Introduction

 

At some point along the journey of life, we come to a fork in the road. We can continue to live from the conditioning and beliefs handed to us since childhood, or we can begin to ask a deeper question: What is actually true? Not what someone told us, not what the mind insists, but what we discover through our own direct experience. That’s where true growth begins.

 

The world offers many systems—religions, psychologies, self-help philosophies. These are all part of the human attempt to find meaning. They offer ideas, models, and practices, and they are widely available. But what if we could go beyond all that? What if we could explore not from the mind, but from the quiet awareness behind the mind?

 

That’s the intention here. This website is not about collecting more beliefs. It’s about discovering a deeper truth—one that satisfies both the quiet yearning of the heart and the clarity of scientific observation. And the way to begin is simple: we learn to step back.

 

Through meditation and inner inquiry, we create space between ourselves and our thoughts, our emotions, and our habitual patterns. In that space, something remarkable happens: we become the observer. We are no longer caught in the whirlwind of the mind—we are the awareness watching it. And awareness is not biased. It just sees. In this seeing, a deep clarity arises.

 

The more we step back, the more we let go of the noisy mind and the personal ego with all its demands and judgments. We begin to feel an inner freedom. Sometimes, we even touch the joy that has always been there—beneath the turbulence, behind the noise.

 

Imagine watching a movie. You’re drawn into the story, you feel every emotion, but somewhere deep down, you know it’s just a movie. You’re sitting in a theater. You are the one who watches. In the same way, your life can be seen. And when you become the one who watches, fear and pain don’t have to pull you under. You experience life fully, but you’re free.

 

So where do you go when you step back? You go to the seat of your consciousness—the center of your being. You leave behind the voice in your head, and instead rest in the awareness that hears it. And in that stillness, you find peace. You begin to make choices from clarity, not from compulsion.

 

Inside each of us is a wellspring of energy. When we’re open, when we’re filled with love or inspiration, that energy flows freely. But when we’re shut down—when sadness or fear take hold—it feels like the energy disappears.

 

To understand this, it can help to explore the chakras, the centers of energy within. The lower chakras carry the energy of survival—fear, sexuality, power. The higher chakras open us to love, insight, intuition, and spiritual connection. All seven matter. But when energy gets blocked—especially through unresolved emotional trauma—it keeps playing out in our lives long after the original experience is gone.

 

The moment you see this energy and stop resisting it, you give it the space to release. That’s all it’s ever needed. Left stuck, it festers and distorts our perception of life. But released, it becomes part of your growth.

 

Even the beautiful energies of love and inspiration can become blocks when we cling to them. Holding on to the past or fearing the future keeps us from living in the only place life ever is—now.

 

And so, I’m not asking for your belief. I’m inviting you to explore. This isn’t about dogma or ideology. This is about direct experience. Simply observe your thoughts, your emotions, your actions. Try something, and watch what happens. Be the scientist of your own inner world.

 

A beautiful place to start is with love. Just love yourself. You’re going to be with you for the rest of your life. There will be times when others may not be there to love you, but you can be. Give yourself the space, the kindness, the freedom to just be. And maybe even… give yourself a hug. Do something joyful, just for you.

 

That’s how the journey begins. You step back, you watch, and slowly but surely… you wake up.

 

Website Organization

The menu at the top of the page allows you to select the following pages:

 

Home:

Here, you can explore Deepermind and discover ways to optimize your life. The Deepermind story takes you on a fascinating journey toward personal growth and understanding. You can also visit deeperheart.com to enjoy a poem about love and reflect on how God sees us. The site offers discussions on purity, insights into the nature of love, and the Sufi perspective on the heart.

 

A thought-provoking story contrasts the material and spiritual approaches to life. The homepage also provides links to YouTube chanting videos, Numberphile, Sadhguru, Firefox add-ons, and a selection of music. Additionally, you can take control of a shortwave radio in Denmark and operate it as if it were your own.

