Meditation

Do you meditate? Occasionally I do.

How? I always try to create a special space for my meditation by using scent, sound, temperature. Scent is either done using incense, candles, wax tarts, room/linen spray, perfume, or something that just feels right to me and smells really good. Sound is I usually do a few notes from my Tibetan bells to clear the space and signal to others (my children) that I'm not to be disturbed. Then I continue it with either a tape or CD of something singing bowls, flute, chanting, certain music compositions that work for me. It's not blaring but loud enough to add as a reminder that I am not to be disturbed. I also use the background noise of the music as a timer of sorts. I've listened to some of the pieces so often that when I hear certain parts I know that I need to wrap up soon or that I need to try a different position because I've barely begun. Temperature is something that I am sensitive to. I don't know if it's because I have Sensory Integration Dysfunction, the fibro or the muscular dystrophy type thing or a combo of all three but too hot or too cold can really distract me from being able to meditate. I try to have something that is soft, the right weight not too light or heavy, either warm to hot. I place something on one side for if I'm too cold and something on the other side if I am too hot. Both are at a desirable weight for me to feel grounded. As sometimes I'm neither hot nor cold and just need extra help being grounded or centered. Having a side I place what on consistently is done so I can grab x or y if I feel too cold, too flighty, etc. It's more of a comfort thing knowing I don't have to break out of my quiet time to go get something because I'm having a temp issue. It's just a little to the left or right.

I lay on my bed usually as that's the most comfortable spot inside for me. A lot of times I get my session in just before bed so it's handy to just do it there and then slip off to sleep. Sometimes especially on particularly gorgeous days I go outside and find a place to sit or lay. About the only time I sit and do it in the traditional method is when I am in class. Sometimes as part of my taiji, qigong, or other classes there are meditation moments. I can still get down to the floor and I can still cross my legs it's not easy for me. It's even more difficult now that I have this dang Avulsion fracture.


Does it help you to deal with things? yes and no It can help me with certain issues like getting relaxed in order to drop my bp or to relax enough to get through some medical procedures while awaiting the good drugs to kick in. I have a lot of anxiety and phobic responses to certain medical and dental procedures. I never realized just how claustrophobic I can be until I had to have a MRI. Meds work wonders for that, meditation works to get the meds to work. I have never had a real aha moment of clarity at least not at the time of meditation. I often have too much monkey mind for it to happen then.

Do you do it for clarification on tough issues? It totally depends on the issue. I sometimes do. This is usually when the monkey mind happens. So instead of meditating I journal and then meditate on the writing it's how I get around the dang monkey.

I have different meditations that I do and at different times/periods/reasons. I have some to do that are specific for my upbringing that I used when I need to work through fears, emotions, issues from that time in my life. I have some that I do for specific reasons such as to fall asleep or to work on a particular change I need to happen. I know I that the one to break a habit was highly effective in assisting me to quit drinking soda pop much to the amusement of others.

I find I tend to do a little bit better with chanting either a mantra or something my God-mother taught me or something some of the other powerful women in my life taught me. When I do this it's goodbye monkey.