yesterday, what will happen tomorrow, where you have to be and when, what’s for dinner and so the list goes on. Once you enter Expanded Awareness all these thoughts just fade away, as you become more Present more in the Now. This really is part and parcel of being in a meditative state, but even so it’s still worth mentioning as an individual benefit.

4. An Increased Ability to Absorb and Retain Information

When in a state of Expanded Awareness you’ll find that you have none of the usual chatter going on inside your head, everything is quiet. This means that the information that is presented to you is absorbed as presented it is not being dilute or distorted by your own thoughts. You also become aware of the other or complementary ways that this information is being present, subtle changes in the tone or volume of the speaker’s voice, slight body movements or subtle body language, there is also an increase sense of the energy that the information is delivered with, all of which increases your ability to absorb and retain what is being told to you.

There really is less vying for your attention, you are not being pushed and pulled because you are aware of it already.

5. Increased Connection

For me personally Expanded Awareness increases my connection with Nature, with the natural world around me, be it the woods, in the open countryside or in the middle of the city. Once you become fully aware of everything that is around you find that you start to develop a deeper more meaningful connection with it, and this includes the people that you interact with.

This increased connection is also a two-way street, not only do you develop a deeper connection with your surrounds but your surroundings develop a deeper connection with you and this does apply to people too. I have found that in a state of Expanded Awareness that I become part of Nature and Nature accepts me as being a part of it. In this state I have had an Owl land next to me in the tree I was climbing, I’ve had Squirrels and Mice scamper across me, I’ve had Foxes walk past me. All as if they were perfect natural occurrences, all as if I was just another part of The Woods.

6. Beauty

As I said at the beginning of this post Expanded Awareness increases your perception of what is around you, you see more, hear more, feel more, smell more, taste more. You experience things completely differently. Colours become more vibrant and alive, sounds become more vivid and clear, smells become more intense and somehow sweeter. The world takes on a completely different ‘look’ and feel. The only way that I can describe it is that the world becomes more beautiful. You start to sense beauty in places that you would never imagine, you start to sense things that you previously missed. It really is a completely new way to experience life, a beautiful new way.

This is by no means an exhaustive list of the benefits of Expanded Awareness, and each person’s perception of the world is different, what you experience may be the same as what I have described here, it may be similar or you may have a completely different perception of the world in Expanded Awareness. Whatever your experience, once you start introducing Expanded Awareness into your everyday life, practicing at every opportunity, then you’ll soon be amazed at everything that you’ve been missing out on, this I truly believe.

How Do You Expand Your Awareness?

Well I’m afraid that you may have to wait for my next post (which is here) for me to explain this to you, as I’m contemplating recording a mini guide to Expanding Awareness, almost like a guided meditation and it may take me a couple of days to sort out the technology to accomplish this. But rest assured I haven’t finished on the subject of Expanded Awareness… not yet.

Fitting In Barefoot

by Chris

Categories: Barefooting

Tags: Bare foot, Barefeet, barefoot lifestyle, Barefooting, Comprise, Five Finger Shoes, footwear, lifestyle choice, wearing shoes

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Published on: February 21, 2012

For many, like myself, barefoot is a lifestyle choice, it is not just a hobby, or a pastime, nor is it just something to do on a warm summer’s day. Its part of the way we live or lives, it is part of who we are at this point in time.

This weekend has taught me some important lessons about my barefoot lifestyle, and fitting in with those around me.

At the moment in the majority of the Western world barefooters are in the minority, in fact we are a very small minority. If we’re not prepared to fit in from time to time then life could become very lonely and we will become more and more alienated.

Be Diplomatic

The reason behind this lifestyle choice, for some shoefooters we meet and know, is for the most part unimportant. I know that many people just have an objection to bare feet in public, that is their choice and they have their reasons. Reasons which to us may seem just as alien or illogical as the reasons for us being barefoot are to them, we are all unique and all have different opinions, it’s a fact of life on planet Earth.

For the most part these people have formed an opinion or belief about being barefoot and barefoot in public and unfortunately we just have to accept that fact, plain and simple. If we accept that their opinion differs greatly to ours, then we have taken the first step towards getting them to accept our opinions about barefooting. (Please note that there is a difference between acceptance and agreement, we can accept their opinions without having to agree with them).

