My first skydiving experience insights

[Infinite Tsukuyomi]

I went to this skydiving facility on three separate occasions, the first two times were thwarted by weather. So I ended up having to go through the anticipation of it a few times. Luckily 3rd times the charm. My mindset was to just keep moving through the process, once I'm in the air I'm committed and there's only one way down. 

I wanted to share insights I had after the experience and some of thoughts during it.

The initial exit out of the plane was the most intense, the moment I realized how "crazy" I am and "what am I doing?" The drop is so intense it feels like I instantly got pulled into a video game world. I thought I was committed riding the plane up. True commitment was realized as I nosedived back to earth. 

Insights:
"Truly living life is what I am most afraid of" This was put into crystal clear perspective for me. It's not these big moments like skydiving, it's all the little ways I avoid fear and commitment. Committing to someone in a relationship is just like that dive out of the plane, as are all commitments. It's understanding that you don't know what's going to happen and that there are more variables than you have control over. 

"Gravity is a symbol for limitation within Consciousness". Jumping out of the plane, in all its counter-intuitive glory is surrender. I can't control gravity. It's going to pull me down, I don't have wings and I can't fly. Skydiving is powerful because it's you vs. lack of control, of which the ego is deeply afraid. The amazingness of the experience is only possible because I am limited. 

I watched my skydive video back, and didn't notice myself anymore. I noticed in the video a more powerful force, something greater than me piloting this body. I wept as a thought floated through my mind "is that me?" "who is this man?" as if I hadn't just done it hours before. I was frightened by own actions, my own dedication. This dive deepened my self-love more than many experiences. Between meditation retreats, 5-MeO, skydiving and personal development I can say the work can be grueling, horrifying and depressing but also deeply freeing and illuminating. 

I just wanted to share this experience and also recommend it to anyone who needs that jolt or wake up call. It's a very powerful experience. I see tremendous value in using skydiving and things like it as another tool in your toolbox of development and awareness. 

[Puer Aeternus]

I don't really have much to add, just wanted to say this is some dope, profound shit and am so glad you got to experience it! Good on you following through on it despite the setbacks and getting so much out of it.

Makes me really want to give it ago. I can still be nervous sometimes, so perhaps throwing myself out of a plane is doctors orders.

[Infinite Tsukuyomi]

Right on. It's a do it scared type of thing and having no control actually makes it easier. The battle is all the thoughts and feelings leading up to it. 

If you decide to jump as well, I look forward to debriefing you. 

[MsNobody]

Ahhh I love this!
 

Skydiving will bring all the fears to the surface. It’s such a healthy way to get close to death and contemplate our own mortality. I got my license to jump solo in the beginning of the year, my whole journey with skydiving has been for personal development purposes.
 

Every time I’m about to jump off the plane it’s always an encounter with the ego, with the lower self, like a little sneaky animal that has been exposed, all the voices start screaming nonsense, then I need to toughen up and just jump, to find courage where there is none, it builds character lol

Skydiving has helped me so much with confidence. I failed level 3 twice (there are 7 levels and 25 jumps) I had to work really hard in my insecurities, my internal talk, in the lower self telling me I’m not capable, not to mention the hardcore visualization work that I had to do.

When I finally passed level three I can’t even put into words, it was one of the happiest moments in my life, and you would think the day I got the license would be the happiest, but no, the difficult of getting through the fear and insecurity barrier of that beginning phase ugh so difficult but satisfying, I’m so proud of myself. 

skydivers are the best crowd of people I know, they are so appreciative of life, they respect death and live life fully. It took me two years to get my license so I’ve been to many drop zones and talked to a lot of people, much respect for the sport. 
 

Its funny that you mentioned the jumping out of the plane part (which is the scariest aspect of the dive) because I always ask experienced skydivers what is the best part for them, most of them talk about the moment where the doors open and it’s time to jump, that silence and focus that fills the air, each person facing themselves, fighting their fears while simultaneously being fully present and there for themselves. It’s truly amazing. 

Do you think about getting the AFF license? 
 

here is the pic!! Cheers to facing our fears and playing with death  

 

[MsNobody]

@Puer Aeternus I think everyone should do once in their life so I vote yes!
 

There is so much to learn about the fears that take over before the jump, we suffer so much in anticipation, once you jump it’s boom, total freedom, silence and euphoria. It’s funny because I was always so anxious in my jumps, but once around jump #18 I started finally relaxing into the surrender, then right after I deployed my parachute, there was a cloud with a huge rainbow inside it very close to me, it was so pristine and mesmerizing, so precious, like God was rewarding me for surrendering fully and relaxing into that feeling.
 

So much to learn about letting go, about getting in sync with the flow of life, about having deep faith and active surrender. 

[LastThursday]

@Infinite Tsukuyomi good insight. Falling into the unknown and surrendering yourself to it is a great metaphor for life in general. Thanks for the reminder that I need to do more of this! I'd recommend doing a bungee as well as skydiving, standing on that platform is truly nerve-racking but exhilarating. Here's mine:

[How to be wise]

@MsNobody Did you notice de-sensitisation to the fear? 

[Infinite Tsukuyomi]

@MsNobody Wow your comments are very inspirational! I am also proud of you going pro. I imagine you all that have jumped multiple times have a different moment of fear and anticipation. Friends and family are as shocked as I am, I will do at least one more jump to motivate them if they need it and go with next time. My instructor was persuading me a bit to go pro and explained the program to me before I left. I am already trained as a zipline adventure guide and helped many people face that fear in the past. I am a creative person, so my work will likely be something different but going pro is not off the table. 

[Infinite Tsukuyomi]

@LastThursday I will look into the bungee jumping! Surrender is an unavoidable aspect of this work, so of course more of it will come in time for me. Nice photos, that's courage.

[Infinite Tsukuyomi]

@How to be wise Bits and bits of fear come undone. I as an ego mind am very resilient, I have to keep on it to avoid getting to comfortable and safe.

[meta_male]

Hell yeah 🔥🤙 Mine was ages ago but what I remember most is that it seemed as if I was in a big wind canal, zero sense of falling. And a massive headache after.

[Infinite Tsukuyomi]

@meta_male your wind canal description is spot on. Couldn't think of how to describe it in my post. I was able to avoid the headache but ending up a little sore, probably from the parachute deploying.