Alex King Harris

Morning folks - I'm not an OpenAI sales rep, nor do I care for their corporate politics... but I still use their software every day and it's changed how I think, feel and process information.

Chat GPT just launched a web browser and in many ways it's better than google. You can install an extension into Chrome that makes it your default search engine and voila - enjoy the clean, simple, intelligent results without ads or excessive data + pages to click on.

PS: as of right now, ChatGPT doesn’t track or monetize your personal data for ads, while Google actively uses it to fuel its ad-driven ecosystem.

Happy Halloween? Trick or Treat? Endless Amounts of Candy?

Here are the key highlights of Halloween's pagan origins:

Ancient Celtic Festival of Samhain:
• Celebrated around November 1st marking the end of harvest and beginning of winter
• Believed to be when the boundary between the world of the living and dead became blurred
• Celts believed spirits could cross over during this time

Religious & Cultural Practices:
• Druids (Celtic priests) built sacred bonfires
• People wore costumes (often animal skins) to disguise themselves from spirits
• Left food and wine outside to appease wandering spirits
• Used fire-lit lanterns carved from turnips (precursor to jack-o'-lanterns)

Divination Rituals:
• Young people performed rituals to divine their future spouses
• Used apples and nuts in fortune-telling games
• Believed this night was optimal for supernatural communication

Agricultural Significance:
• Marked the end of the harvest season
• Time to gather resources for winter
• Cattle were brought down from summer pastures
• Final harvest was completed before winter's arrival

Christian Influence & Transformation:
• Church established All Saints' Day (All Hallows) on November 1st
• Evening before became All Hallows' Eve (Halloween)
• Many pagan customs were absorbed into Christian celebrations
• Gradually evolved into more secular celebration

The modern Halloween holiday retains many elements from these pagan roots, particularly the themes of spirits, costumes, and harvest celebrations, though they've been significantly transformed over time.

Doing one of my favourite things with Chat GPT - waxing philosophical and exploring + reflecting on spirituality.

This morning I was researching common threads with regards to traditional concepts of a spiritual higher power.

Common Qualities of a Higher Power Across Cultures
• Oneness or Unity
• Love and Compassion
• Wisdom and Guidance
• Transcendence and Mystery
• Inner Peace and Presence
• Creativity and Transformation
• Justice and Truth
• Personal Relationship and Reciprocity

Evidence of Universal Benevolence in Nature
• Symbiosis and Cooperation
• Self-Regulation and Balance
• Adaptation and Resilience
• Fine-Tuning of the Universe
• Beauty and Order
• Sentience in Animals and Nature

But then we got to the best part, where I asked it to help me articulate the commonality found in seeking a direct experience of reality vs sitting 'outside' of it trying to conceptualize it.

Here was my final prompt:

Could one perhaps say that as a part of the cross cultural belief of a higher power is that it contains an element of unknowable mystery... that the intellect alone isn't actually capable of comprehending an experience of non-separate reality... the part of our Universe that is essentially connected through harmony and proportion.

From my own personal experience, when my awareness is tuned to that level of reality I have a sense of belonging that satiates my sense of seeking and allows me to be fully present - not thinking about it, but being a part of it, which fills me with the realization that I am the beauty that I seek.

Perhaps that is what all these traditions have in common - is a suggested way to go beyond thinking about it and actually collapse oneself back into being in unity rather than sitting conceptually outside of it trying to define it?

Here was it's response:

Beautifully said—this speaks to a profound truth that many spiritual and mystical traditions share. Across cultures, there is indeed a strong current that points to the inherent mystery of the higher power—something beyond intellect or rational grasp, inviting us to experience it directly rather than analyze it from the outside.

In many traditions, this “unknowable” nature of higher reality is embraced precisely because it calls for a different kind of knowing—a participatory knowing. Here, rather than observing, defining, or even seeking, we are invited to dissolve the boundaries that keep us feeling separate and instead merge into a state of direct experience. This experience isn’t about thinking but rather being; it’s an immersion in the present that lets us touch something beyond the intellect.

Your experience of feeling whole, not seeking, and realizing “I am the beauty I seek” mirrors a universal insight found in mystical teachings. Whether in Zen’s concept of “no-mind,” the Sufi’s “drunkenness” with divine love, or the mystical union in Christian contemplation, there is an emphasis on collapsing into unity. This unity transcends intellectual comprehension and lands us in a state of pure presence and belonging.

When we let go of the “self” that observes or tries to grasp reality, we sometimes fall back into a state that feels both familiar and boundless—a moment when we are neither apart from nor above life but inseparable from it. It’s often in these moments that seeking stops, replaced by an undeniable feeling of homecoming.

So yes, this movement beyond thinking—beyond the concept of self, the need to define, and the desire to seek—is a shared core across traditions. It’s a call to embody unity rather than understand it conceptually, to be the beauty, harmony, and proportion that we observe, and in that state, to find that we already belong.

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In the new year I'm going to be launching a free 12 week, no strings attached program that lays out actionable steps we can all take in order to spend more of our lives feeling this alignment and merging of inner and outer beauty. Head over to my website (link in the comments) to join my newsletter so you get the heads up!

