THE SCIENCE OF INTENTION

From Lynne McTaggart’s “The Intention Experiment”

“A human being is part of the whole, called by us ‘universe’. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feelings as something separated from the rest – a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness.” – Albert Einstein 

The experiments conducted by scientists suggest that consciousness is a ‘substance’ outside the confines of our bodies – a highly ordered energy with the capacity to change physical matter. Directing thoughts at a ‘target’ is capable of altering machines, cells, and entire organisms like human beings. This mind-over-matter power seem to traverse time and space.

Thought affects physical reality. A sizable body of research exploring the nature of consciousness, carried on for decades in prestigious scientific institutions around the world, shows that thoughts are capable of affecting everything from the simple machines to the most complex living beings. This evidence suggests that human thoughts and intentions are an actual physical “something” with the astonishing power to change the world. Every thought we have is a tangible energy that influences other things.

This central idea, that consciousness affects matter, lies at the very heart of a difference between the worldview offered by classical physics – the science of the big, visible world – and that of quantum physics: the science of the world‘s most minute components. That difference concerns the very nature of matter and the ways it can be influenced to change.

All of classical physics is derived from the laws of motion and gravity developed by Isaac Newton in 1687. Newton’s laws described a universe in which all objects moved within the three-dimensional space and time according to certain fixed laws of motion. Matter was considered self-contained, with its own fixed boundaries. Influence of any sort required something physical to be done to something else – a force or collision. Making something change basically entailed heating it, burning it, freezing it, dropping it, or giving it a good kick.

Newtonian laws and their central premise that ‘things exist independently of each other’ support our philosophical view of the world. We believe that all of life carries on around us, regardless of what we do or think.

Nevertheless, that tidy view of the universe as a collection of isolated, well-behaved objects got dashed in the early part of the twentieth century, once the pioneers of quantum physics began peering closer into the heart of matter. The tiniest bits of the universe, those very things that make up the big, objective world, did not in any way behave themselves according to any rules that these scientists had ever known.

They realized that atoms are not like little solar systems of balls but something far more “messy”: tiny clouds of probability. Every subatomic particle is not a solid and stable thing, but exists simply as a potential of any one of its future selves – or what is known by physicists as a ‘superposition’, or sum of all probabilities, like a person staring at himself in a hall of mirrors.

They spoke about a quantum particle as both a particle – a solid, set thing – and a wave: a big smeared-out region of space and time, any corner of which the particle may occupy. It was akin to describing a person as comprising the entire street where he lives.

Their conclusions suggested that, at its most elemental, physical matter isn’t solid and stable. Subatomic reality resembled not the solid and reliable state of being described to us by classical science, but ephemeral (lasting a very short time) prospect of seemingly infinite options; at the quantum level, reality resembles ‘unset jelly’.

The only thing dissolving this little ‘cloud of probability’ into something solid and measurable was the involvement of an observer. Once the scientists decided to have a closer look at a subatomic particle by taking a measurement, the subatomic entity that existed as pure potential would “collapse” into one particular state.

The implications of these experimental findings were profound: living consciousness somehow was the influence that turned the possibility of something into something real. The moment the scientists looked at an electron or took a measurement, it appeared they helped to determine its final state. This suggested that the most essential ingredient in creating our universe is the consciousness that observes it. Several of the quantum physicists argued that the universe was a joint effort between the observer and the observed.

The “observer effect” in quantum experimentation gives rise to another heretical notion: that living consciousness is somehow central to this process of transforming the ‘un-constructed quantum world’ into something resembling everyday reality. It suggests not only that the observer ‘brings the observed into being’, but also that nothing in the universe exists as an actual “thing” independently of our perception of it. It implies that observation (attention) – the very involvement of consciousness – gets the “jelly” to set. It implies that our physical reality is not fixed; it is fluid, mutable and open to influence.

The quantum theories rocked the very foundation of the Newtonian view of matter. They suggested that matter, at its most fundamental, could not be divided into independently existing units and indeed could not even be fully described. Things had no meaning in isolation; they had meaning only in a web of dynamic interrelationships.

The quantum pioneers also discovered the astonishing ability of quantum particles to influence each other. Subatomic matter appeared to be involved in a continual exchange of information, causing continual refinement and subtle alteration. The universe was not a storehouse of static, separate objects, but a single organism of interconnected energy fields (a vast network of quantum information) in a continuous state of exchanging and becoming. Subatomic particles resemble little packets of vibrating waves, passing energy back and forth.

These back-and-forth passes, which rise to an extraordinarily large ground state of energy, are known collectively as the ‘Zero Point Field’. The field is called “zero point” because even at the temperature of absolute zero, when all matter theoretically should stop moving, these tiny fluctuations are still detectable.

