Sharon Friedman – Vigilance and Tranquility

Just got back from a small job. Consider you see a pretty girl in the street of a two children fighting seriously. Most likely your attention will be averted to this creating a very thin cone of attention. You will still register the same amount of information unless you cup your ears to better your listening to one direction or cover the top of your eyes to overcome glare. The thing is your emotions will start to controll the logical part and that imbalance will tip you over the same way leaning forward will. To correct that do one small thing. Know there is more out there than you have seen so far. You can call it humility of the senses or however suits your systema. To practice this try to work in a forest or similar enviroment. The forest works well to balance us and it gives you a chane to learn many things. With a few friends spread over a small distance and hide. One will be the looker in this drill and he has to register what shape sought his eye first was it the trees breaking the horizon line? the bush changing the color of the earth ? The shadow made by a rock edge ? You have to pay attention here not only to what you notice and hear but also to why. There are shapes which draw attention due to our old hardware and as we all know a face is the most eye catching thing there is. Open your mouth slightly to avoid the sound of your breath from echoing inside the skull and close your eyes or cover them. Your friends will start to move naturally and your job is to move towards them. This will enhance your awareness to all the other senses you have. A draft of wind on the sweat of your neck. A change in the ressistance of the ground as you approach a massive tree with shallow roots. An intake of air by someone (male or female ?) who lost their balance. In nature an animal runs for two reasons: To catch or avoid being pray. Remember this and know the value of keeping your footing and working calmly. Panic does help but not you.