Digesting Impressions

Digesting impressions to grow something higher in myself, leads me to think in terms of conscious breathing. Done with intention, as opposed to mechanically. There needs to be an action, a receptivity, and a separation.

Sure, I can appreciate the scenery and whip out my phone to snap a beautiful picture. I can do the same to remember a family gathering or vacation moment. But who was present, and where did that impression end up? In my memory, in my thoughts, in my phone?

Here I am, jogging along early on a beautiful pre-spring morning. The sun is coming up, I’m moving my body, I hear the first birdsong of the day, I scan the tree I’m passing and there she is, on the highest branch, trilling away.

Am I drinking in this impression? Does it “digest” somewhere in me? Or am I identifying the bird, assessing what I know, registering a like or dislike. “Oh—a Bluebird!” “Ugh, Ravens!”

I see how easy it is for impressions to end up as food for associations. I take in the Blue Bird, judge it, good, and think about my plan for installing nesting boxes in my yard.

How can I tell I’ve digested an impression? What part of me does the digesting? What in me is fed?

Working with Impressions

This morning, I remembered Gurdjieff gives an exercise hidden in Life is Real Only Then, When I Am. Like his exercise on how to breathe consciously, taking in impressions involves directing attention (action), awareness of the impression (receptivity), and allowing something to happen (separation.)

When I work in this way, there is no room for associations or judgement. There is no need for seeking out something special to label as an impression. Just as there is no need to wait for a deep meditative state or clean air in order to breathe consciously. When I am working, I prepare the substance of impression to become food, no matter what it is. I’ve discovered looking around my bedroom is just as nutritious as a beautiful sunset.

My inner self is the kitchen that prepares this meal and is digesting impressions. As I become a master chef, I hope my kitchen expands to include more of me. My wish is that these impressions are feeding my higher being body.