Kaleidoscopic pattern - Metaphorical kaleidoscope of mind

THE METAPHORICAL KALEIDOSCOPE OF MIND: Explore the shifting of conscious and subconscious experience

Last updated: April 2nd, 2019

I have often reflected (pun intended) on how the kaleidoscope reminds me of our conscious and subconscious mind. As a kaleidoscope operates on the principle of multiple reflections, so does our mind’s eye.

This shifting of the “kaleidoscope of mind” often relates to who we’re with and the environment we’re in at any given time. Thoughts arise as we sense and observe our surroundings, and perhaps engage in conversation. These thoughts are augmented by the collective data held within our subconscious mind. The augmented thoughts then bring forth an emotional response. Based on our emotional response, we may then take action either through the spoken word or physically. This sequence of events will continue as the environment or conversation changes. The kaleidoscope of the mind is then continuously shifting.

Within a kaleidoscope there are typically three rectangular mirrors, set at 60° in relation to each other, so that they form an equilateral triangle. Might we also say, metaphorically, that thought is reflected by emotion, which is reflected by word or deed?

I briefly mentioned the subconscious. It’s important to note that we’re greatly influenced by the subconscious mind, which is a vast, unfiltered repository of our every experience, with unfiltered meaning that it does not discern or differentiate between right or wrong, good or bad, love or fear, etc. It simply accepts that to which we expose it. Therefore, in any given moment, as we engage with the world around us, a sort of “thin-slicing” occurs; the subconscious mind quickly observes and, based on its vast collection of (your) experiences, provides you with itsReader’s Digest version” of how to move forward. It’s important to note here that we are not our minds; the mind and subconscious mind are our tools and need to be carefully tended and used as such.

As the wheels of a kaleidoscope are rotated, the shifting of coloured objects present various colours and patterns. Metaphorically speaking, our thoughts may also shift and vary depending on our strength of character, intention and the ability to elevate our thoughts at will. Meaning, the subconscious mind may present a message (based on history of combined experience), but inner wisdom may guide you to shift to something of great measure in the moment; present-moment inner guidance, which may shift the wheels of your inner kaleidoscope.

The part of the kaleidoscope containing objects to be viewed is called the “object chamber” or “object cell.” Metaphorically, this may also be called the mind’s “eye.” With that thought in mind, do you have a “guard at the gate” that discerns what will or will not be allowed into your object chamber?

I invite you to take a moment to ponder the following: wherever we take ourselves, and with whomever we choose to spend time, we tend to filter out a large majority of what is around us. We simply cannot pay attention to every object, image, or conversation held around us, music that may be playing, etc. Most importantly, the subconscious mind hears everything that can be heard by the ears, sees everything that can be seen by the eyes and senses everything emoted from others—even if “you” do not (much having been filtered out), or you do not want to admit that you have (falling unconscious in the moment as it were). The subconscious mind does not differentiate.

When my children were very young, a good friend told me that when we sleep, our analytical/critical mind is off. Therefore, the subconscious mind will take in everything it hears. In the evenings, I would sit by my daughter or son’s bed while they were fast asleep. I would quietly tell them wonderful affirmations. I would tell them how much they were loved, how much joy they brought to myself and others, how smart they were, how good they were at the sport(s) they played and how much I loved watching them play, and so on. I was also very careful never to have any negative influence within earshot while they were sleeping.

With that in mind, imagine that your child and her/his teacher have brought up a personal challenge occurring at school. That evening, while your child is sleeping within earshot of your conversation, you discuss all the negative aspects of this, and all the things that could go wrong, etc. The child sleeping nearby, within earshot, subconsciously hears all this “negative” information, which is then taken in without the analytical or critical mind having a say. When the child goes back into that challenging situation at school, the subconscious mind may offer up those negative thoughts.

Because I’m aware of how the mind and subconscious mind work (I’m by no means an expert here), I tend to be careful of what I expose myself to. I freely admit that I enjoy a good book, a good movie, music, or silly banter, but I am aware of what I am exposing myself to.

What will you expose your most precious self to today?

Create a great day!

Read more on this topic in THE POWER OF WORDS: Use affirmations to reprogram your life»

[su_panel background=”#f2f2f2″ color=”#000000″ border=”0px none #ffffff” shadow=”0px 0px 0px #ffffff”]by Janine Algar

image: Kaleidoscopic pattern via Shutterstock