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

That's great Lavie. Awesome discovery. I am glad it is giving you results. I was just thinking today to ask you about the music.

I made a few interestings discoveries about the noises too. I have always had a hard time describing what the noise sounds like. Ringing isn't quite acurarate nor buzzing or humming. Perhaps some sort of blend or merging of all of those. Maybe pinging is a better description. Not sure why it matters but it bugs me that I can't come up with a word to describe it.

Anyways.... one night last week the noise grew to be so loud that I couldn't concentrate. It was really starting to make me quite anxious. I wondered how it had come to get so loud. What could have caused it to move from the background into the fore. It was gradual to a point but then there was a kind of pop in my left ear. That was not so unusual but this was the first time I noticed there seemed to be a connection. Could have been coincidental.

No matter. It was becoming harder and harder to deal with it so I decided it might help if I could find a distraction. Something to stop me from being so focused on the sound. It was so loud I couldn't not focus on it but the more I did the louder it got.

I headed outside to look at the full moon. To meditate on it I suppose. The streaking clouds gently changed by the wind against the glow of the moon was amazing. The transforming shapes and multi shades of grey kept me glued. I responded with laughter sometimes, with awe another. Like a child playing seek and find on a moveable page I would be excited each time I would discover something new. When I would look from one to the other and back again my eyes saw a different image within the same cluster or streak of cloud. It had me totally captivated. Totally enjoying myself and vocalizing it while I continued to watch and react. Joyfully entertained and filled up is the best way to describe how I felt.

In the midst of the light show I noticed the noise had retreated into the background again. Only when I thought about it did it turn up the volume.

So like you I found out I could reduce the disturbance of the noise when I focused my mind elsewhere. Its a delicate pendilum swing. It suggests it can be managed.... mindfully.

I'm glad that you had success with managing the inner sounds, too, SS. I've been using words and phrases more often lately as a mantra, when the music starts up. As a result, I've been meditating more often, while walking or doing things. The music's definitely decreased overall in the past few days, but starts up every time I think about it. The brain is so amazing. It's been such a relief when I'm free of it.

It's great to hear that you are both having success managing the internal music and sounds

Meditation is a good idea, but i wouldn't start with 30 minutes right away. it's very hard to meditate for a first timer for even 10 minutes. My mom is buddhist and has made me meditate before so I know from first hand experience that you shouldn't start with such a high goal. I would try to work up to 30 mins first before you start the 8 weeks.

Hi evenshifter. We discovered that right off. Ten minutes was our max but it grew over the weeks since. We are well beyond our 8 week commitment. Three of us have been having cyber sits. Meditating at the same time in our respective places. You are welcome to join us. Maybe you might share something from your own practices.

Thanks for the good advise for first timers.

General Announcement

I will be out of town Monday to late Thursday. I have scheduled breaks in the agenda for 2pm. I will find somewhere to do some meditative walking and mettas.

I will be staying at a beautiful winery resort in the desert overlooking a 20 mile lake. We spent summers camping on the lake when we were kids and later when we camped with our own kids. My dad lives there now. Its 4 hours from where I live.

I know the group well enough to feel some ease going in. I am prepared... or at least will be by tomorrow. I know the space and the staff so I know what to expect. I am traveling with someone I have known for many years though we are not close. I am more nervous about the drives than anything else. Knowing I have no cause to feel stress has little effect on me. I fight between being authentic and being guarded. Guarded more often then not wins out.

I am most confident when I am put in the leadership, teacher and director role. I perform well once I get into the grove. Its between session that are the greater challenge. The unwinding, coming down from the performance.

I think what I have gained meditating with you guys will come in handy these coming days. Breaking my mind from stimulation throughout the day. Not letting anxiety buid up. Maybe it will lessen or at least reduce how much anxiety I am carrying by the end of the day.

I am not sure how much computer access I will have. I can't remember if they have wireless or how much time I will have to come online.

May your days be filled with gifts of balance and harmony in your thoughts, your deeds, you peace.

