In 1953, Japanese scientists were studying a group of monkeys on Koshima Island, off the Southeast coast of southern Japan. These were the Japanese Macaques. Over the years of study, scientists began to provide the monkeys crates of potatoes and other durable foods on the beaches of the island. The monkeys loved the sweet potatoes, but the sand and grit were a nuisance.
In normal social situations, the elders of a community will instruct the younger members in a certain activity. But in this case, an eighteen-month-old female took her potato to the beach to wash the dirt from her potato. She showed her peers to do likewise. Eventually, they instructed the older monkeys their new trick. Soon, a considerable proportion of monkeys were washing their potatoes before eating.
One day, a critical mass event was reached. It seemed that by the end of the day, nearly every monkey on the island was washing their potatoes, even those who weren’t taught or had witnessed this practice. Potato washing just suddenly happened across the population of monkeys on Koshima Island.
Researchers soon discovered that monkeys on the mainland suddenly began washing their potatoes, and the monkeys on the archipelago south of Japan. They had never been taught to do this, nor had they witnessed this practice. It just miraculously entered their paradigm.
Since the researchers were unable to determine the number of monkeys required to propagate this phenomenon, they settled on the number 100. Hell, it could have been 37, but the “37th Monkey Phenomenon” simply doesn’t have the same ring to it.
Thus the 100th Monkey Effect. According to Wikipedia, the hundredth monkey effect is an esoteric idea claiming that a new behavior or idea is spread rapidly by unexplained means from one group to all related groups once a critical number of members of one group exhibit the new behavior or acknowledge the new idea. The behavior was said to propagate even to groups that are physically separated and have no apparent means of communicating with each other.
Many have debunked this phenomenon as “New Age” or “Woo,” but researchers recorded this occurrence, nonetheless.
Throughout history the concept of a 4-minute mile was simply an impossible proposition. Since no one had ever done it, so it couldn’t be done. May 6, 1954, Roger Bannister did the impossible. He ran the mile in a verified 3:59.4. Bannister did what could not be done. Suddenly, more runners were breaking the 4-minute mile threshold. As of April 2021, 1663 athletes have also broken the 4 minute mile, 594 being Americans, and some of them being in high school at the time. Once people believed it could be done, it began being done. What was once the stuff of legend is now nearly commonplace. All these records are in the 3:57 – 3:58 range, but I’m sure it won’t be long before someone breaks the elusive 3:50 barrier.
One of my karate instructors attended a Fire Walking event hosted by Tony Robbins, when Robbins was still performing them. My teacher told me that they spent the entire day talking and eating with Robbins and listening to his lectures about the possibilities of the human mind and the power of thought. The coals would be lit at midday and by evening everyone was mentally prepared (psyched up and thoroughly convinced) to perform the walk. Many in his group walked the coals numerous times, becoming more courageous (notice I didn’t say brazen, lol) each time they performed the feat (another pun).
Another of my karate instructors performed a demonstration at an event we were hosting at Vincennes University. He laid on a bed of nails. His cousin, also a black belt instructor, would place three patio blocks upon his chest. Then his cousin would break the blocks with a 12-pound sledgehammer. I helped place the concrete patio blocks on him and stood beside him on the stage when the blocks were smashed. I would love to try this demonstration someday.
I’ve seen videos of teenage monks at Shaolin Temple place spears against a wall with the tip of the spear at their throats. They lean toward the wall until the shaft of the spear bends – or even breaks. I saw a video of a young monk who put three such spears against the wall and broke them with the points at his throat.
There is a book “Life and Teachings of the Masters of the Far East, by Baird Spalding” when he is walking with two of the old sages through the forested mountains discussing philosophy and spirituality. Suddenly a forest fire breaks out. Soon, the men are surrounded by wildfire. Panicked, Spalding asks the men what could be done, for all hope was lost. They reassured him and asked that he follow them. They talked about their breathing and the nature of man and the universe. Before too long, all the men were on the other side of the wall of flames. Spalding was amazed and confirmed with them that they walked through a forest fire. Of course, they said. Why should it bother you?
