Meditation?

Hello there snow angels,

Whilst a relatively festive blog post had been pre-planned, the weather has been absolutely furious, gales like fleeting alpacas spitting in your face... Anyhow, since that idea is postponed, a little indoor meditation sprung to mind. Admittedly this isn't a practice I often attempt, but when I have, I've found it to be surprisingly helpful.

Realistically, if you're aiming to take this up as a serious practice, then by all means I recommend taking a look at in-depth posture guides. However generally speaking, meditation does not require specific positions, locations or rituals. It can be done sitting on the sofa, standing in line, or simply atop your bed. The only recommendations are that you ensure:

                    -Your spine is relaxed, upright and not slumped.
                    -Your shoulders are free and slightly rolled back.
                    -Your head is evenly balanced and level.
                    -Your hands are supported, ie. resting on your lap or a cushion.
                    -Your face and jaw are free of all tensions, your brows relaxed.

This is purely to enable your breath to be fluent and efficient, with your muscles utterly at ease and create the feeling of being grounded. Discomfort can also, obviously, distract you from the meditation.

Concerning breathing however, it is an aspect which is perhaps the most important. This is where (oh what a surprise), mindfulness makes a sneaky little return. As it implies, being mindful of your breathing keeps your focus on that activity alone. Restricting your attention in this way, allows you to become aware of our tendency to jump from one thought to the other. Accomplishing this simple discipline brings you back to the present moment, experiencing the richness and magnetism which we often miss. Mindfulness of breathing also offers its benefits for those struggling with anxiety and agitation. Essentially, the perfect road to relaxation. (With of course the science-y advantages such as breathing focus expanding lung capacity, as a grand amount of oxygen has a positive effect on both your mental and physical state.)

Maybe with practice, you'll become so chilled that you'll float out the window and find yourself in a monastery. That'd be chipper.

If you've got the time and patience, it's a good idea to have a candle at hand. Everybody loves a dandy candle. Particularly a festive-scented one. They would promote a calmer aura and sentience throughout the room; not to mention they make it look as though you're a 'pro', supposedly.
Personally, mindlessly staring at a gentle, elegant flame as it dances with the slightest drought, is instantly soothing. Even the warmth of that natural-element is a comfort. Just be careful not to set your hair on fire though, I made that mistake...

A more adept summary of the benefits of meditation are as follows, originating from different Buddhist practices;

"Meditation is a means of transforming the mind. Buddhist meditation practices are techniques that encourage and develop concentration, clarity, emotional positivity, and a calm seeing of the true nature of things. By engaging with a particular meditation practice you learn the patterns and habits of your mind, and the practice offers a means to cultivate new, more positive ways of being. With regular work and patience these nourishing, focused states of mind can deepen into profoundly peaceful and energised states of mind. Such experiences can have a transformative effect and can lead to a new understanding of life."

And there we have it, skippedy-boop. Here's a little shameless self-promo of my fiction book: 'Journey Through The Hidden'- see previous post for more detail, please check it out, I'd be eternally grateful! Hope you have a wonderful weekend.

Love,

B x






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