Whenever I lead workshops, one of the first things I do is invite the group to become aware of the field that we create when we come together – a field that consists of the combined wisdom and experience of everyone in the room.  Since I had a powerful speaking phobia years ago, I’m mindful of those in a group who may not be able to share their wisdom out loud, so I make a point of reminding everyone that – in the context of the field we create together – the contributions of everyone are shared automatically, even if they never say a word out loud.  Recognizing the fields in which we move and have our being is an important and useful awareness to cultivate.

One of the ways to explore this has to do with experiencing the space that connects us.  I’ve mentioned this before – quite a long time ago now.  Most of the time, we experience ourselves as separated by the space around us.  For example, my friends who live in California seem a long ways away from New York City when I imagine the space between us as something that separates us.  On the other hand, if I think of the space between us as a continuous, connected field, then something fundamental changes.  The space between us enfolds us all and connects us in an inescapable way.

Take a moment to play with this idea.  Wherever you may be, look around you and notice that anything that’s “over there” connects to you through the space between you.  The space is continuous and, rather than creating distance, it brings what’s “over there” into immediate relationship with you.  Everything around you, including you, exists within *one* continuous field.

Next time you’re with a group at a gathering of whatever kind, take a moment to shift your awareness from what’s right in front of you to what’s all around.  Notice the field created by that particular group, by that particular gathering and experience.  Imagine that everyone involved contributes to, and draws from, the field automatically all the time and that you do the same.  Notice the quality of your experience as you attune yourself to the field.  If it’s a field you enjoy and one that feels comfortable, notice what happens when you open yourself even more to a sense of connection with it.  It can be surprisingly moving to feel yourself enfolded within the field of a group that generates a positive quality of experience.  The natural sense of belonging deepens at a felt-sense level that can be quite profound.  If it turns out that the field of the group is uncomfortable, notice that and bring your awareness to the effect of that quality on you.  When you can bring awareness in this way, it sometimes helps to explain unexpected irritability or fatigue.  If this happens, then notice your experience as you move away from that group field and into a new environment.

Here’s another way to play with the space that connects us.  The next time you feel lonely, take a moment to drop into the experience of all the space around you and let yourself touch into its continuous quality.  It’s impossible to actually *be* disconnected, but it can help to drop into a present-moment awareness of this inescapable connection with everything and everyone around you.

As with all the experiments, bring curiosity along as your companion, as curiosity supports an open awareness and willingness to discover things along the way.