No matter how much ranting and raving or shouting and screaming you do at these people, face the fact, you are NOT going to change their opinion. In fact, all you’ll end up doing is getting angry and frustrated, and even worse than that you’ll be labelled as a barefoot trouble maker, and another person or group of people will start alienating barefooters.

There are times to stand up and be counted and there times to walk away silently, choose wisely because how you act could determine how this person approaches other barefooters (or yourself) in the future.

Educated Don’t Segregate

Now not every shoefooter falls into this opinionated camp, in fact I would say that most don’t, but we do have to be aware of those who have very strong or ingrained opinions. Many shoefooters will simply be curious want to know more, want to know the reasons why, and so on.

These people may have an opinion but are more open-minded or they may not have an opinion or may not care one way or the other, but these people are the ones that we can educate. They most often will ask questions, they even make a flippant comment like “Where’s your shoes Mister?”

Personally I receive these sorts of flippant comments quite regularly and sometimes they even seem quite aggressive. But I’ve come to the opinion that most of the time these comments, no matter how they are delivered, are actually genuine enquires.

Many people, especially teenagers, don’t have the confidence to approach a stranger and say “Excuse me but I couldn’t help noticing that you’re wearing no shoes….” instead they’ll shout across the street “Where’s your shoes Mister?”

It also worth remembering that some of the shoefooters who fall into this group, could be the restaurant worker who turns you away for not having shoes on, or the supermarket security guard who stops you at the doors because of your bare feet. These people are doing the job that they are paid to do, if the opportunity to educate is there then educate and walk away, you won’t win a battle with someone who is just doing their job.

Don’t Flaunt It

It’s obvious to the normally observant person that you have bare feet! There is no need to show them! Some people will make certain lifestyle choices and then flaunt it to all and sundry in order to get a reaction. Unfortunately the majority of these reactions will just reinforce those opposing opinions that people have about being barefoot.

Don’t Make Assumptions

Just because people see us barefoot doesn’t mean that they know or understand that being barefoot is a lifestyle choice! They don’t know that the only footwear you own is an old pair of scandals somewhere at the back of the wardrobe. They won’t understand that you are reluctant to put on a pair of shoes, let alone the reasons why. Not unless you tell them.

Consider that most people (in our society) wear shoes, consider also that these people assume that everyone has at least one pair of shoes; they assume this because that is the case for them, that is what they consider normal. Unless you tell them otherwise that is what they’ll assume about you.

We often assume that because we’re barefoot all the time that people will instantly know that it’s a lifestyle choice, they don’t.

Believe me when I say that this just doesn’t apply to strangers we meet in the street, this applies to family and friends, especially if you’re relatively new to barefooting.

Comprise is best

If we want people to make comprises for our lifestyle choices then we have to make comprises for their lifestyle choices, and this could include putting on some footwear, I’m sorry to have to say this but if we want others to comprise then we may have to make the first step.

If barefooting is to be accepted as a ‘normal’ part of society then on occasions we’ll have to meet society halfway, it’s foolish of us to think that others will always comprise for us, it’s a two way street and comprise comes from both directions.

There are times, for example formal functions like a Wedding or a Funeral, where society is under the general belief that shoes should be worn, whether you agree or not, if you want to attend then you’ll have to make the sacrifice required (at least for part of the time), and that is putting on some footwear. Of cause you could just decline such invitations, but that will bring up the question why and if mentioned that you’re not prepared to comprise then all you’re doing is flaunting the fact you’re a barefooter and reinforcing those opposing opinions, you’ll also miss out on the function.

It’s a Fine Line

There is a fine line that we must walk barefoot along, on one side is acceptance and the other alienation, how we act determines the future for all barefooters.

I Can See With My Feet!

by Chris

Categories: Barefooting

Tags: Bare foot, Barefeet, Barefoot Senses, Barefooting, Meassage, Refexology, See with your feet, Walking

Comments: 2 Comments

Published on: February 14, 2012

I have mentioned in several other posts that sometimes, especially in The Woods at night that I feel that I can see with my feet. That my feet guide me as to whether or not I am on the path and heading the right direction, I have referred to this as seeing with my feet, although I don’t actually see with my feet, the sensory input that I gain from being barefoot tells me an awful lot about the ground over which I am walking.