The energy generated by every one of these exchanges between particles is unimaginably tiny. However, if all exchanges between all subatomic particles in the universe were to be added up, they would produce an inexhaustible supply of energy of unfathomable proportions.

Scientific evidence demonstrates that, on the most basic level, each of us is a packet of pulsating energy constantly interacting with the Field – this vast energy sea.

When two waves are in phase (that is, peaking and toughing at the same time), and bump into each other – a situation called “interference” – the combined intensity of the waves is greater than each individual amplitude. The signal gets stronger. This amounts to an imprinting or exchange of information, called “constructive interference”.

When two waves are out of phase (that is one is peaking when the other troughs), they tend to cancel each other out – a situation called “destructive interference”.

With constructive interference, when all the waves are in sync, the light will get brighter; destructive interference will cancel out the light and result in complete darkness.

Most modern physicists shrug their shoulders over this problem: that big things are ‘separate’, but the tiny building blocks they’re made up of are in instant and constant communication with each other. Physicists have accepted, as though it makes perfect sense, that an electron behaving one way subatomically somehow transmutes into “classical” (that is, Newtonian) behavior once it realizes it is part of a larger whole. In the main, scientists have stopped caring about the troublesome questions posed by quantum physics.

But small group of scientists at prestigious universities around the globe paused to consider the implications of the ‘observer effect’. If matter was mutable, and consciousness made matter a set something, it seemed likely that consciousness might also be able to nudge things in a particular direction.

They began designing and carrying out experiments, testing intention. A textbook definition of ‘intention’ characterizes it as “a purposeful plan to perform an action, which will lead to desired outcome”, unlike a ‘desire’, which means simply focusing on an outcome, without a purposeful plan of how to achieve it.

An intention is directed at the intender’s own actions; it requires a commitment to do the intended deed. Intention implies purposefulness: an understanding of a plan of action and a planned satisfactory result. To influence physical matter, thought has to be highly motivated and targeted.

In a series of remarkable experiments, the scientists provided evidence that thinking certain directed thoughts could affect one’s own body, inanimate objects, and virtually all manner of living things, from single-celled organisms to human beings.

The mind continues affecting its surroundings whether or not we are consciously sending an intention. To think is to affect. When we are consciously attempting to affect someone else with our thoughts, we may want to search our hearts about our true feelings to ensure that we are sending pure love.

Although the power of intention is such that any sort of focused will may have some effect, the scientific evidence suggests that you will be a more effective “intender” if you become more coherent. To do this to greatest effect, you will need to chose the right time and place, quiet your mind, learn how to focus, entrain (harmonize) yourself with the object of your intention, visualize, and mentally rehearse.

Most of us operate with very little mental coherence. We walk around immersed in discordant thoughts. You will become more coherent simply by learning to shut down that useless internal chatter, which always focuses on the past or the future, never the present. In time, you will become an expert at quieting down your mind and “powering up”, much as athletes train their muscles, and each day find that they can perform a little better than the day before.

The following exercises are designed to help you to become more coherent and therefore more effective in using intention in your life.

Think of intentions in terms of grand and smaller schemes. Take the grand schemes in stages, so that you send out your intentions in steps (segments) toward achieving the grand scheme. Nevertheless, keep the grand scheme in mind and build toward it.

1.   Choose your meditation space

A number of scientific studies suggest that conditioning your space magnifies the effectiveness of your meditations. Choose a place that feels comfortable. Clear away irrelevant items (clutter) and make it appealing, so that whenever you spend time there you will find it an enjoyable refuge.

Use candles, soft lights, if you prefer, as well as plants and some source of water, like an indoor fountain. Keep your meditation space free of electrical gadgets and computers.

Some people find it helpful to create an “altar” of sorts, as a focal point, with objects or photographs that you find inspirational or particularly meaningful. Even if you are not at home, you may find that you will naturally “enter” your meditation space by visualizing it whenever you want to sent an intention.

2.   “Powering Up” to Peak Intensity

In order to “power up” to peak intensity, you must slow your brain waves down to a meditative, alpha state – when the brain emits frequencies of 8-13 hertz (cycles per second).

Sit in a comfortable position. Begin breathing slowly and rhythmically in -- through the nose and out -- through the mouth. Allow the belly to relax so that it slightly protrudes. Ensure that you are not straining. Continue for 5-10 minutes. Focus your attention just on your breath. It is the basis of your meditative practice.