Introduction

This section reflects on the very page you are reading. I share a little about myself and the church I attend. As an ex-Catholic, I once believed that only certain things were holy, but now I see everything as holy—an idea beautifully captured in Peter Mayer's song Everything is Holy Now. Words can be tricky, as they tell stories that may have nothing to do with reality. It is essential to understand the difference between a word and the meaning it implies. Often, words are just narratives with no real substance. This idea is emphasized in General Semantics, where words are seen as mere pointers to meaning, much like maps that represent but are not the actual territory.

Validity

You can either believe in what others say or seek to understand things for yourself. Religious dogma is just a collection of words unless supported by real evidence. Science, on the other hand, relies on careful observation and patterns found through experimentation. Religion is based on faith, and many religious people carry guilt from the idea of sin. Yet, sin is defined by human-made rules. While individuals can make mistakes, so can religious institutions. For instance, it is deeply problematic to believe in a God who punishes people eternally or brings suffering upon the innocent. Rather than accepting blind faith, we should seek faith that is verified through experience. Practices like meditation and mindfulness offer real insights into life. Instead of relying on unproven beliefs, we pursue truth and explore methods to improve our lives. Don Miguel Ruiz's Five Agreements provide a framework for ethical living and truth-seeking. Science has revealed many truths, and several examples are explored.

Inward Exploration

By observing our inner life through meditation, we quickly realize there is a voice in our head that never stops talking. However, we are not this voice—we are the observer, the soul, the true self that is aware of awareness itself. The soul can question and evaluate the thoughts generated by the mind. Through observation, we also recognize the presence of inner energies, which are not the physical energy derived from food but energies shaped by love, emotions, external events, and the ego. These energies are mapped by the chakra system and can become blocked due to life’s traumas.

Energy

In general, energy moves through seven chakras, where it can flow freely, be stored, or become blocked. The lower chakras, particularly those associated with fear, are linked to the Sympathetic Nervous System, which triggers a chemical response that puts the body in a state of emergency. If this state becomes chronic, it leads to stress-related health issues. Conversely, when we are in a state of peaceful rest, the Parasympathetic Nervous System takes over, releasing chemicals that promote healing and well-being.

Emotions

Humans experience hundreds of emotions, ranging from happiness and euphoria to fear, hatred, and despair. We often cling to positive emotions while trying to suppress or block negative ones. However, we are not our emotions; we simply experience them. By observing our emotions without identifying with them, we can regulate them more effectively. This regulation allows us to live happier, more balanced, and more productive lives.

Techniques

This section explores practical ways to improve life through action. While we may understand, in theory, how to create a perfect life, actually achieving it requires more than just knowledge. If our self-worth is based on changing others or the world, we will face constant frustration. While we have control over our own possessions and choices, the world at large—including the news and global events—is beyond our control. Instead of immersing ourselves in external distractions, we can turn inward. Through meditation, mindfulness, and conscious awareness, we can gain a deeper understanding of ourselves. By paying attention to our habits, thoughts, diet, surroundings, and the people in our lives, we can cultivate a more intentional way of living.

The Soul

Our true self is our soul. It defines who we are at the deepest level. If we view the soul as a drop in the ocean of God, then it becomes clear that we are part of something vast and interconnected. This realization simplifies life, allowing us to make wiser decisions, direct our minds consciously, and cultivate emotions rooted in love and peace. As we align with our true nature, we become more resilient, and our ego transforms into a reflection of our soul. This alignment marks the beginning of enlightenment.

Other Authors

For additional insight and inspiration, you may explore the thoughts and teachings of other authors who have written about these topics. Their perspectives can offer deeper understanding and new ways of thinking.

 

Journey into Universal Connection and Awe

 

There are countless ways to approach the realms of psychology and spirituality, each offering its own insights and perspectives. However, in the spirit of Michael Singer's teachings, this exploration will not rely on the authority of psychological experts or the profound musings of great philosophers. Nor will it align itself with any one of the world’s major religions, for what we seek to understand transcends such frameworks. What we are discussing is something universal—something inherent within every individual.

 

This journey is not about adopting predefined doctrines or external systems of belief. Instead, it is about examining what is already present within us and exploring how the many aspects of our inner and outer worlds work together. At our core, we all share fundamental human experiences. We think, feel emotions, eat, experience moods, sleep, dream, and navigate the challenges and beauty of existence. These shared traits connect us and provide a foundation for meaningful exploration.

