ABCs of MEDITATION: EPISODE #20. A is for “ACTIVE” Meditation ABCs of MEDITATION

“WHY DO I THINK TOO MUCH AFTER MEDITATION? This question is an indication that an individual is about to begin discover “ACTIVE MEDITATION”. I have found that the discipline of meditation makes one a mental gardener. Our mind is a fertile field in which seeds are planted by what we watch, what we read, what we touch and what we see, hear and feel. Even a familiar smell can plant a seed or the memory of some candy, fruit or dish can plant the seed of an idea.

Often when I need to create a presentation or workshop, or write an article or essay, I will begin by going into what I call a “formal meditation session” in my designated sacred space. My self-conscious has been trained so that there is an immediate recognition that there is serious work to be done.

I perform my ritual preparations —lighting incense, candles and reciting a prayer to establish an attunement with higher vibratory energies. I then may begin by meditating with some music playing or use a guided meditation. Afterwards I sit quietly, so I can hear clearly when the influx of inspiration begins to flow. Since I always have notebook and pen in my sacred space, often the inspiration will start to flow and I go where it leads. Sometimes, I can be in my sacred space for hours with candles burning as the words flow from my pen onto the paper. Often I will be directed to grab a certain book from the shelf — I just follow the flow.

There have been occasions when I’ve been in my sacred space so long that my candles burn out. But I’ll keep writing. The seeds I planted in preparation for the project will start sprouting on the spot! So I stay in that garden of thoughts harvesting the bounty grown during that meditation session.

Silence is like water in the garden of the mind. It nourishes deep buried thoughts and soften the ground of the self conscious so the ideas that spring up, showing you the evidence that an idea should be nurtured.

There are times when I’ll do an “instant meditation” session. I read a question here on my app, close my eyes, take a few deep breath and I’ll see the green shoots of my answer clearly on the dark screen of my blank mind. Then I open my eyes and begin to craft an answer.

SUGGESTION 1: Decide before your meditation session, if you have a question that needs to be answered — a personal problem, an intellectual puzzle, or a spiritual conundrum or curiosity. Then prepare yourself to enter the silence to receive the answer or be guided to where the information can be found.

SUGGESTION 2: If you want inspiration, just enter the silence with your spiritual arms open wide to receive the gift of a new idea, new project or the refinement of something you are already working on. Then when you finish sit before a blank piece of paper and begin to write whatever comes to you. Just write. If it doesn’t make sense to you right away, just sit it aside and let its invisible idea ink become clearer.

SUGGESTION 3: There are times when you may sense an idea rumbling around in your head, but it hasn’t risen to the surface yet just sit still and close your eyes. In the dark screen behind your eyelids wait to see if any images float across that screen. Or it may just be a feeling — follow it. And if you don’t have a response, just give thanks for the opportunity to rest and go on with whatever you were doing before. But don’t be surprised when an idea or feeling jumps on the hook of your self-conscious mind. Explore! Experiment! Experience!