Meditation anyone? 30 minutes a day for 8 weeks... you in?

That sounds perfect to me (((((((((((((lavie))))))))))))) and not REMOTELY boring. Thank you so much for choosing a metta or vipassana meditation for us

((((((((((ss)))))))))))) I'm not sure what's happened but I really hope you are ok You can PM me anytime if you need to get something off your chest. I'm sending you much love and hoping that you feel cleansed after your walk in the rain

I'm PMS'ing at the moment and that is making for the usual volatile emotional brew. I did spend a relaxing half hour or so sitting outside in the sun with a book earlier though. And then I just sat there for a bit feeling the warmth of the sun on me and trying to absorb the light deep inside me.

Much love to you both

Hello ladies. Sorry for yesterday's high drama. I was able to talk it through so its pretty much settling into place.

Yuk to PMS. I am finished with all of that and I don't miss it one little bit. Even though menopause was no cake walk it too is in the past so no more of those hormonal crazies pilled up on the BP crazies. Sounds like you gave yourself some space to enjoy a little self kindness. I am envious of your heat. The snow lined has dropped again and it is getting beyond rediculous up here. It isn't raining... yet but by the looks of the mountains a big down pour is coming any time now. I have no time today to go pick up or unload another dump of horse dung on the garden anyways. Maybe tomorrow.

I enjoyed a short meditation last night. It helped to slow down my brain and relax my body. It was a relief from the tension I was carrying around not to mention the early gardening season aches and pains.

I hope to get out for a walk within a couple of hours and visit the river for some quiet meditation and perhaps some singing with the river. Well actually it is technically a creek on its way to the largest and longest river in the province not far north of me but it flows pretty fast so I call it a river. lol

Wish you both a wonderful day of sunshine and lightfilled hearts. Take good care. Back to work now.

Hi y'all! Sundog, sorry that you had that hormone-related stress. I'm with you, SS. I don't miss that at all. I met a friend at a cafe yesterday, and then we went to our Vipassana sangha. I didn't expect this week's teacher to be in the Japanese Zazen tradition. It was different, sitting with a formal posture and hand position, eyes open. Between sitting, there was a period of very slow walking meditation in a circle around the hall. Inbreath/right foot, outbreath/left foot. It was the first time in a while that I was able to meditate for that long and be present somewhat.

How about if we just do Vipassana for Wednesday. I'll try to look for instructions online, maybe from Joseph Goldstein. If I don't get it together to do that, just using as an anchor the breath or environmental sounds, or briefly noting body sensations (muscle tension, temperature, discomfort, fatigue, etc.). And noting passing thoughts or emotions, then returning to the anchor. Sometimes, I'll briefly name the thought or emotion or physical sensation, without getting into a story. "Planning mind"..."thought of past"..."hip pain", etc.

And the same time? 2 p.m. West coast time?

Awesome news Lavie. I am so glad this sangha was so positive. Yippee!! I have been returning to the walking meditations ever since Sun first introduced me to it. I find it extremely helpful because I tend to get really speedy especially around the house when I am doing chores or cooking a meal. I often have to tell myself to slow down... I am not in a race nor am I running late.... the walking meditation helps me work at a more relaxed and enjoyable pace. It is a very special gift.

I am good with anything you present. It all sounds wonderful to me which ever way you take us. I will pass on the environmental sounds though... unless its raining or the train passes in the distance or the creek or waterfalls are audible... hey that is sounding okay after all. lol.

I think I will take the time to prepare a smudge for this week. If not maybe just pull out a stick of incense.

I am good with 2pm western time or anytime for that matter. Making room for Sun to decide where she wants to land THIS time. lol. Oh right... it was me messing with the time last week. opps... sorry sun. lol.

I am in high spirits tonight. I think some of the ranting and venting I have indulged myself with today has had a positive effect. It is great to let go of things that niggle at you sometimes. It beats turning the emotions back onto myself.

I am looking forward to a sit tonight before bed. I feel joyful and want to allow that to travel through me from head to toe for a concentrated period of time. Maybe some youtube laugh therapy will suit me well tonight too.

Keep smiling my friends.

(((((((SS)))))))), thanks! It was reassuring to me that I could still meditate, as my mind is so unfocused, more than ever. I'm so glad that you're in a better frame of mind. Yay! The walking meditation is a good technique for me too. I deal with restlessness a lot, and movement feels good. Sometimes, I use it while walking at the dog park.

So, tomorrow then! I hope that you both are well.

There is magic in that there meditative walking. So simple yet so powerful. Not to mention always accessible. lol.

Yes tomorrow. Looking forward to it for sure. We just need to hear from sun to confirm the time 2pm PST. I am free for later times if anyone needs to shift.

