Them Bones, Them Dry Bones

This article was first published in "Going Mental" by Daniel McGowan.

Each cell in the mind’s form is a sentient, living being, whether it be brain-cell, blood-cell, muscle-cell, bone-cell, etc.. Each cell is the product of consciousness, is intelligent and thinks within its own space and time order. We are not, however, usually aware of this thinking that the cells are constantly performing. We are not usually aware of the fact that this thinking is that part of the mind known as the subconciousness or unconsciousness. Throughout the self, from Overself to underself (ego) and further to the myriad number of little selves there exists this vast ocean of consciousness constructed in a graded series, each level being unknown to the one above or below. The thinking that goes on at these different levels of the mind occurs at a speed that boggles the imagination. In simple terms, each cell knows within its own field of functioning what its job is and how to do it.

In the waking state, the conscious mind can direct millions of cells to do this or that. For example, muscle cells react instantly to the wish of the mind to do things like walking, running, writing, smiling, etc.. But muscle cells are not the only ones to react to the wish of the conscious mind.

Let us relate this graded series of subconscious activity to the bones, particularly the vertebrae of the spine.

The intelligence in the deeper layers of the mind has created all the bones, ligaments, muscles, vital organs, cells, etc., that it needs for experience or development. This entire graded series of subconscious activity throughout the self constitutes the so-called body. Contrary to popular belief, the body is not a lump of matter.

But how does this come about? In my book, “CONSTRUCTIVE AWARENESS”, I wrote: “There are two main reasons why humanity has progressed to the evolutionary stage we are now at. One is the tremendous need to do, to know, to develop and to change; the other is our ability to be creative in this process.

The conscious mind possesses limitless inquisitiveness and creativity. It is the great driving force behind our need to do, to know, to develop, to change and to create. This shows that creativity is not confined to artists, musicians, authors, etc., but is a vital function of the constitution of every human being”.

Staying with the relationship of the conscious to the subconscious, I also wrote,: “It is reasonable to suggest that our power of smell has reached its present sophisticated level in the following manner.

At one time, in the evolutionary darkness, the creature went around sniffing absolutely everything to ensure that no danger existed to life and limb. This process was carried out with relentless repetition until, at some point, some bright individual decided it was not necessary to check everything because not all things were dangerous to its welfare.

The creature then felt a need to develop something in the body to monitor odours in a way that would free the conscious mind of the tyranny of having to pay attention to every single smell, thus allowing it to attend to other things. This recognition of a need caused the creative process of developing the olfactory lobes, which would monitor smells at the subconscious level; this process was repeated over and over until the olfactory lobes were perfected.”

In other words, through the wish to develop, the conscious mind educates the subconscious mind. Repetition is the key here. Repetition fosters memory – association with past similar experience – which is the most important element in learning anything. Frequently recurring experiences become familiar and we can access them almost instantly from the vast amount of knowledge stored in memory, stored in the subconscious regions of the self.

We can now relate this very long process of developing the olfactory lobes – as well as every other part of the mind’s form – to something more immediate, that is, the process of learning to play a musical instrument, say, the piano.

If one is learning to read music at the same time, then the procedure is as follows. The person looks at the notes on the sheet music and strikes the keys with a particular finger or fingers according to what the written music dictates. In the beginning this is a slow process. One has to look at the note, look at the keyboard, place a particular finger on the appropriate key and then strike it. The process is, however, an ever quickening one. Through repetition the mind creatively speeds it up, each repetition of the act of reading then striking the keys becoming faster as the mind draws on the memory of executing the previous one. This acceleration continues until the person can play the music with ease, precision and beautiful expression. The fingers fly over the keys with incredible speed and the person becomes so adept that s/he can play some things and carry on a conversation with someone at the same time.

What has happened here? Simply put, the conscious mind has taught that part of the subconscious mind known as the muscles into doing something so well that the muscle cells can perform the act of playing while the conscious mind carries on a conversation. Does this example not show the evolutionary process? Does it not show that a conscious act, when repeated often enough, becomes a subconscious one? It does not, however become automatic, as is generally believed, but is the working of a reflective mind functioning with incredible celerity.

It is now time to relate the above to them bones, them dry bones that form the title of this section. Them bones, them bones, them dry bones is a line taken from an old song that rather neatly indicates that we never see or feel live bones, only dead and dry bones. When we think of bones, we usually think of lifeless skeletons. It is impossible for us to see them functioning as living vibrant beings in the body. Bone cells, like all other cells, are intelligent beings and in many ways are just as sensitive as the nervous system. Bones manufacture that vital fluid which we all need, namely, blood.

As I said earlier, allowing the spine to function at its optimal length is vital to the co-ordinated, healthy functioning of the organism. Its deterioration by shortening during a lifetime, is one of the main reasons for us performing beneath our best potential. Too often we become, like the person on the right on the picture below, stooped and stiff as we grow older.

In my experience, I have witnessed that many people accept this stooping curve of the spine as something quite natural, an inevitable consequence of growing old. When I point out to them that the vertebrae have become distorted, have changed their shape to survive in this detrimental situation, most people accept that this is so. They do not, however, accept so readily that the vertebrae will change their shape to the new improved situation brought about by adopting constructive conscious control in the use of the self. Most people do not readily accept that by the power of thinking, the wish to change, is transmitted to the bones and they will re-adjust their shape in accordance with the wish of the conscious mind. The evolutionary process described above is again at work here. The conscious mind re-educates the bones and the rest of the organism to restore them to co-ordinated use and functioning.

In short, I know from personal experience and from observing other people who have the desire to change, that if the motivation and dedication are strong enough, even the very bones will change for the better.

“Them bones, them bones, gotta walk around” “Them bones, them bones, gotta walk around”.

(Exits Stage left, dancing and moving arms around).

This article was first published in Going Mental by Daniel McGowan. You can download the PDF of this book for free here: FREE DOWNLOAD