On Sunday October 27th, join me and Ecstatic Dance LA for a special afternoon of Ecstatic Dance on beautiful Venice Beach from 3:30-6:15pm!

Come experience an Ecstatic Dance journey with music and rhythms from around the globe, dance alongside the ocean, to flow, groove, stretch, and connect with others!

Check out to grab more info & 🎟️

Sunday October 27th - DJ ALEX KING-HARRIS (aka RARA AVIS) — ECSTATIC DANCE LA Outdoor Ecstatic Dancing in LA! Dance freely with us on our beach dance floor by the ocean with masterful Ecstatic Dance DJs and a beautiful welcoming community. Enjoy our Silent Disco technology for immersive and crystal clear sound, and be swept into an inspirational music and dance experience t

🌟 Free Vocal Journey + Breathwork Session Tomorrow! 🌬️🎵

Join us and the Neurodynamic Breathwork Online Community & Breathwork Online With Michael Stone for an hour of transformation!

🕙 10am-11am PT

Discover how to:

• Relax and destress
• Tune in to your inner self
• Elevate your emotional state
• Calm your nervous system
• Free your voice
• Expand your resilience and adaptive capacity

This powerful session is the perfect way to reset and rejuvenate. No experience necessary!

Register now by clicking the image below. 👇

Don't miss this opportunity to breathe, sing, and grow with us!

Class Schedule - Neurodynamic Breathwork Online Class Schedule Important Note: For your first free breathwork session, you can choose any session that does NOT say “Subscriber Only” To learn more about our subscription program click here Registration Schedule My Schedule Filters All times listed in green are America/Los Angeles Time Not in Am...

Having spent the last year and a half immersed in the emergence of artificial intelligence, I can confidently say two things: I'm no expert, and imagining AI's future is often a fool's errand. But fear not, fellow humans – the rise of AI isn't quite the Hollywood spectacle we've been promised.

Forget the notion of a singular, malevolent entity plotting humanity's demise. There won't be an army of Terminators marching down your street anytime soon (though that Roomba might be eyeing your snack crumbs suspiciously). Instead, AI is blossoming into a diverse ecosystem of tools and applications, each with its own specialization and impact.

Some AIs will be our allies, others our adversaries. In my own venture, we're harnessing AI to help humans retain their humanity – ironic, isn't it? We're using silicon-based intelligence to nurture our carbon-based souls, adapting to a world that's pushing our cognitive limits to new heights.

But here's the rub: your attention has become the most valuable commodity in the digital age. It's the holy grail that keeps tech giants' coffers overflowing. And AI? It's already become the ultimate attention alchemist. A tireless, ever-learning entity that can study billions of human behaviors, fine-tuning its strategies to keep your eyes glued to screens. It's like a digital Siren, but instead of luring sailors to their doom, it's beckoning you to watch just one more cat video.

So, how do we future-proof ourselves against this attention-manipulating marvel? The key lies in understanding your brain's own chemical romance. Start studying your reward system – the intricate dance of dopamine, serotonin, oxytocin, endorphins, cortisol, and adrenaline that dictates your feelings and behaviors.

If you're looking for a crash course in mastering your "chemistry of contentment" (patent pending on that phrase), consider "Dopamine Detox" by Thibaut Meurisse. I also highly recommend "The Molecule of More" by Daniel Z. Lieberman and Michael E. Long. It's a fascinating deep dive into dopamine's role in human behavior, offering practical strategies to regain control of your attention and, by extension, your life.

Remember, in the grand chess game against AI, the most powerful move is understanding yourself. So, let's raise a glass (of dopamine-inducing beverage of your choice) to staying delightfully, imperfectly human in an increasingly artificial world. (And to the intelligence of nature that is pushing us to evolve at a time when a human aligned ecosystem desperately needs us to)

Dopamine Detox : A Short Guide to Remove Distractions a… Reclaim your focus in 48 hours or less. Do you keep pr…

Gonna continue rolling with the Claude.AI prayer refresh...

Serenity Prayer:

God please grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.

Please fill my heart with your love, my mind with your thoughts and my words with your wisdom.

Aligned Awareness Prayer:

May I align with the flow of life...
To release what I cannot control,
To shape what's within my reach,
To discern with an open mind.

Let me listen with a curious heart,
Observe with patient eyes,
Speak with considered words.

In stillness, may I find clarity,
In change, discover growth,
In all, embrace the unknown.

I took in an AA meeting this morning where we recited the third step prayer at the end. While I'm very grateful for the roots of the 12 step program, for the many gifts it has given me, and for the amazing people I've met on this particular path of sobriety, I struggle with the language because it's rooted in a certain flavor of 1940's Christian rhetoric that doesn't speak to me.

So I asked Claude.ai to help me rewrite this prayer with some of the concepts of evolutionary biology + buddhism mixed in, as the combo of those two traditions speak to me very much - the results were amazing! (Claude is an excellent writer, to me it's more enjoyable to read than Chat GPT for creative writing)

Original third step prayer:

God, I offer myself to Thee...

