Quantum Moments

A few days ago I watched the movie, The Shift, with Dr. Wayne Dyer – which I highly recommend (available for free viewing until May 14th). In the movie, he spoke of quantum moments or peak experiences. He said that there are four qualities of quantum moments:
1. They are very vivid.
2. They are a surprise.
3. They are benevolent - always feel good.
4. They are enduring – they stay with you forever.
He said that these moments happen when the timing is right and you're in a different state. As he spoke about these moments, I thought back to two experiences I had that I believe qualify.

Photo by A. Almamour

The first was when I was 18 years old and living in Ecuador. I had gone to climb a volcano with my host brother and his girlfriend. It was quite the adventure going up. The clouds started to roll in and close in around us. We reached a spot and realized we could go no further as we couldn’t see a thing. We all sat down and didn’t speak. The silence was incredible. I could see nothing around me at all. Everything was white. I could hear nothing – no birds, cars, people talking – nothing. I was just – present. It was then, the thought came to me – this is the closest I’ve ever felt to God. There was such a sense of peace and presence and it felt like time didn't exist. I knew that moment was special and it’s something I’ve never forgotten.

Photo by A. Almamour

The second moment was when I was in my early 30’s. I was on a road trip with a friend and we made a stop at the Grand Canyon. It was my first time there. I separated from my friend and went out to a ledge that was quiet and away from the crowd. I wanted to just soak in the environment, on my own, uninterrupted. I sat down, crossed my legs and closed my eyes. Usually, I have a hard time settling my mind, but a very short time after I closed my eyes, all I saw was white (my eyes were closed) – the monkey mind was silent. I just sat in that stillness – I have no idea how long it lasted. What I will never forget is when I opened my eyes, I still saw white where the landscape should have been and then all of a sudden, it’s as if the canyon came rushing toward me from some point out in the distance. As if nothing was there and then that blank canvas was filled in by the canyons. I was pretty awestruck.

Those moments were reached through pausing, stillness and being open to be in the moment - with no agenda. They showed me that there is definitely more to life than what we experience on the surface. They helped me touch a place that lies so much deeper – something outside, yet inside myself. They have been the catalysts for my yearning to learn more, to sift through the layers and discover what Spirit is really about.

Love, Adrienne :)