200,000 Nerve Endings!

The human foot contains 26 bones, 33 joints, 20 muscles and over 200,000 nerve endings! Just think about that for a minute. The majority of these nerve endings are also on the sole of the foot, the human foot is designed to have one of the body’s richest concentrations of sensory neurons.

With so many sensory neurons in the soles of our feet, it’s hardly surprising that so many people have ticklish feet!

Reflexology

The practice of reflexology involves applying subtle pressures to various points on the sole of the feet (as well as other parts of the foot, the hands and the ears). It has been shown that various parts of the foot correspond to different parts or areas of the body. Applying pressure to specific parts of the foot creates a physical change in the corresponding part of the body.

There is a reasonable amount of evidence that massaging the feet does release tension and stimulate physical changes within specific parts of the body. The exact reasoning behind this mechanism is unclear, but as reflexology has been around for several millennia, and based on its longevity it cannot be dismissed instantly out of hand.

Bearing in mind the number of nerve ending in the foot, it is hardly surprising that stimulating them has a direct affect of the corresponding part of the body.

Just thinking about the contention between reflexology and being barefoot, it would seem to me that with every barefoot step that I take I am receiving a mini reflexology session. This calming or relaxing affect that stimulating the foot neurons by barefoot walking, is something that I can personally testify to.

Barefooting

The sheer number of nerve endings in the sole of the foot would imply that the foot has evolved, partly, to transmit information from and about our environment to our brains, as well as providing us with a way to get from A to B!

Modern shoes pretty much act as a blindfold for your feet, providing a sensory barrier between your foot and your environment. Effectively ‘blinding’ you to the ground on which you walk, yet just another good reason to go barefoot!

Foot design by Morgan -

Unwittingly Genetically Modified!

by Chris

Categories: Things You Should To Know

Tags: DNA, Food Chain, Genetically Modified Crops, GM Crops, miRNA

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Published on: February 7, 2012

‘You are what you eat’

It would appear that once again science is backing up another old saying, well to a degree.

How Eating Greens Changes Your Genes

A study at Nanjing University has shown that vegetable DNA is neither destroyed by cooking nor by the human (or animal) digestive system. The plant DNA breaks down partly, into smaller segments called miRNA.

The study showed that in the small cross section of the Chinese population analysed that miRNA from rice and members of the Brassicaceae family (which include the likes of Brussels sprouts, broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower) were present in high quantities in their blood streams. The research concluded that these miRNA could only have entered the blood stream via ingestion, and that cooking and digestion which were previous thought to break down the plant DNA completely in fact don’t.

What Does This Mean?

Normally this really doesn’t have much of an impact on someone who eats healthily, after all this is the way that it has been for millennia. However when we consider what these miRNA do and how they interact with the human body (or body of an animal like a cow or sheep – which could eventually enter the food chain) things could be seen in a completely different light.

Once in the blood stream the plant miRNA binds to the animal RNA. This has the affect of either muffling or amplifying or even possibly completely changing the way enzymes translate the strand of RNA into proteins. This can have one of several affects, it can either increase the rate at which the protein is produced or it can decrease the rate at which the protein is produced or it could produce a slightly different protein.

The Good News

The good news is that this could open up a whole new area of medical research. If what we eat affects the way our DNA works then we have the opportunity to design diets that have specific therapeutic effects. The number of potential benefits seems endless, cosmetic companies seem to be the first to realise the possibilities, where they are looking at mixtures of food extracts that can influence collagen production in the skin, as natural, safe and non-invasive way of reducing the appearance of wrinkles. Really the possibilities are endless for natural, healthy methods of controlling disease.

What About Genetically Modified (GM) Crops

All this in itself I found very interesting but it didn’t take long for my thoughts to turn to genetically modified (GM) crops. As the name implies these are crops that have had their genes changed in order to increase yields, improve resistant to pests and for many other reasons. Changing plants genes is changing its DNA structure, or a small part of its DNA structure.

