The Map is not theTerritory

So here I am, it’s Thursday morning, and I’m packed, ready to go to Thailand, Siam, as my partner insists on suggesting.

`As a matter of interest’, I ask him, `when did Siam become Thailand? Do you know who changed it, and why?’

He didn’t know: I said I’d look it up.  I booted up the laptop to go googling, only to become distracted by a message from my daughter, K, who is in Thailand already, and meeting me tomorrow from the plane.

`Mum’, she warns, `there is a convoy of famers on their way to the airport.’

I think she is going to tell me a joke.

`They don’t seem to be threatening anyone’, she goes on. `I’ll let you know when we’re neara.’

Aha. I realise that she is serious.  This is to do with the political unrest that is bubbling in Thailand because many of the country’s residents would like to overthrow the Prime Minister. Not a joke at all.  She goes on to tell me some of the mechanics of what might be happening, and then offers me huge reassurance.

`I have Reiki’ed your journey.  And mine.’

I smile. Then respond.

`Great. As it happens, I always travel in a purple light.  I will send some light pyramids your way as well.’

I read out the exchange to my husband, who looks at me funny.  Reiki and light pyramids don’t figure hugely in his map. He is more likely to be wondering whether I am completely losing it, as I close down the computer and jam my sandals into the bottom compartment of my new rucksack (K has my old one) and give a satisfied `yay’ as I find more straps to tighten up the whole caboodle.

I have no idea, of course, what is really in his head: I am not a mind reader.

`Be careful’, he says.  `Come home safely.’

Our intentions match.

Are there any limitations to the mind's capabilities??

Last month I was talking about explain pain. Since then I’ve limited my screen time while working on more mind and matter integration around having some eye surgery. I wonder what you make of this.

 Last November, I elected to have eye surgery on my right eye to remove a cataract which was obscuring my vision sufficiently to be an unwelcome limitation.  The surgery was complicated by my having a previous lens implant. In the event, the surgery did not go well as the sac in which the lens of the eye sits tore open – pars of the old lens went through the sac, and the surgeon was unable to implant a new lens. Upshot –no lens in my right eye at all, huge light sensitivity, eventual fitting of a contact lens, blotchy and erratic vision.  Prognosis – either live forever in this state, or have more surgery involving draining the whole eyeball – this did not sit well in my mind.

The major issue was the debris of the old lens having gone through the back of the sac.   It needed to dissolve, which was unlikely given its size.  So off I went on a four week trip to Portugal, considering how I could help.   I chose two things, one was to meditate every morning, in which I quite spontaneously found myself focusing on moving the debris to the front of the eye. My other was exercise and Pilates. I was slightly wary of Pilates on the one hand as one is advised after eye surgery not to bend forward.  However, my instinct said yes, this was fine, so off I went to classes, and practised daily.

 On my return to the UK, I went to see my surgeon.  How’s it been, he said.  Okay, I said, except there was a short period where when I stood up quickly, my eye went black. He looked into the eye, and exclaimed, excitedly. 

`That is amazing!’, was his comment, ` that is just amaxing.  We must take a photograph’. 

I was curious.

In a nutshell, the debris which was problematic had relocated, coming the other way through the tear in the sac, and was now in front of the iris.  Upshot?  My excited consultant suggested immediate surgery, to remove the debris  - now a straightforward procedure – and implant a new lens behind the iris.

 Wow!  I couldn’t believe it, and am now writing this from a train as I go to Heathrow to take a flight to Thailand for work and pleasure.  My recovery is extraordinary, and my surgeon dumbfounded – apparently this is incredibly rare, if unheard of.

I thought back to those meditations.  Could I, do you think, just could I have influenced the eye?

Since I believe that my mind and body are an integrated circuitry, and that we cannot not respond, my answer to this, is how could I have not?

For my trip to and in Thailand, I fancied that I might write each day, today onward, incorporating whatever is going on with the 21 NLP Presuppositions which form the structure of the excellent book NLP in 21 Days, by Harry Adler and Beryl Heather.  Meanwhile, I welcome your comments and/or experiences.

Jan J