I think all four of the situations you mention above can lead me to really feel that awareness of connection. Actully, speaking of feeling, I sometimes find that connection in sensation as well… perhaps the kiss of a breeze on my cheek, or the feel of being hugged, or the scent of something I particularly like (sandalwood, or ylang-ylang, or citrus are all ones that can take me right out of myself and have me suddenly just… existing, and aware… just in that moment). Single sensations that I allow myself to mindfully experience somehow become like a gateway to that awareness of connection, if I don't experience too many of them at once.

As for situations that negate it… hmmmm. Anything that makes me afraid or frustrated or stressed seems to distance me from my awareness of connection. For example, I find it *really* hard to experience any form of connection or awareness in a crowd (at least, I do unless that crowd is all focussed on a single purpose – I've been at group rituals where I have experienced it. Mostly though, crowds stress me out, and the stress becomes a barrier between me and the connection – or it feels like it does. Ditto when I find myself on the 'beating-myself-up' bandwagon

Interesting – thank you for getting me thinking about these things.

Blessings

Starfire