 

What I offer here is not a repetition of established knowledge or a regurgitation of others’ insights. Rather, I will present what I have come to understand from a fresh perspective—one that seeks clarity through direct observation and personal experience. By setting aside preconceived notions and tapping into the shared essence of our humanity, we can uncover truths that resonate deeply, not because they are handed down by authority, but because they are already alive within us. Let us embark on this journey together, with open minds and hearts, to discover how these dimensions of our lives interconnect and illuminate one another. People have said what is revealed here goes way beyond everything else they have experienced.  It can be not only an important way to get to the truth about things, but also offers intense self-help techniques.

 

We are living in an era of extraordinary discoveries, a time when genuine wonder and awe have a profound place in our modern world. Take, for example, the awe-inspiring revelations of the Webb telescope. This remarkable instrument has unveiled billions of galaxies, each teeming with countless stars and planets—a cosmic time machine that allows us to peer into the ancient past of the universe itself. Its discoveries invite us to imagine the myriad life forms that might exist across these distant realms, so far removed yet tantalizingly possible.

 

The vastness and beauty of this cosmic mystery beckon us to pause and reflect on the grandeur of life. In the face of such boundless complexity and magnificence, we are reminded of our place in the universe and invited to anchor ourselves in a sense of profound awe.

 

A Possible Breakthrough Between Metaphysics and Physics

 

What could be a major breakthrough between real science and metaphysics.  It involves Quantum Physics and is very complicated and mathematical.  But I have written an article that explains it in a non-technical way.  I start out with a dust cloud.  More information: Metaphysics to the Brain: The Microtubule Connection . 

 

The Inner and the Outer Worlds

Human existence is shaped by the interplay of two distinct but interconnected realms: the external world, described and explored by science, and the internal world, which we actively use to navigate, interpret, and respond to our experiences. These two worlds define our reality, yet they are fundamentally different in how we engage with them.

 

The external world is the physical reality that surrounds us—a vast and intricate universe of atoms, forces, and phenomena governed by natural laws. This is the realm that science seeks to understand through observation, experimentation, and theory. It is the world of galaxies and subatomic particles, of ecosystems and human societies. Yet, despite its immensity and complexity, we do not experience this world directly. Instead, our interaction with it is mediated through the lens of our senses and the interpretive processes of our brain.

 

The internal world, on the other hand, is deeply personal and uniquely human. It is the world we "see," feel, and live within—a rich tapestry of perceptions, thoughts, emotions, memories, and dreams. It is this internal realm that shapes our understanding of the external world and gives it meaning. The external world exists objectively, but it is only through the internal world that it becomes part of our lived experience.

Perception: The Brain as a Mediator

At the heart of this interaction is the process of perception. Our eyes, ears, and other sensory organs act as conduits, gathering raw data from the external world and transmitting it to the brain for interpretation. For instance, the eye functions much like a camera, capturing light and sending signals to the brain via the optic nerve. Yet, what we "see" is not simply a mirror image of reality. The brain processes this sensory input, filling in gaps, applying context, and rendering the information into a coherent picture on what can be thought of as our "internal monitor."

This process is both remarkable and inherently limited. The brain uses shortcuts—patterns and assumptions—to make sense of the immense amount of sensory data it receives. While these shortcuts allow for rapid and generally accurate interpretation, they can also lead to illusions when the brain misinterprets or oversimplifies the information. Optical illusions, for example, reveal the ways in which the brain can be "tricked" by patterns or contexts that do not align with objective reality.

 

Despite these occasional missteps, the brain’s ability to construct an internal model of the external world is extraordinary. This internal model keeps us safe, enabling us to avoid danger and make decisions based on an accurate representation of our environment. It is a testament to the brain’s incredible capacity to take raw sensory data and transform it into a world that is not only functional but also deeply meaningful.

The Beauty of the Inner World

The internal world is more than just a reflection of the external; it is a creative, interpretive space where meaning is constructed. It is where we experience beauty, wonder, and emotion. The external world might provide the raw material—a sunset, a melody, the smile of a loved one—but it is within our internal world that these experiences are imbued with significance. It is here that science meets art, and observation meets feeling.

