I’ve found that early morning is the best time for me to enjoy the peace and serenity that meditation brings. I’ve practiced a daily morning mediation for several years now, and never once have I fallen asleep as I feared I might. It’s hard to imagine the true scope of how much this simple practice has helped in my daily life. From improving concentration, determination, serenity, and connected living, to eliminating insomnia and increasing my capacity for joy, the fruits of meditation are easily available to anyone who is willing to devote fifteen to twenty minutes a day to the practice.
So what does a daily practice look like? What should one do? I start by breathing. That’s fortunately a skill that we’ve all already mastered. I still my thoughts by simply watching the breaths go in and out. To still the constant stream of thoughts that often race through my head, I mentally say “in” as the breath draws in, and “out” as the breath sighs out. I don’t force the breath, or try to modify my breathing in any way. I just watch. And breathe.
Then I focus on becoming consciously grounded. I do this by sending my awareness down my spine and into the earth. Still breathing gently, as thoughts start jumping back in to interfere, I say “in” as the breath fills my center, and “down” as the breath flows out. I feel myself rooting to the earth, becoming very grounded and connected. I’m patient with myself. Sometimes it’s difficult to lose our distractions and settle our energy against the earth. I breathe downward, and connect.
Next, I draw energy up from the earth to fill each chakra. I say “up” as the breath comes in, filling me up with the energies of the earth. Starting at my root, I pause my awareness on each of my chakras, following the breath in and out as each point fills with energy. When I get to the crown, I send the energy back down through the chakras again, creating a flowing cycle. With each breath in, energy floods me from root to crown. With each breath out, the energy is returned to the earth.
After a few moments, I move my awareness to my crown chakra. I envision it as a lotus blossom slowly unfurling. As it opens, energy floods through me from above. I imagine the divine healing radiance of the sun shining down on my head and filling my spirit with glowing light. Again, I allow this energy to flood my chakras, feeling it most especially in the hands and the heart.
I next focus on the heart chakra and spend a few moments on the Buddhist meditation image of “The jewel in the heart of the lotus.” I imagine my heart as a tightly closed lotus bud, which slowly softens, unfolds, and opens, revealing me sitting in the center of my own heart. I seek the awareness of existing in the very heart of love. I reach out my awareness, suffused with love, to the God and Goddess, who come and join me. I listen for their guidance, and resist the temptation to stir up my “active brain” thinking by asking Them lots of questions. I repeat “in” and “out” on my breaths to still my thoughts, and merely listen.
And remaining connected through love, I end my meditation and open my eyes, ready to begin each new day with clarity and peace. Namaste.
~Flame RavenHawk
June 19, 2003