Hiya, I guide workshops which include meditation and movement and have noticed that people tend to resonate with different types of meditation. For me there is no right or wrong way of doing it, but it's a case of finding what really works for you as an individual. It can happen whilst walking in the woods, washing the laundry, swimming in the ocean, dancing, singing, chopping wood, surfing, running, sitting in a busy airport waiting for your plane…
It’s a really just a state of being. It’s about presence .
It’ about being here right now in this moment.
If we reserve it purely for sitting quietly in isolation then we are missing something important. It’s about the whole and complete, unbridled ‘allness’ of life. Although there is certainly value in sitting in silence. If I afford myself even just a little time each day for silent meditation (what a luxury!) I feel incredibly nourished. It seems to rebalance any misaligned energies and re-attune me to the divine flow.
Guided Meditation: The main benefit I see of guided meditation is that it can take us on a deeper journey than we would go on our own. With certain meditation guidance, we might venture to the places in our inner world that we might not have even realised were there, with boundless potential to let go and move through our blockages and stress.
Moving Mediation: I haven’t yet met anyone who doesn’t love moving meditation in one form or another. It is possible that you may be doing moving meditation without even knowing it. It can involve anything from Tai-Chi, yoga, dancing to running or walking (as mentioned in the post above). It can be a set practice or a spontaneous flow. I am really into flowing, however my body wants to move.
The powerful thing about movement is that it can quickly break down and release stored energy in the system. It is a great way of cleansing, rejuvenating or getting us out of a rut. Daily conscious movement is a powerful way to honour and respect our own human vehicle, keeping the physical in good shape. I see people transformed all the time through conscious movement.
The wonderful thing is that those who struggle with sitting in stillness or listening to guidance will almost always find benefit in movement.
Music: This is an area well worth exploring. I am really getting into this at the moment too. I recently started playing crystal singing bowls and everyone goes crazy for them - feels like nothing else quite cuts it! Music and sound can be used as a form of meditation that rapidly transcends the intellectual plane (hurahhh!!). Like the voice, sound is use as a vehicle to carry us through the layers into a transcendental state. I prefer more natural instruments such as the drum, Native American flute, didgeridoo or the angelic sounding soprano voice. There is something that stirs everyone, whether we make music ourselves or lay back and allow the melodic sounds of another to permeate our being. Conscious music can be highly transformative.
Everyday Life: If none of the above resonate, then this is the ‘no-get-out’ clause. This is the one we all can do. Anytime. Anywhere. This is where we are given to allow every moment to become our meditation. It is our opportunity to allow pure presence to resound through our daily lives no matter what we do. So whether we are doing the dishes, brushing our teeth, looking after the children, healing a broken leg… make it a meditation. Look for the ‘ true-you’ in it the moment and BE it.
Anyway - meditation really is my thing, so I was really pleased to see the subject here.
Trinity
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