Wim Hof, who became famous for ice immersion, has had many scientific experiments performed upon him to determine the benefits of ice baths. Hof claimed that his immune system is improved to the point that he can’t get sick. He has run marathons on mountain tops in shorts and across Death Valley without water just to prove how powerful the human mind can be. To test this, scientists injected Hof with bacteria to infect him with an illness. He sat in the tank of ice for an hour and never even developed a sniffle.
David Goggins is famous for running ultra marathons (100-235 miles). He is the only person to go through three Hell Weeks during Navy Seal training. He truly believes that in suffering, he grows stronger as a person. I’ve seen videos of Goggins running in heavy snow. He takes his shirt off and yells at the sky, “snow harder” and become colder. He is not suffering enough yet.
I read a book about Vibrational Healing in which the writer recounts where he was embedded in an indigenous tribe to learn more about their practices. One evening, a young man was brought in on a litter. He had broken his leg, and the bone was protruding from the skin. The “old women” of the tribe gathered around him. They placed their hands on his open wound and began making tones and low whistles. They continued for an hour. Suddenly, the bone popped back into his leg and the flesh closed. They continued for some time after and the wound sealed up. The next day the young man rested. The next day he walked. Within two weeks his leg had no evidence of an injury. The author asked the women what had happened. They told him that the body knows where it belongs, they were just reminding it.
Marianne Williamson once said that “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.”
There was once a lady in England who could divine water wells using only her body and the divining rod. She located 300 sources of underground water and was wrong only 5 times.
A Russian woman could move objects with her mind. They tried every way possible to debunk her but failed. She died young from exhaustion.
Edgar Cayce, from Hopkinsville, KY, was known as “the sleeping prophet.” He would go into a trance and speak aloud the information his clients needed. These were often an hour long or more, and covered topics such as health, love, and career. He performed over fifteen thousand readings, all recorded by his wife – who acted as recorder and secretary.
Think of all the inventions over the centuries. Roman aqueducts, cities, the pyramids, steam locomotives, the internal combustion automobile, rockets, the mobile phone, satellites, heat seeking missiles. All contrived from the mind of mankind.
All nature has its purpose. Animals are born, they eat daily, mate, and die. Storms ride the earth, feeding and cleansing the planet. Only humans have the gift of problem solving. All we have done in history has been accomplished for one person’s search for a way to solve a problem. Ideas are the fuel of the mind, while also its product. Without the necessity to create, to solve, to explore, and to discover, we are no more than another animal breeding and slithering upon the earth.
What do you create, what problems could you solve, what ideas could you conjure?
You are the universe experiencing itself, through itself. We see ourselves through each other. We came to this life to learn, love, and share.
We could be better and do better by being more and do more. What could you do if you realized how powerful you really are?
Once you discover your immense power, and another person discovers theirs, and another, and another, who could be the 100th monkey that could expand our collective consciousnesses to new heights?
What could we as inhabitants of this planet do if we only truly grasped our incredible power and purpose?
Could you be the 100th Monkey?
Weeg
Joe “Weeg” Weigant is a Licensed Massage Therapist, Holistic Health Practitioner, Metaphysician, and Empowerment Coach. He combines bodywork, energy work, and coaching to improve quality of life. Weeg coaches his clients to drop the white flag of victimhood and pick up the banner of empowerment, inspiring them to stop riding in life’s trunk and take the wheel of their lives.
Weeg sells Nature’s Sunshine Products, Pure Herbs Ltd., doTERRA, and Juice Plus+. Weeg suggests lifestyle changes and provides herbal remedies to his clients build new habits for long life and vibrant health. He teaches Karate and Tai Chi, Reiki Certification, as well as seminars and workshops in metaphysical and spiritual matters. Weeg is available for sessions at Tri State Holistic Wellness by appointment only.
Contact by text 812.568.5356, or Facebook Messenger to set an appointment.
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