Summer. The days in the 90’s the nights in the 60’s. Good sleeping weather when I sleep. For as long as I can remember I haven’t slept well, three or four hours a night with some napping in wee hours of the morn’ and that’s it. There was a time when I was bothered by that and would try to “power sleep”, trying to force sleep. Never worked. I’ve seen all sorts of sleep experts and about 20 years ago when “sleep disorders” officially became a “thing” I was evaluated.

One doctor explained that he would check me into a hospital and I would have different things attached to my body and my sleep pattern would be monitored by experts from an adjoining room. I repeated what I’d told him fifteen minutes earlier; that I only slept three or so hours at night in my own bed, and can’t sleep at all in hotels or the homes of others. He then said that they could send a team and their equipment to my house ( 2 small bedrooms 900 sq. feet.), and someone would be in my bedroom with the equipment monitoring my sleep pattern.  At that point I gave up and commenced to explore some alternative thinking about the conditions of sleeplessness.

Sleep disorders do exist and they can exact a heavy toll physically and mentally/emotionally and there are many effective methods to help those suffering from the rather wide range of sleep problems that present in our modern times.

However, I began to see my condition as partaking of a more spiritual aspect and as can happen, presenting in a physical way.   I know, I know; or the subtle ways of madness.

At some point, I started looking at sleep as a spiritual practice, I had read some Buddhist writings about the night-time as being the beginning of the meditation “day”. So, that bade me to go to bed and start to practice a body awareness and some scripture recitations and mindful mantra’s and to just be willing to relax and see what happens. That was to become a source of getting some sleep the majority of nights and a reduction of stress when I got up for an hour or two, or three; and just relaxed, perhaps read, or meditated a little, or sometimes worried (If warranted, sometimes just to keep my chops up), or just putter around and write nonsense, (Harrumphh!) until I felt tired again. Then I usually got an hour or two of  more sleep/rest.

There’s always that bit of a niggle that my sleep habits are a also a good explanation (excuse?) for the more glaring personality traits I may exhibit from time to time. You know, charming, adorable, even keeled, super knowledgeable about Everything, and few others (I just can’t think of right now.)

Nevertheless, seriously, I have experienced that the less I worry about sleeping, my chances of getting some increases. I’ve also found that just laying down for 15 to 20 minutes anytime during the day and just relaxing a little, allows the mind to refresh itself. I know that’s awfully glib, but I’m confident that if any one tries this, oh, say thirty or forty times,within as many days, one may begin to see what that’s like.

It’s that whole “Intentional” thing that was all the rage a year or two ago. It seems that a lot of good ideas or small techniques become a thing for while and then they fade away. Most people try them a few times, or once,  and if the results aren’t quick and dramatic then on to the next new Thang.

So I suggest to lay or sit down and relax with the intention of letting oneself and one’s mind “just be” and to do this maybe 15-20 times and perhaps one’s own mind will direct one into a suitable method. I used to do that when I got home from work, just laid down and watched the mind reorganize itself, by itself, and I was always refreshed.

Trusting and allowing

Our minds and bodies are actually designed to help across a broad spectrum of the life experience, without our direct input, if we just start out with a little time and a small intention to just be still and quiet, at rest, but with dignity, for a short while and the small natural healing just…

Awareness don’t have  

No “*” in it

but,

Neither does the Brooklyn

Br*dge, so get 

Off that H*gh horse,

’cause there’s no

“*” in Me.