While the internal world strives to faithfully represent external reality, it also allows for subjectivity and individuality. Each person's internal experience is unique, shaped by their memories, beliefs, and imagination. This individuality adds depth and richness to our shared human experience, as no two internal worlds are exactly alike.

The Truth and Beauty of Connection

When the brain successfully aligns its internal model with the external world, it creates a profound sense of grounding and connection. This truthful representation is not only functional—keeping us out of trouble and enabling us to navigate life—but also profoundly beautiful. It allows us to see the world not as a chaotic collection of atoms and forces but as a harmonious system filled with patterns, relationships, and meaning.

Science may describe the external world in precise detail, but it is the internal world that allows us to marvel at its grandeur. A telescope reveals the stars, but it is within our minds that we grasp their beauty and feel the awe of the cosmos. A microscope reveals the intricate patterns of a cell, but it is within us that those patterns inspire wonder.

Striving for Balance Between Worlds

To live fully, we must learn to balance these two worlds. The external world demands our attention and respect, as its laws govern our physical existence. Yet, the internal world requires care and cultivation, as it shapes how we perceive, interpret, and respond to that reality.

By nurturing this balance, we can create an internal world that is not only truthful but also a source of peace, joy, and creativity. When grounded in the truth of the external world, the internal world becomes a sanctuary—a place where understanding and imagination coexist, where beauty is found not only in the world around us but also in the act of seeing it.

 

In essence, the interplay between the inner and outer worlds is what makes us human. It is in this dynamic relationship that we find the capacity for science and art, for reason and emotion, for understanding and wonder. Together, these two worlds form the foundation of our existence, inviting us to explore, to question, and to marvel at the profound mystery of being.

 

 

 

Meditating Woman

Agape Spiritual Center

 

The Agape Spiritual Center is where I first encountered the teachings of Michael A. Singer, author of The Untethered Soul. This unique refuge, located in Frisco, Texas, offers a haven of spiritual exploration within a predominantly Christian cultural setting.

 

Founded in March 2009 by Senior Minister Rev. Lee Wolak, Agape provides an inclusive and welcoming community for individuals seeking to expand their awareness and live more consciously.

 

The Center holds in-person gatherings at 10:00 a.m. every Sunday at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Frisco. Rev. Lee incorporates principles from The Untethered Soul into his teachings, emphasizing practical spirituality as a pathway to a fulfilled and meaningful life. His mission is to help people awaken to their potential by teaching them how to live consciously, cultivate inner peace, and align with their true selves.

 

Agape’s approach to spirituality is grounded in accessible and transformative practices. The community embraces meditation, affirmative prayer, affirmations, forgiveness, visualization, and gratitude as tools for self-discovery and growth. These practices encourage individuals to move beyond limiting beliefs and embrace a life of openness, connection, and joy.

 

At its core, Agape Spiritual Center is more than just a place to meet—it is a community dedicated to the journey of self-discovery and conscious living. It offers a space where people can learn, practice, and share their experiences as they seek to understand themselves and the world around them. Through Rev. Lee's guidance, Agape fosters a supportive environment for personal transformation and spiritual awakening, rooted in the timeless principles of love, awareness, and inclusivity.

 

Everything is Holy

 

There is a profoundly moving song by Peter Mayer called Holy Now that never fails to stir deep emotions within me, often bringing tears to my eyes. Its message is simple yet transformative, reminding us of the sacredness of everything around us. The song speaks to a shift in perspective—one where the extraordinary is no longer confined to the rare or the ritualistic, but is instead found in the everyday moments of life. It’s a call to see the world with fresh eyes, to recognize that everything is holy, and that everything is a miracle.

 

Mayer’s lyrics beautifully capture this awakening of awareness. He reflects on how, in his younger years, holiness was something reserved for specific objects, places, or rituals. Holy water, for example, was rare and only found in the context of religious ceremonies. But as he grew older, his understanding of holiness expanded. He began to see sacredness not as something external and exclusive, but as something inherent in every aspect of life. In his words, "Holy water was rare, now it’s everywhere."

