Our lives have been a bit upside down and constantly changing since we returned from overseas. I was finding it hard to sit and be quiet in the past few years. I had spells where I managed to get on my cushion but there was no real consistency. Now that we have a firm base again I feel more grounded and better able to be still.
I walk our dog every morning during the week first thing and for me that counts as a walking meditation. The world is still quiet, I still feel quiet and in a good free headspace and its so nice to get that fresh air in my lungs and my body moving in nature before spending the day in an air conditioned office mostly static at my desk.
For my ‘proper’ seated meditation I prefer the evening, set the scene with dimmed light or candle light, a diffuser on, or an oil rolled on, a cosy blanket and my timer (I usually aim for around 20 minutes, but if the timer goes off and I have a really good time I just longer than what I aimed for). Personally I find open eyed meditation too hard, so I practice with closed eyes. If my mind has a particularly busy day, sometimes I choose a guided mediation and if I feel really tired I might do a Yoga Nidra instead. As you can see my practice if fairly fluid to fit around my life.
I have been thinking of creating a WhatsApp accountability group to share our practice. This could be anything (yoga, meditation, walking etc.) and as often as you like (every day, twice a week, whatever works) with a short message or photo to share our practices and progress and have an accountability buddy/buddies. If you are interested to join the WhatsApp group, let me know (email to: [email protected]) and I can add you in (your name & phone number). I sometimes find it can help to actually get the practice done if we are accountable in a space other than our heads and also to get back on it if we have a spell where we can’t manage.
May all people find space and time to for rituals that nourish their body, minds & souls.