Exploring Consciousness: What Happens When We Let Go of the Known
By Erblina Shehu, Founder of Soma Light Therapy
What are we doing here?
Who are we, really?
And what is this thing we call consciousness, the spark that thinks, feels, remembers, and reaches for something greater?
These aren’t new questions.
They are ancient.
They live in our bodies, not just our minds.
And more and more of us are feeling the call to explore them, not by reading or talking, but by experiencing.
This is what consciousness exploration invites us into.
Not answers, but awareness.
Not noise, but nuance.
Not performance, but presence.
Why Explore Consciousness?
When we disengage from the outer world — its noise, roles, and rules — the mind opens up.
We tap into non-ordinary states of consciousness: lucid, dreamlike states where the brain is awake, yet untethered from linear thinking. These states have been studied extensively and are often linked to:
- Emotional release
- New perspectives
- Enhanced creativity
- Spiritual insight
- A profound sense of Awe and Curiosity
A well-known study by Andrew Newberg and collaborators used SPECT brain imaging to show that during deep meditation and prayer, the brain’s orientation association area (located in the posterior superior parietal lobe) significantly decreases activity, leading to the dissolution of self-boundaries and a sense of unity. Additionally, EEG research consistently finds that non-ordinary states of consciousness—such as those induced by Soma sessions—produce increases in alpha and theta brainwave activity (linked to inner calm and focused awareness), occasional bursts of gamma activity (associated with insight and expanded awareness), and greater inter-hemispheric coherence, which supports emotional balance and integrative cognition .
You can dive deeper into the science in this article: Becoming More Conscious with Audio-Visual Brainwave Entrainment – Roxiva
3 Gentle Habits to Deepen Your Practice
There is no one path to consciousness, but there are habits that keep you close to it:
1. Step beyond ordinary states
Regular access to altered states loosens ingrained beliefs and unconscious programming. The brain works through pattern and generalization — but when we create space beyond that, we allow in something new. Practices like Soma, breathwork, and meditation are tools that create that space.
2. Make Awe and Curiosity daily rituals
Children live in awe. Adults tend to live in structure. But neurotheology research shows that people who regularly feel awe and wonder develop stronger connections to meaning, creativity, and intuition. These are not emotions, they’re entry points into expanded awareness.
3. Build depth through repetition, not extremes
Enlightenment isn’t usually a single moment. Studies from Dr. Andrew Newberg show that repeated small experiences of transcendence are more effective than chasing one big awakening. This is why we believe in regular Soma sessions, a gentle, layered unfolding.
How Soma Supports Consciousness Exploration
At Soma, we offer a safe, gentle way to explore altered states using light and sound.
Our technology is based on audio-visual brainwave entrainment, which uses rhythmic stimulation to guide the brain into meditative, expanded states, often described as “cyberdelic” for their vivid, non-linear nature.
These sessions help:
- Disengage the analytical mind
- Regulate the nervous system
- Tap into subconscious insight
- Activate creative problem-solving
- Experience states similar to non-pharmacological psychedelics
Some users arrive with intentions. Others come to let go.
The experience is yours, guided, but not dictated.
You can learn more about this approach here:
👉 Drug-Free Psychedelics and Brainwave Entrainment – Roxiva
What the Brain Reveals in Altered States
EEG studies during sessions like Soma’s show:
- Increased alpha and theta activity (linked to calm focus and creative access)
- Higher gamma bursts (associated with peak states and insight)
- Improved inter-hemispheric communication, allowing for integration and healing
The goal is not the frequency itself, but the state it leads to.
And the result? Often a deeper connection to self, a dissolving of mental noise, and a felt sense of guidance.
An Invitation to Journey Inward
You don’t need to be a spiritual seeker or scientist to explore consciousness.
You just need a little curiosity, and a safe space to begin.
This summer, Soma will hold space in several conscious festivals across Europe, where you can experience these states in beautiful natural surroundings.
Or if you’re in Tirana, you’re welcome to book a private session and explore your own inner universe — safely, gently, and without needing anything other than your willingness.
Because sometimes the most profound discoveries don’t come from learning more, but from feeling deeper.
With care,
Erblina
Founder of Soma Light Therapy
📍 Book your session in Tirana
🌍 See where we’ll be this summer