 

This shift in perspective resonates deeply because it challenges the notion that the divine or the miraculous is distant, separate, or confined to the extraordinary. Instead, Mayer invites us to see the divine in the ordinary—to look at the world with a sense of awe and reverence that transforms the mundane into something sacred. A drop of rain, a blade of grass, a smile, or the sound of a bird singing—each becomes a vessel of the holy when we take the time to truly see it.

 

The song’s refrain, "Everything is holy now," is a profound reminder to live with gratitude and mindfulness. It speaks to the idea that miracles are not rare occurrences; they are the fabric of our existence. The rising of the sun, the beating of our hearts, the connection we feel with others—all are miracles if we choose to see them as such. Mayer’s song encourages us to let go of the idea that holiness belongs only to specific moments or objects and instead embrace the sacredness of all things.

 

Listening to Holy Now is more than hearing a song—it’s an invitation to change the way we experience life. It encourages us to slow down, open our hearts, and appreciate the beauty and interconnectedness of the world around us. In a culture that often prizes speed, consumption, and distraction, this message feels like a much-needed reminder of what truly matters.

 

What makes the song so moving is not just its lyrics, but the heartfelt way Mayer delivers them. His voice carries an authenticity that makes the listener feel as though he’s sharing a deeply personal revelation—a truth that he’s discovered and now wants to share with the world. This sincerity, combined with the song’s gentle melody, creates an emotional resonance that lingers long after the music stops.

 

Ultimately, Holy Now is more than just a song; it’s a meditation on life. It asks us to reconsider how we view the world and to awaken to the sacredness that surrounds us. It’s a call to embrace life with a sense of wonder and gratitude, seeing not just with our eyes, but with our hearts. And in doing so, we may find ourselves moved to tears, not out of sadness, but out of a profound recognition of the beauty and holiness in everything.

 

General Semantics

 

As I grew older, I found myself yearning for a way to reconcile or move beyond my Catholic belief system. I wanted answers that resonated with truth and clarity. Finally, I stumbled upon a crucial insight: the teachings I had been following were built on words—words that claimed to convey divine truths. This realization sparked a deeper investigation into the connection between words, truth, and meaning, ultimately leading me to a subject called General Semantics.

 

General Semantics opened my eyes to a vital principle: words must have real meaning, or they can lead us into blind faith and misunderstanding. Words, to be valuable, must point to something tangible and verifiable. Without a clear connection to reality, words risk becoming empty symbols that mislead rather than guide.

 

To illustrate this, I turned to the concept of maps. Maps, much like words, are constructed as representations of reality. They translate the real world into symbols on paper: roads become lines, towns become rectangles, and landmarks are represented by various icons. A good map serves as a reliable guide, helping you navigate from one place to another because it corresponds to the actual territory it describes.

 

Similarly, when someone gives you directions using words, those words act as substitutes for the objects and paths along the way. They serve as a verbal map. But just as it’s possible to draw a fake treasure map that leads to a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, it’s also possible to construct a story that misrepresents reality. Words, like maps, can deceive if they are disconnected from what is real.

 

The solution, as General Semantics teaches, is to verify the map against the territory—to ensure that the representation matches reality. It’s not enough to trust words or stories at face value. You must "walk the walk" and see for yourself whether they hold true. This practice of questioning and verification became a cornerstone of my understanding, allowing me to approach beliefs, ideas, and systems with a critical yet open mind. It taught me the importance of grounding meaning in reality rather than in unexamined faith or hearsay.

 

Michael A. Singer

This exploration is deeply inspired by Michael A. Singer’s transformative works, The Untethered Soul (2007) and Living Untethered (2022). These profound masterpieces delve into the human experience, shedding light on the intricate nature of our thoughts, emotions, and the true essence of who we are. With clarity and grace, Singer offers a powerful invitation to transcend the restless confines of the mind and access the vast, boundless peace that resides within each of us.

Singer defines the "mind" as the mechanism that generates the constant inner voice—the stream of thoughts that narrates, analyzes, and often critiques our every experience. He suggests that many of us are captives to this relentless inner chatter, which creates stress, fear, and a sense of limitation. His work reveals how we can break free from this captivity by observing the mind rather than identifying with it.