As the research has shown this altered DNA in the form of miRNA enters the blood stream of those who consume them, and then binds to the host RNA to change the way this RNA works. The way that I see it genetically modified crops CAN genetically modify those who consume them!

GM Animals From GM Plants

This area of research is relatively new, as it has always been assumed that cooking and/or the cocktail of caustic digestive juices within the stomach and intestines would completely break down the DNA of all that passed through, however it does seem as though this isn’t the case. Furthermore these fragments of DNA (the miRNA) bind with the RNA of the animal that consumed it to alter the function of the hosts RNA.

As we still don’t fully understand the effects of ingested plant (or animal) DNA, I feel that it would be safe to assume that introducing GM DNA into the body (of either a human of an animal within the food chain) could produce some very undesirable long term effects. On top of this because we don’t know how the altered function of the RNA affects the body we also don’t know if the altered function of RNA is passed onto the off spring.

Are we being unwittingly genetically modified by introducing genetically modified plants into the food chain, wherever in the food chain they are introduced? It would seem quite plausible to me, what do you think, I would be interested to hear your thoughts.

Picture courtesy of Unnamed

Finding Solutions in Nature

by Chris

Categories: Things You Should To Know, With Nature

Tags: Adapting, Challenges, Computers, Finding Solutions In Nature, Nature, Problems, Solutions

Comments: No Comments

Published on: February 3, 2012

“There is no challenge faced by mankind; technical, social or otherwise
for which Nature does not have a solution.” ~ Chris James

Every problem or challenge (as I prefer to call them) that we face as the human race, no matter what that challenge is, whether it’s technical, social or otherwise has a solution within Nature. Nature has already solved all the challenges that we face.

Using A Hammer To Crack A Nut

Yet as human beings we sometimes feel that we are superior to Nature and that we can come up with better, more efficient or faster solutions. Sometimes I like it to, using a twelve pound lump hammer to crack a nut. Yes it works and yes it’s quick but you end up with a mush of nut and shell that is neither use nor ornament!

Using this cracking a nut analogy, a solution can be found in Nature, look to the animals and birds that survive by eating nuts, they have to get the nuts out of the shells somehow otherwise they wouldn’t survive.

Some birds drop the nuts from a height onto rocks, other animals use a combination of small stones to crack the shell, and some know that all nut shells have a weak point or line that if gently tapped cause the shells to open easily.

This analogy may not be that relevant as we already have a solution to the challenge of cracking nuts, but it makes a point the solution IS out there in Nature.

The Benefits of Natures Solutions

When you consider that Nature has evolved these solutions over thousands or millions of years, wouldn’t you think that they have been tweaked and changed to be as efficient as possible? Of course they have, the one thing that I have learnt from Nature is that she IS efficient, that what she does works… period!

Also consider that solutions found in Nature are inherently environmentally friendly in all ways. Nature will not come up with a solution that causes more damage than the initial challenge, unlike mankind.

Sunlight To Energy

In this modern world the human race has a massive hunger from energy; the solutions that we have come up with are far from ideal, although we are starting to embrace some of Natures solutions in various forms.

The human solutions to this need for energy results in the burning of coal and gas or bringing together large amounts of radioactive material are just two methods, neither of which is sustainable nor environmentally friendly.

Nature on the other hand has been producing energy from the word go, it uses an (almost) inexhaustible supply that is free and available all around the planet further more this supply is most definitely environmentally friendly and not mention available in abundance… sunlight.

Plants have been converting sunlight to energy since they appeared on the surface of the planet; the green pigment in the leaves of all plants is cause by chlorophyll. Chlorophyll is the vital ingredient in photosynthesis, the process of converting carbon dioxide and water to energy, in the form of sugars.

It is only very recently that mankind has turned its attention to the sun as a source of energy and indeed the process of photosynthesis to make electricity. In fact scientists around the world have been working on using photosynthesis to make electricity for the last two years.

Finding Solution In Nature

I’m not saying that I know the solutions for all of mankind’s challenges but Nature does, and the solutions that Nature has come up with are so often overlooked.

I found this video clip from TED which discusses this very same subject. It’s food for thought that if we as a species are going to survive then we need to start looking at the solutions presented by Nature to the challenges that we face both now and in the future.

Photo courtesy of Jade Sibley

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