​MY NAME IS SAMEER. I AM A FILMMAKER AND CO-FOUNDER OF THE ELEPHANT COLLECTIVE.  IN 2018, I HELPED LAUNCH THE KUNDALINI COLLECTIVE, A SPACE FOR PEOPLE EXPERIENCING NON-ORDINARY TRANSFORMATIVE EXPERIENCES (NOTES). THROUGH MEETING MANY INDIVIDUALS ON THIS PATH, I BEGAN TO SENSE A BROADER SHIFT—ONE THAT WASN’T FULLY CAPTURED BY TRADITIONAL MYSTICAL TRADITIONS. THIS REALISATION LED ME TO START THE ELEPHANT COLLECTIVE, WITH THE AIM OF 'MOVING THE OVERTON WINDOW' OR EXPANDING THE CONVERSATION AROUND THESE EXPERIENCES AND WHAT THEY MEAN FOR US AS INDIVIDUALS AND AS A SOCIETY. MY OWN KUNDALINI AWAKENING IN 2006 WAS A PROFOUND TURNING POINT. IT RESHAPED MY UNDERSTANDING OF MYSELF AND THE WORLD, PROMPTING ME TO SEEK OUT SPIRITUAL AND SHAMANIC TRADITIONS ACROSS THE WORLD.  DURING THIS PERIOD, I CAME TO REALISE JUST HOW PROFOUNDLY CHALLENGING IT WAS TO LEAD A NORMAL LIFE WITHOUT A SOCIETAL FRAMEWORK TO SUPPORT THESE EXPERIENCES. ON THE UPSIDE, I ALSO BEGAN TO RECOGNISE HOW THESE EXPERIENCES COULD FACILITATE THE HEALING OF MY OWN TRAUMA IN A WAY THAT NO THERAPY EVER COULD. THIS UNDERSTANDING HAS LED ME TO BELIEVE THAT 'NOTES', IF BETTER UNDERSTOOD, COULD PLAY A VITAL ROLE IN POWERFUL COLLECTIVE HEALING.