Yay!!! So happy you had such a good experience at your sangha (((((((((lavie)))))))) That's wonderful!

And so happy you're in high spirits!!! ((((((((((ss))))))))))) Yeehaw!! And really glad you're finding the walking meditation so helpful

2.00 pm PST on Wednesday works great for me! Really looking forward to it! Thank you for choosing something for us (((((((lavie))))))

Love you guys

Hi guys I'm popping out now and I'll be thinking of you at 2.00 pm PST (I'm going to find a spot on my hike to sit and do the vipassana).

Okay then! Love our cyber sangha. See you on the flip side, as SS says (Is that like the "B" side of single records?)

Love you guys too!

I sat facing you guys for 30 minutes. My mind was all over the place at first, but actually settled over the course of the sit. I wouldn't have sat if it weren't for you, so thanks. Gee, if I had sat this a.m., maybe I wouldn't have been wound up like a clock all day, getting nothing done. I did have to have meditative music playing during the sit, because my ipod brain wouldn't quit playing "Corinna Corinna", not real conducive for meditation.

I wouldn't have sat either if it wasn't for you!! So thank YOU guys!

There is a wooden bench that I come to about 20 minutes into my walk. It's amazing to me that almost no one sits there because the view is wonderful. I guess it's because you have to hike a ways in order to get to it. As usual, there was no one there today so I was able to sit peacefully, facing the Bay, and it felt really good to slow down and feel the sun on my face and the breeze in my hair (sounds like a song!!!) It was very relaxing and I thought of the two of you.

Thanks so much for being here!!!!!!

Sorry for the absence. My ex has been visiting for a few days to attend a funeral and my home office has played guest room. My laptop crashed the other day so I have not been able to get online much. Just checking in while I do some office work before I dash out in the sunshine to work in the garden. They say we are going to get a few days of this. Yippee. We actually had snow yesterday.

I was late for our Wedesday site. Slipped my mind with all the business going on around here all week. I may have overlapped for a few minutes. Grateful I remembered to catch that much. It was good for me to take the time to slow things down a bit.

I am so glad we are doing this. I will be ready for my turn to offer something up. Will look into some chakra related for us and see what I can do so Sun can take it outdoors. Maybe the weather will warm enough for me to do the same.

Be well my friends.

Really good to hear from you ((((((((ss))))))))) I'm glad you have some sunshine forecast for the next few days. Have fun in your garden!

Its raining again. They never get the forecasting right around here. Geesh. Going to go out there anyways with my raincoat and rubber boots. Funny we used to just call them rubbers and everyone knew we meant our boots. Not anymore. lol.

Struggle to meditate this morning. Hard hit of depression this morning. Feels like the bubble burst. Think gardening in the rain is fitting. Only think that appeals to me to get our of the cage. Not entertaining the thoughts in my head even though they are yelling at me.

Hope you are having a better moment. Not letting myself project beyond the moment. I know what to do but it is in conflict with what I feel so facing the depression is restricted by a lack of conviction. Facing the struggle is causing the face of struggle to smerk and laugh at me. Only one place to turn. Determined mindlessness in search of mindfullness of working moment by moment in the garden. The rain will be healing and make building a new rock wall easier to build with mud then dirt.

It will be a good day. My mantra moment by moment. Let it take me to a better place and a slower brain. Sorry for the downer.

(((((((((((((ss))))))))))))))) Many hugs to you. I hope tomorrow is brighter in every way

Thanks Sun. Stalking the rock wall proved distracting enough to break the blues. Went out today and redid most of what I did yesterday. Just like me. Only a little bit OCD about some things. One stone out of place means going backwards before I can go forward again. It interesting to see how the first days work followed a good rythm but now that my mood is mixed not so rhythmic. Maybe tomorrow.

Took a relaxing walk and had a meditative swing in the school yard. I love to just close my eyes and swing gently felling the crisp wind on my face and blowing past my ears. It blooks out the buzzing and ring and is very relaxing. It was meditative.

I did the same thing last night close to midnight and its fun because when I go walking late at night when no one is around and no cars are about my cat joins me on my walk. She plays hide and seek until I sit down on a bench in the park. Then she sneaks up on me and rubs my leg and sits beside me until I move again when she returns to playing hide and seek behind the large cedar tree trunks. She keeps her distance if I am no the swing. Its nice to have her wandering in the dark with me.

Thanks Sun for the beautiful pics you have been posting on my wall. They always make me take a deep healing breath while I go to a quiet and happy place.

Hi guys Your midnight cat walks sound wonderful! ((((((ss)))))) So glad you spent some time on the swings too. I love being on a swing!

