Look up, look up! Look to the sky

Read Sober Psychonaut disclaimer for people in sobriety exploring psychedelic medicine

As part of my ketamine therapy integration work, I took a winter walk some days before I left for Costa Rica and aside from the fact that it was icy and worth watching my footing, I found myself looking down the whole time. 

​When I realized my eyes were peeled to the ground, my neck was bent, my physical energy "jagged" in a way⏤I told myself, "Look up!" Metaphorical, as it were, for looking up not only at the sky but at life with a positive, upward view.

The next few times I walked or stepped outside, I had to force my head skyward, such was the tendency to look down⏤same as our tendency as humans to always find something wrong or negative, to hijack good things in life with "yeah buts" or "hopefully x won't happen" when everything's rolling along pretty well.

Image by MAX1993 from Pixabay 

When I look to the sky, does it change anything?

Absolutely.

Here's how looking to the sky instantly changes things:

Pride and posture
It instantly changes your posture, for one, so physically you're standing taller with spine pulled erect. That alone creates a feeling of confidence and pride in self.

Bigger things in life
Visually observing the sky reminds us of the vastness with-out, momentarily pausing the detrimental daydreaming (mindfuckery), reminding us to observe, "Hey, there's the sky. Wow, there's an airplane. Look, the trees are blowing in the wind." Looking to the sky stirs awe and wonder. All that's happening out there signals to us that there is far more going on in the world than what's going on in "here" (my, at times, deteriorated mental state). 

Spiritual connection
The sky also prompts me to connect with God, the Universe, Spirit, whatever floats your spiritual boat. But something about looking up⏤it's as ancient as human history and wonderment at how it all began and how it all became and how it all will be. 

"Look up, look up!" has become a mantra, of sorts, whenever my neck is bent too long on a phone or a mundane task or the monotony of my steps. It's a reminder not to tarry too long at things that don't inspire.

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