Meditation

Oftentimes our lives are over scheduled and chaotic which leads us to be more and more disconnected from the stillness within. In order to find the stillness, we must learn to be still.

It sounds easy. It’s sounds obvious. How many of us actually take time to just sit with ourselves, doing nothing but Being?

Find a place where you will not be distracted or interrupted. (As a mom with two small children, I know how rare these moments can be but even five minutes can help you connect to your inner goddess) Just a few minutes can help you connect into your inner guidance and creating a daily practice can give you access to the stillness within, even on the stormiest days.

All you have to do it sit or lie down. Notice the thoughts as they arrive but then let them go. Allow them to float away as you bring your attention back to center. You can focus on your breath or place a hand on your heart and focus on your heart beat.

Mindfulness is about being present, allowing whatever arises and being in a state of non judgement. This means that if you notice yourself drifting into stories in your mind or thinking about your shopping list or what’s for dinner that night, that is ok! Don’t judge or berate yourself. The moment you became aware that your mind had drifted is the moment you begin to awaken. Meditation is not so much about quieting the mind as it is about noticing what arises and being able to see it from the perspective of the observer.

You can use a meditation app if you’d like. In the beginning, guided meditations can be very helpful. I love insight timer. It’s free and there are some super guided sessions you can use or you can just set a timer and listen to relaxing music while you meditate.

Notice your discomfort as you sit in stillness. I know, for me, the second I sit down, my mind feels the need to shout out (very loudly sometimes) that I need to be doing this, that, or the other. Just watch your discomfort as the quiet observer beyond your mind.

Remember this truth- you are not your mind. Your mind is governed by your ego, the false sense of self. As you sit in stillness, notice the deeper being within- the being that is aware of the mind but is not the mind. The Being within is beyond time, beyond the illusion of the material world. Some call it God, some call it Source. Some call it Intuition. It is that which connects us to each other. It’s the space within the atoms that make up our bodies and all that we perceive.

In these moments if stillness, connect with that greater power. If it doesn’t happen right away, keep at it. When the mind has run your life for a long time, it can be difficult and uncomfortable in the beginning. Awareness is the key to disintegrating the power The ego has over your life. Keep noticing your thoughts as they arrive. As you do this in sitting meditation, it will become easier to do in your daily life.

If you find sitting agony for the restless mind, try walking in nature. Notice the trees and birds around you. Use your senses to take in the colors, the sounds and feelings around you. This can be a wonderful mindfulness practice. Connecting with nature is connecting with God.

There are many ways in which to access the Divine within. Today I have mostly discussed sitting or walking meditation but another great one is automatic writing or journaling. This is just a free hand, stream of thought writing in which you purge the meaningless cluttering thoughts of your mind to access the deeper guidance within. Other ways are yoga, singing, exercise, spending time with animals, etc... Really, anything that you do while remaining truly present will put you in contact with the stillness within.

I invite you to connect with that greatness within you. It’s always there with you, living life as you. Be still and know.

Jenna