I just wanted to check in briefly. I'm not doing so hot because one of my doggies - Buckaroo - is really sick again and I'm very anxious. Had to take him to the hospital last night. It's kind of a long story but the upshot is the vet isn't quite sure what it is and we brought him home again today, but he is not himself AT ALL. I don't know if he had a bad reaction to the anesthesia they gave him or what, but he is so out of it. I'm really worried. We're just going to watch him and hope for the best because he hates it in the hospital and it didn't seem to do him much good.

I don't know if I mentioned that I was thinking of re-doing the DBT program (Dialectical Behavior Therapy). Anyhow, my therapist said that it's starting again on Wednesday and that I'm welcome to repeat it if I want. I'm going to give it a go (even though I've already done it). It's on Wednesdays from 2.00 to 3.30 pm. It always starts with a meditation, so this could work well for our little online sangha since that's the time we had chosen. Alternatively I would need to join you guys at a different time.

I love you guys. Just knowing you are there and that you care means so much. Thank you

I hope you are both doing ok. Much love to you both

Hi Sun and SS, I really hope that Buckaroo improves soon. I was upset to hear about his condition. I'm sorry for the anxiety it must be causing. DBT was helpful for me in the past. I should probably do another round of it myself. SS, it's great that you're being proactive in dealing with depression.

I'm not doing very well. I haven't been on PC the past few days. I kept trying to plant positive thoughts in my brain and use mindful breathing and metta today. The lamictal I started recently may be making me more tired and dull. I can't commit to our group meditation right now. I'm really sorry, but I'm really struggling to tread water.

Thank you so much for your kind thoughts about Bucky (((((((((lavie)))))))))) I'm really sorry you feel as though the Lamictal is making you more tired. Have you ever tried Wellbutrin? I only ask because I understand that it is energizing for some people (of course it might cause all kinds of problems with ADD. I don't know). At any rate, perhaps the Lamictal may yet prove helpful? I really hope so ((((((((((((((lavie))))))))))))))))))

I'm thinking of you and of ss and am sending you both much love

Thanks (((((((Sundog)))))))) I think I tried wellbutrin some years back. I forget since I've tried so many meds over such a long time. My Pdoc said that I was on 300 mg of lamictal in 2006 and it didn't work. I'd hoped that trying again and adding prozac might work (as was suggested by another Pdoc). I can't believe that nothing I try relieves this depression even a little. Thanks for your empathy, dear friend.

Hello Ladies, I am so sorry to hear about Bucky sun. I hope he recovers soon and the anxiety backs off. The DBT sounds like a great opportunity. I don't know much about it but I have heard good things about it.

I hope you too Lavie feel better soon. It sounds like you are being pretty pro-active yourself focusing on those things that can counter some of the effects of the depression.

I have been on 200mgs of Lamictal the last couple of months and fortunately I haven't experienced the symptoms you mentioned. I imagine it adds to the challenges of depression. I hope you find out soon what is behind the tiredness and dullness. Have you ever tried Ginko Belboa (sp?) or Ginsing for energy. Not sure if they can mix with other meds but I used to take it when my energy was low.

As it happens I have been called to a meeting tomorrow at 2pm so it looks like our cyber-med isn't going to happen this week. I will be keeping you both in my thoughts and meditations just the same. I will be out of town next week so it will be May before I will be able to correspond times with you again.

Take good care. Catch up with again soon. Hoping spirits are lifted and the sunshines upon your hearts and minds once again. Be well.

Thanks so much (((((((((ss)))))))))))) I hope all goes well on your trip. I know they will start the DBT session tomorrow with a meditation so I'll be thinking of you and lavie for sure at 2.00 pm PST.

Much love

I will be thinking of you guys and be encouraged by your energy. Hope the DBT session goes well for you Sun.

(((((((lavie))))))))) I know you are a fighter and I know you will be victorious over the depression. We are by your side in holding you up while your legs are weak and your heart is heavy. We are sending buckets of love and hope your way.

May this day be filled with promise and rest. Be well my friend.

Thank you both so much for the love, support and friendship. Sun, I hope that the DBT goes well and helps a lot. SS, I hope that you have a good trip and are well. I haven't tried ginko biloba (sp?), but take fish oil, vitamins B and D. It's more a mental fatigue and mental dullness, but partly physical too. More rigorous exercise than just walking Sherman would probably help.

I've been lately using phrases with conscious breathing to drown out the music and to try to lift my mood, like "Breathing in love, breathing out love" or "calm and relaxed". The music's actually been quieter, though it still creeps back in. It's interesting that by focusing my mind on a word or phrase, it competes with the music, and weakens it. I guess it's the same principle as not being able to hold two thoughts at once.