August 12th
So I’ve been in Venice for a week. I’m alll moved in finally and have my truck up here. Somehow.. I don’t have a surfboard, which is kinda insane. These last few days have been spent making a bunch of friends here in this coliving space. I freakin love it by the way. It’s rad coming home and there being people to chat with, play with, and learn from. I’m writing from the study room, which is a great place to go if you do need some alone, thinking time. I’ve been going on random scooter adventures everyday, which is so much better than driving. WOW. There’s something about scooting with headphones on I’m tellin ya.
READ THIS!!! So today we did a breath work class in the yoga room here. I think there were 20 people crammed in this class. I went into the class open minded, thinking it’d be just another experience like one of those chapels I used to go to and people would have some sort of spiritual experiences and I would just listen all jealous. Well.. I had some kind of experience. IT WAS A TRIP.
So all we did was take a breath into the belly, then into the chest, and finally exhale. The instructor warned us the first ten minutes would kind of suck and then you’d eventually get into a flow. He warned us that people react all kinds of different ways from crying, to laughing, to sleeping etc. He also assured that we would be safe no matter what. Meanwhile.. I’m just rolling my eyes. So the first few minutes were kinda brutal and uncomfortable. Laying there, eyes closed, just breathing and breathing and breathing. My mouth was dry and it was somewhat of a mental challenge getting through the first few minutes. Next thing you know it got EASY. And oh ya.. my body was numb. So hard to describe the feeling, but it almost felt like my entire body was glued to the ground and it was kinda buzzing. There was one point when the instructor or guide laid his hands on me. I couldn’t tell when he left. I felt his hands on my chest long after I’m sure he left to go adjust somebody else. And yes still breathing and breathing and breathing while the entire body is what I’d imagine is in a “trance”?? Idk, I’ve never done any psychedelics or have tripped. Either way, definitely a major high.
CRAZIEST PART HERE - Probably around 20 minutes in or something he walked us through a guided meditation. He told us to imagine walking in a grassy field. He told us to imagine a picnic and I immediately imagined a special girl sitting there, but then he told us that on the picnic blanket was our younger self. I immediately started crying and it was nuts. I just saw myself having so much fun and baseball was a strong theme. He told us to imagine what our younger self would say to our older self. Young Paul didn’t say much, he was just frothing, which was enough to keep 25 year old Paul happy crying. The instructor told us to walk away and go to sleep. We returned to the grassy field the next day and approached our 20 year older self. My older self had me bawling as well. It was funny. I pictured myself as the old Paul from the Face App. But anyways, old Paul was very successful and had kids. I didn’t see the kids, I just knew that I had a family and they were my entire world. The guide told us to imagine our older self giving us a gift. I got a Tesla hahaaa, which I plan on being my next car. But I feel like I forced that part, which is fine. This whole time my body was somewhat convulsing the entire time with tears. Something I’ve never experienced and it definitely felt great. Coming out of it was interesting as well. Sitting up after was incredibly difficult. Starting to move my numb, buzzing body was a tripppp.
THE POWER OF THE BREATH IS REAL. I’ve always heard people say this, as I’ve been researching and attempting meditation. I’m also stoked that one can get into this state without any substance.
There’s a bunch of hyper spiritual people living here. Who knows what’s next. Getting healed by crystals? Idk. But I’m down to keep an open mind and try.
Hope you enjoyed my brain vomit! I’m not even gonna read back through this. Hope it makes sense! Questions? hit me:)