Deliciousness
Dear friend,
Sparrows chirrup from a neighbor's garden, backed by a distant siren and, even further away, the call of a gull. A fly watches me from the corner of the table, rubbing its front legs in anticipation. It launches itself and is gone, its shadow melting in the morning sunshine.
There are two keys in the lock of the garden door. One hangs from the other, joined with a circle of wire, trembling in the breeze, both reflected in the glass. A delicious peacefulness has entered, caused by this morning's meditation.
How strange it is that we search for peace almost anywhere but where it can be found.
It's so easy to fall into doomscrolling.
Empty calories that deplete our health and well-being.
As if a diet of shock and outrage can nourish our souls.
The search for peace is best directed inward.
A simple practice.
You can set a timer on your phone. Maybe start with ten minutes in the morning and ten in the evening.
Sit in a chair and try to find the most comfortable upright position you can.
Let your hands rest however best suits you. If you rest them palms up with the back of your hands resting at the top of your thighs, you may find this helps you stay upright, your arms forming a natural balancing springiness.
Click on the timer.
Close your eyes.
Imagine you are trying to look upwards towards the place between your eyebrows.
Lifting the eyes slightly in this way helps you to stay awake.
If you wanted to fall asleep, you can turn your eyes down as if you were trying to look at the tip of your nose. This tends to make you drowsy, so for the purpose of meditating, gently lift your gaze behind closed or half-opened eyelids.
Breathe in for the count of ten.
Hold for the same and release for ten.
Repeat this slowed breathing pattern three times and then breathe normally.
With eyes gently uplifted, bring your attention to the sounds around you.
Your mind will name the sounds.
Notice how it does that.
Direct your attention to the sensation of your breath entering, filling, and exiting your body. Watch thoughts and concerns and judgments and naming and predicting and remembering as your mind spins through its habitual tricks of the trade.
You're doing it right if you're noticing how active your mind is.
Peace tends to emerge with regular practice.
Sometimes a meditation session is smooth and pleasurable.
Sometimes jagged and frustrating.
It's all part of the process.
The human being—mind, body, soul—requires quiet contemplation for balance and health.
Doomscrolling cannot give us the nourishment we need.
This Sunday, March 30th, I'll be hosting a live online session looking into the art of visualization for people who believe they can't visualize.
It'll be a chance to rest and deepen your spiritual practice in the company of others on a similar path.
It starts at 10am PST (Vancouver) time, 1pm EST (New York) time, and 6pm GMT (London).
Here’s the link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/4478124333
I hope you can join us.
Till tomorrow
Love
Mikey