 

Through his teachings, Singer provides practical tools and spiritual insights to help us release the emotional and mental burdens that weigh us down. He empowers us to let go of the attachments, fears, and habitual patterns that no longer serve us. By embracing this process of letting go, we open ourselves to the infinite flow of life, awakening to a state of freedom, joy, and possibility.

 

At its core, the message of The Untethered Soul and Living Untethered is a call to rediscover the profound peace and happiness that have always been within us. Singer’s wisdom shows us that by moving beyond our self-imposed limitations, we can live fully and authentically, unburdened by the constraints of the mind. These works are a beacon for anyone seeking to unlock their inner potential and embrace the limitless beauty of existence.

 

Introducing the Author: George Norwood

 

Let me share a bit about my journey. I grew up in the charming town of Petaluma, nestled in Northern California. My upbringing was deeply rooted in Catholicism, as my mother raised me in the faith. I attended mass and catechism classes diligently, fully embracing the teachings. As a child, I saw myself as a "good Catholic kid," cycling between moments of being in a state of grace—sins forgiven—and returning to the guilt-ridden "normal world."

Catholic doctrine shaped my early worldview. Any thought of sex was sinful, and even standing up for what I believed was right could feel like defiance against the rules. Yet, even as I tried to adhere to these teachings, I felt an internal conflict. Science, with its experiments, mathematical proofs, and tangible results, stood in stark contrast to religious teachings that seemed written long ago by someone claiming divine knowledge. I didn’t yet realize how I had been conditioned to feel guilt, only to be "saved" from it in an endless cycle.

 

As a teenager, my curiosity pushed me to explore beyond the confines of Catholicism. I visited every church in town and delved into books about what I saw as exotic and unfamiliar religions, such as Buddhism and Hinduism. While I held onto my Catholic faith, I was beginning to question its dogma and accumulate knowledge that challenged the absolutes I’d been taught.

 

When I was about twenty, I left home to study at RCA Institutes in New York City. It was an exciting leap into a world of calculus, physics, electronics, and computers. But the transition wasn’t easy—I struggled to understand what a computer even was and lacked the study skills to keep up. Before long, I found myself flunking.

 

In desperation, I turned to intense prayer, pleading with God for help. Instead of clarity, things seemed to spiral further out of control. It was only when I returned to basics—asking questions in class, seeking help, and putting in the effort to understand—that things began to improve. This experience left me questioning not just my approach to learning but also the broader frameworks of faith, knowledge, and personal growth.

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More About Me

Later in life, my spiritual journey expanded as I explored and joined various faiths. I participated in retreats with groups like Ken Keyes’ followers and the disciples of Swami Satchidananda. I embraced the identities of a Hindu, a Buddhist, a Baha’i, and a Unitarian at different points in my search for truth.

 

Each faith had its unique rituals and narratives, offering perspectives on what was considered true and right. Yet, while these experiences often left me feeling uplifted, I found myself yearning for something more. I wanted to understand how these teachings resonated within me—how they worked on a deeper, personal level. I longed for something grounded in proof, not just the comfort of blind faith.

 

More recently, in early 2024, I encountered a spiritual community that began to address this need for proof. I started attending the Agape Spiritual Center in Frisco, Texas. Like other religions, this community provided a sense of upliftment. But it also went a step further, offering insights into the workings of my inner life. It was here that I began to gain a deeper understanding of my internal experiences.

 

My background as a technical writer for over 40 years became an unexpected asset in this journey. My role required me to take complex systems and explain them clearly and effectively—whether through manuals or teaching materials. I had honed a skill for unraveling intricate processes and presenting them in a way others could understand.

 

Alongside my professional work, I pursued an education in psychology, attending the University of Texas at Dallas part-time. I graduated with a degree in psychology, achieving nearly an A average. This combination of technical expertise, an analytical mindset, and a passion for understanding human behavior gave me a unique perspective.

 

Looking back, it feels like all the pieces came together—a "perfect storm" of writing skills, a broad exposure to religious traditions, and a formal education in psychology. These elements converged to bring me to this point, enabling me to share my journey and insights. What you are reading now is the result of that confluence: a life shaped by curiosity, exploration, and a commitment to understanding how we work on the inside.