Where are you when your thoughts are clearest?

I'll say, every once in awhile, I take a bath and I just let my ears go below the surface of the water and it muffles all the sounds and everything around me... I feel completely at peace at that point. The same thing happens when I swim in the ocean and I usually just sit there and float as long as I can.

 

I know that feeling...Nice!

 

Definitely during walks for me. Often it's the only time I'll let my mind delve into difficult/niggly emotional territory.

As for being intellectually productive, one thing I definitely know is that it doesn't occur when I am trying to be productive. I've always had my best moments when stepping away from work to do other things or just take a break, so usually when I'm on the john or during smoke breaks. I no longer smoke but I still try to make a point of having those brief moments away from what I'm doing.

 

i like to do that if im feeling overwhelmed... only its usually at the lake, and not in the tub... its very peaceful and solitary when you need it though...

 

Totally. It's some of the only alone time I get.

Also in front of a campfire. It happens far too rarely for me. But in the late hours, gazing into the heart of the embers is like looking into the heart of God. It's not really about problem-solving in these moments. It's more just a silent, empty clarity of mind and spirit, and a pervading feeling of peace and connection to Creation.

 

YES!

and I do it with the sweet Mary Jane and an acoustic........the mindset is awesome....

you're right,the embers are almost magical.........they take the BS of day to day life away...

hell yeah........add the campfire to my list

 

and I do it with the sweet Mary Jane and an acoustic........the mindset is awesome....

you're right,the embers are almost magical.........they take the BS of day to day life away...

Very cool. Unfortunately, I don't have access to mind-expanding herbs. And I don't play guitar. But put my bodhran in my hand, in a drum circle or by myself, and I can disappear into a beat or experimental rhythm.

 

Sitting on the beach, late afternoon, listening and looking at the ocean. (Quiet spot)

 

This is one of my favorites for sure!

 

I don't really know if there's a specific spot that really does it for me... Sometimes it's long walks in the city, sometimes it's while sitting the shower, sometimes it's on the subway...

 

Winter thinking is on its way back.
Sitting out back this morning was pretty chilly, (45F) I like to feel the steam from the coffee hit my face in the darkness.

 

For me ... staring through the computer monitor in the darkness of the early hours of the morning, eyes half closed.

Also, walking along the towpath of the River Thames in the dark. Some senses are noting the texture of the rocks and gravel underfoot and stopping me from tripping up, my body is pumped, the universe springs up in front of me and my mind is free to fly around and through it, sorting it in to, hopefully, useful possible shapes. I get back home, and my walking thoughts are what flow from my fingers on to the computer. Today, though, there was no walking as, from first awakening, I was glued to the keyboard - I'd suddenly realised I needed to review the last 16 weeks. The more pumped I am, the more the space available fills with my thoughts, which become solid, palpable, leaving small gaps to see my keayboard, screen, and bowls of sensible munchies.

Tomorrow morning, I am due dress in black robes, to carry candles, to chant in Latin, and to look with a solemn expression halfway between benignity and threat. What I'll actually do will be to stagger around with them, looking bleary=eyes and chanting "Bugger this" under my breath. Why? Because this truly special day of clearest thoughts has left them all cluttering my head like banquetting tables and chairs in a village hall after the wedding guests have gone off to the night club. My sleep pixies are stomping around like janitors, complaining about the mess and refusing to give me rest until I have cleared everything away and mopped the floor.

But I'm too tired to do any of that, so I dragged myself out of bed to make myself a cup of tea.

 

Beautiful and definitely a cool description Zen !