To enter an alpha state is to still the mind. Of course, just thinking about nothing is often virtually impossible. Most meditation schools recommend some sort of “anchor”, enabling you to keep your chattering mind quiet, so that you become more receptive to intuitive information. The usual anchors include focusing on:

·        the breath, the body (the posture) and its functions;

·        your thoughts, as they floating by, so that they are not you;

·        a mantra, as used in Transcendental Meditation, usually words such as om, ah, hum; in the early 1970s, many TM practitioners were given the mantra ‘ah-om’;

·        numbers, through silent repetitive counting, either backward or forward;

·        music – usually something repetitive, such as chanting or Bach;

·        a single tone, a drum or rattle, the repetitive sounds of which have been used by many traditional cultures to still the mind; drumming is particularly effective in producing a highly concentrated focus; listening to the beat of a drum causes the brain to slow down into a trancelike state.

·        prayer, as with a ‘rosary’, since the repetitive sounds still the mind. Studies showed that saying the rosary had the same effect on the body as reciting a mantra.

Practice until you can comfortably focus on your ‘anchor’ for 20 minutes or more.

3.   Peak Attention

The next important step involves achieving a state of concentrated focus, or peak attention. One of the surest ways to develop this is to practice the ancient art of mindfulness.

It is a discipline whereby you maintain clear moment-to-moment awareness of what is happening internally and externally, rather than “coloring” your interpretation with your emotions or being engaged elsewhere in thought.

More than just concentration, mindfulness requires that you maintain that concentration in the present without the judgment or reference point about the experience. You attend to every moment in the present without coloring it with preference for the pleasant or distaste for the unpleasant, or even identifying the experience as something happening to you. There is, in short, no “better” or “worse”.

• Practice mindfulness in every activity: walking, driving, or while you are standing in line; experience the feeling of waiting itself, rather than focusing on what you are waiting for. Be aware of your physical movements and your thoughts.

• Be aware of all the sounds, smells, textures, colors, and sensual feelings you are experiencing. Whenever you catch yourself judging what you see, return to observing with simple attention.


• Be mindful of what is happening internally and externally. What taste is in your mouth? What does your seat feel like?


• Try not to try. Work on eliminating your expectations or striving for certain results.


• Accept without judgment all that happens. This means putting away all opinions and interpretations of what goes on. Catch yourself clinging to certain views, thoughts, opinions, and preferences, and rejecting others.


• Try never to rush. If you must rush, be present in the rushing. Feel what it feels like and observe what happens when you do. How does it affect your equilibrium? 


• Learn to really look at your partner, your children, your pets, your friends and your colleagues. Observe them without judgment.


• Listen to what your life sounds like – the myriad of sounds surrounding you every day. When someone speaks to you, listen to the sound of his or her voice as well as the words. Do not think of a reply until he or she has stopped speaking.


• Deal with whatever daily problem is immediately in front of you.

With practice, you will be able to silence the constant inner chatter of your mind and concentrate on your sensory experience, no matter how mundane – whether it is brushing your teeth, preparing dinner, eating a meal, hugging your loved one, or just picking some lint off your sweater. It is like being a benevolent parent to your mind – selecting what it will focus on and leading it back when it strays.

In time, mindfulness will also heighten your visual perceptions and prevent you from becoming numb to your everyday experience.

4.   Merging (harmonizing) with the “other”

·        Before you set your intention, it is important to form an empathetic connection with the object of your intention.

·        On the in breath, focus your attention on your heart, as though you are sending a white light to it. Observe the light spreading from your heart to the rest of your body. Send a loving thought to yourself.

·        On the out breath, imagine a white light radiating outward from your heart. As you send the light, think, “I appreciate the kindness and love of all living creatures. May all be well and free from suffering.”

·        Now, direct your loving thoughts to the object of your intention.

5.   Stating Your Intention

In your meditative state, state your clear intention in the present tense as a wish that has already been achieved. Remember to frame your intention as a positive statement. Be specific.

6.   Practice Visualizing

To visualize your intention, create a picture in your mind of the desired result, with you in that situation. Try to imagine as much sensory detail (a feeling) as you can about the situation (the look, smell, and feel of it). Use affirmations that confirm that it has already happened or is now happening (not that it will happen in the future).

7.   Believe

Belief in the power of intention is vital. Keep the desired outcome firmly in your mind and do not allow yourself to think of failure.

8.   Move Aside

Frame your intention, state it clearly, and then let go of the outcome (move your own ego aside). At this point, you may sense that the intention is taken over by some greater force. Remember: this power does not originate with you – you are its conduit. Think of it as a request you are sending to the universe.

Intention requires initial focus, surrender, a letting go of the self as well as of the outcome.              

Send intentions only when you feel happy and well.