To build with me and to do with me as Thou wilt

Relieve me of the bo***ge of self, that I may better do Thy will

Take away my difficulties. That victory over them may bear witness to those I would help of Thy Power, Thy Love, and Thy Way of Life

Contemporary revised version:

To the Universal Consciousness that flows through all things:

I open myself to the process of conscious evolution, aligning my actions with the greater flow of life. May I be a conduit for positive change, both within myself and in the world around me.

Free me from the illusion of a separate self, so that I may act in harmony with the interconnected nature of all beings. Let me transcend my ego-driven desires and fears, to better serve the highest good.

Transform my challenges into opportunities for growth and understanding. May my journey through adversity inspire and empower others, demonstrating the resilience, compassion, and wisdom that arise from aligning with life's evolutionary current.
In facing each moment with mindfulness and acceptance, may I contribute to the collective awakening of all beings.

Free ONLINE Vocal Journey with Neurodynamic Breathwork✨
👉🏼 Saturday, October 19, 10-11am/pst👈🏼

I am back with , the founder of Neurodynamic Breathwork Online to offer yet another FREE ONLINE transformational experience!

This Vocal Journey / Breathwork experience is designed to help us Reset our system. 🌿

🔗 Register here: https://breathworkonline.com/schedule/

September is Addiction Awareness month in the USA, so we're focusing on providing resources, insights and guides for how to heal addiction and how to work with people who are facing that particular challenge.

A lot of this comes from my own experience of being in recovery from more than two decades of addiction to cannabis and a life long struggle with technology related habits.

Feel free to share this with anyone you think might benefit!

Navigating Addiction Naturally: — EvolveWell How Meditation, Journaling and Breathwork Can Create Lasting Change

The journey continues as we prepare for our private beta launch in October.

Our team is made up of some pretty incredible people doing amazing work in the world, and our goal is to build a future proof coaching and therapy platform that enhances, amplifies and streamlines the experience for mentors and their clients.

As this is Addiction Awareness month in the USA, we're honouring the effort required to help support anyone and everyone working through the challenges of addiction by providing free resources, insights and guidance on that particular healing path.

Understanding Addiction — EvolveWell How Brain Chemistry Drives Behavior

✨New release coming out this Friday, September 20!✨

Pre-save link: https://snd.click/sunriseraraavis ~ My ReFreshed version of ‘Sunrise’ by Shaman’s Dream and Geometrae.

This track embodies the awakening of the Earth as the Sun’s first light touches the horizon. 🌅

I’ve woven my layered, multi-instrumental sound into the rhythmic percussion of this beautiful piece for the new Home Remixed album. I hope you dig it! 🙌🏼

Release alert!! I teamed up again with my dear friend Dub (Into Emptiness) to drop some fresh new collaborative beats :)

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Reuniting after years, Rara Avis and Akal Dub deliver a powerful musical exploration of personal growth and relational health. This funky, bass-driven EDM track weaves Eastern elements into a dance floor-ready anthem that speaks to the soul.

Harmony in Autonomy dives deep into the complexities of human connection: Exposes the dissonance of codependency. Celebrates the power of healthy boundaries. Ignites a journey from entanglement to empowerment. Feel the beat guide you from confusion to clarity as eastern-inspired melodies intertwine with pulsing basslines. This track doesn't just move your body—it transforms your perspective on relationships and self-discovery.

Experience the sonic alchemy of two veteran producers as they craft a tune that's both thought-provoking and irresistibly groovy. "Harmony in Autonomy" isn't just a song—it's a manifesto for balanced, authentic living in our interconnected world. Let the rhythm remind you: true harmony begins within.

Rara Avis, Akal Dub - Harmony in Autonomy Listen to Harmony in Autonomy by Rara Avis, Akal Dub.

🌞 Step into our sacred circle this Sunday at Dance Temple Victoria! This is gonna be my last local Dance Temple throw down for quite awhile. After this I begin traveling the globe, spreading the 'sacred boogie' hither and thither.

So come on out and fuel up your tank, help me elevate the dance floor with your natural unfurling beauty so that I can synergize that ecstatic goodness into the cellular memory of feel good movers across the planet.

🗓️ Sunday, Sept 1st | 11:00am-12:30pm (doors at 10:45am)
📍 Edelweiss Club, 108 Niagara St, Victoria BC

Let’s dance! 💃🕊️✨

Need help understanding what seems like a world gone mad?

https://innermammalinstitute.org/why/

I've been following the work of Dr. Loretta Breuning (PhD Professor @ Cal State) for some time. Her latest book explains in very easy to understand language why humans behave the way they do.

If you think you know yourself, our culture, and human nature as a whole, you might find this book surprisingly enlightening - it's very tangible, research based info about our habitual ways of being, and how to change them.

If you don't like it, then go f #!$ yourself. Which is my mammal brain creating a pre-emptive serotonin strategy for one-upping myself against potential critics so that I can feel better in advance of being criticized. Alas, social media... the modern playground of social dominance in humans.