Meditation

One of my favorite sounds is the hum of a singing bowl. Like the ones you can hear, HERE. The act of playing a singing bowl is a meditation. The sound brings a sense of peace and calm to me.

I try to meditate as often as I can, which isn't as often as I would like. At a point in my life I had a sacred space. A shelf with some figures. One of Buddha, some shells I found on a beach, flowers, some beach glass and my sage. I would burn some sage, do some yoga,  light some of my favorite incense (nag champa), chant my mantra, and then sit quietly and listen to the sound of my breath. Sometimes my mind would wander, once I fell asleep. But occasionally I would find a peaceful calm place where it was just quiet and all I would hear and think about is my breath, and Om mani padme hum. It didn't always last a long time- but the times that this would happen helped me find peace with my self, and really find a love for my being. And I also realized that I am a speck of cosmic dust, here for a blip in the realm of existence. I felt connected to all, and wanted to run around hugging people and singing songs.

Now, I meditate in the car(not while it's on, that's dangerous). In the bathtub. Where ever I am and there is some quiet, and I am alone. I still connect to my breath.
Being a momma in the beginning is not always easy, nor does it readily allow for me to take the time I once did for my peaceful rituals that connected me to my soul. However I look into my son's face and see in his eyes that he is so present. So in the moment. In his laugh I find something so much more special than anything I've experienced on the yoga mat. He's a constant active meditation for me.

Meditation should be simple. It's finding time to listen to your breath. To empty your mind of all thoughts. It really can be anything you'd like though. I have meditated and sent positive thoughts and prayers out to people...it's however you want to mould your energy. The way you wake up and set your intentions, chant a mantra, it's how I like to start my meditation.

There are many mental and physical benefits to meditation. It's obviously relaxing, and can help reduce stress (which contributes to inflammation in the body, which causes dis-ease, which causes disease- you see where I'm going with this?). It can literally aid the body in protecting itself from many ailments like high-blood pressure, and in some way turn on the genes in your body that protect it from degenerative conditions like arthritis, helped balance hormones and improved immunity.

What many people don't realize is that meditation can also aid in creative processes like art, writing, music etc., as well.

A few tips to make meditation easier to incorporate into your life are:

1- Meditate early in the morning. The way you would schedule time to go to the gym, or another appointment, schedule time first thing in the AM to meditate.

2- Listen to a guided meditation. Often if you just sit down, and try to 'Ohm' your way through meditation you'll get bored, fall asleep, or lose focus. You can find a guided meditation online, on you tube, or a podcast.

3- stretch, and sit up straight. It's important to be in a comfortable position, that allows you to be mindful of your breath, be relaxed, but not hunched over.

4- Find a mantra. Many people are given mantras, some people find ones that they connect to.

My mantra is om mani padme hum(ओं मणिपद्मे हूं,). When chanted (click HERE, you won't regret it. And this is the sound of whats almost always going on in my head when it's not filled with bad TV show theme songs, recipes or horrific scenarios for the future dotted with my inner monologue saying "STOP IT!")it is said that the benefits are infinite. Om mani padme hum is the Compassion Buddha mantra and will clean your karma. The eight teachings of Buddha are within this mantra. A path to enlightenment. I even have it tattooed on my wrist! It makes me feel at peace. It allows me to use my every breath as meditation. It allowed my very being to be a walking meditation. Ha, it doesn't always work because I am human, and I have my moments. But since I've adopted this (extremely common) mantra those moments are less and less, and I always find resolution in my soul. Om mani padme hum has brought me peace from within.

I hope to increase my time spent meditating. I'm not sure if I'll be able to find the time I'd like to dedicate to it, but worrying about it defeats the purpose anyway.