A Useful Meditation Technique
And some updates for readers.
Updates
Firstly, thank you to all my readers that have stuck with this strange project since its inception. I will be starting a slight rebrand, new title and new URL in the coming days before releasing my second essay on reality models.
In the process of working, growing, and writing this dialogue with you all, I’ve changed substantially as I also do not doubt you my readers have changed as well. We each have to be open to updating our intentions as we grow. What I understood Thirst Trap for Annihilation to be has evolved and matured into something different from what I originally conceived.
The caveat here is: language matters.
What you choose to call something, whether it is a project, a piece of art, even the name you choose for yourself matters. The language you use will color the destiny of that thing. A shared characteristic of mystery schools regardless of geography or background is for the initiate to choose a new name. Name physiognomy carries weight. It is not just how others interpret what a thing is but also carries historical, mythological, and original context of intent. If you’re going to choose a name, a nom-de-guerre of your own making, you will want to choose a good one, something positive and imbued with meaning. All of the contextual meaning of the name you choose will apply to you, especially your intents and beliefs about that name when you choose it. Refrain from calling yourself “Tom O'Bedlam” where possible.
“Thirst Trap for Annihilation” started as a joke on a Nick Land book title about Georges Bataille. It served its purpose two years ago, but the change in direction here will be to a more practical and positive direction.
A practical meditation technique you can start right now
I described a useful meditation technique in one of Meta Prime’s very valuable Twitter spaces a few days ago on the subjects of habit breaking and new habit formation. The most common problem I encounter when either giving or receiving advice on discipline, change, or any type of growth journey, is the overwhelming difficulty presented to us when trying to change our habits.
This one technique was a breakthrough for me.
Coupled with journaling, select the day last year of the same calendar day today, right now. You probably have some idea of where you were, what you were dealing with, what your life was like on May 29, 2022. Take note of it, remember and then do the same for what your life is right now. What are your goals? What are the challenges and projects you face right now? Meditation can be hard for people who haven’t nailed down a routine. But remember, setting a new daily ritual is a highly effective way to break old habits and build new ones. The process of daily reflection on the present coupled with daily reflection on the same day a year ago will push you daily to a more present and conscientious version of yourself. Most importantly, you can track your progress. How much have you changed in one year? What lessons would you want to send to your past self to warn them of future struggles? Empower them for success?
When you’ve finished journaling find a comfortable meditation position, set a timer to 15min to 30min, sit in silence and focus on what you just wrote. Envision yourself last year. Tell them, show them what you know now and what you have written about. Tell them what today is like, what last year could have been like. Intention here is a dialogue between yourself, and yes, yourself a year ago.
Now consider this? What happens when you’ve done this for a year? What happens when your present self right now is in dialogue with the future you?
No need to overthink it. Change is about praxis more than it is about theory. You have to start somewhere. The beauty of any growth practice is the results can only present themselves to you with action. A teacher can describe a multitude of models to you, all the different 'secrets’ or tricks for you to change, but they are all uninstantiated, abstract, and inaccessible without action on your part. I highly endorse this meditation method because you won’t need a guru to sell your more courses, there is no hidden gnosis, no hidden 100th degree OT 9, “subscribe to my newsletter” revelation here. You don’t need to read any old book or believe anything in particular about the theoreticals. You just do it. Start and don’t overcomplicate it.
Your gradual process of journaling your present and reflecting on your immediate past daily is self evidently useful and simple enough that it need not be wrapped in the arcane. If you start, and sincerely stick with the practice, you can track and follow your own growth. The results will surprise you.