Hey All, I am trying to get the energy to be back here. I am not going to be able to read.... or write..... a lot. But I would like to try to check in each day to talk about my practice. I am asking if it would be okay if I was not able to read and respond to everything that people say here. I would like to. But I just do not have the energy.

I hope everyone is doing well during these wild times. I have started doing a 9 month meridian tapping program. It takes about 20 minutes a day. And the woman makes a new recording of the tapping each week. So I am doing that. I also am sitting surrounding myself with light. I have to be very careful to do this. Because there is so much going on in the world lately. And I empath tremendously. So I have to be very careful to try my best to release all that I empath, either helping people, or from what anyone is feeling anywhere, truthfully. Okay that was clearly tmi
I have missed being here. I enjoy and respect everyone who posts on this thread. Happy Mothers day to Mother Earth and to all who are mothers themselves.

Hello friends!! Great to see you again ((((((SunSun)))))) Thanks for the beautiful image! It's wonderful to hear about your meridian tapping and your light meditations

(((((((ss))))))) Your retreat sounds amazing! Wow. I can't wait to hear more about it. What a wonderful thing to do for yourself

Much love to you both And Happy Mother's Day!

Thank you (((Sunnydog))) for your words. I hope everyone had a good day today. Day is almost over as I write this. I came to pc to see if I had a message. And I realized, as soon as I thought of this thread, that I had forgotten to do the meridian tapping, and the light meditation. What a great reminder. So now both are done. And I feel like I did something very good for myself today. Now I want to add in one other thing. Its an odd thing called "gazing". That will take about 4 minutes a day. I hope everyone has a good Monday <3<3<3

Well done! dear (((((((((((((((SunSun)))))))))))))) Much love to you

(((Sunnydog )))) I just love the picture of the flower that you posted. Great colors. And I do like the droplets of water. Ahhhh nature.

Today I did "gazing" four times. From 9pm until 12:30 am. It was pretty amazing actually. Rare opportunity. I did it with many hundreds of people over the internet. I also did the meridian tapping as well as the light meditation. Although I must say that I did not do the light meditation as long. Because the gazing took so many hours. It was mostly spent waiting for it to begin, or listening to people talk before or after the "gazing" Anyway, this was my practice today. Then I had rice ice cream flavored with sesame. I hope everyone had a good day. And I hope that ss is doing okay

LOVE the beautiful rose images! (((((((((((SunSun))))))))) Wow, your gazing practice over several hours sounds amazing! It's wonderful you were able to stay focused so long. I'd love to hear more about that practice. It sounds very meditative.

I hope ss is ok also. I know she was away and I really hope we hear back from her soon. I did "see" lavie today though, so that's awesome!

Sending much love to you all

((((sunnydog)))) I will explain the gazing thing to the best of my ability whenever you want to know. My pleasure. Its very easy actually. But I did not gaze for 4 hours. Most of it was hanging out waiting for the gazing to begin. Or listening to folks talk about their experiences with it. That day, the gazing sessions were streamed online.

Yesterday I did the meridian tapping and I also did the gazing. Although I was interrupted by a ringing phone. Today I have not yet done any practice other than a short ( very short) grounding. I have had anxiety today and last night. I must go do the tapping and gazing now. Sending light to everyone

I'm sorry you've been feeling some anxiety ((((((((SunSun)))))) I hope the meridian tapping and gazing will help with that. I know how hard it can be to actually do these practices. I meditate every day, but it's still for a very short time. I'm pretty sure I would benefit from meditating more, but for some reason it's hard for me to do that.....I did go to Group Therapy today which included some meditation at the beginning. And we talked a lot about mindfulness practice in the class. This week I'm trying to step things up a bit meditation-wise.

Wishing you peace and all good things ((((((((((((SunSun))))))))))))))

(((( Sunnydog )))) I am so glad to hear that you have group therapy where people talk about mindfulness practice. I would imagine it helps with inspiration to continue to meditate even through the resistance. I understand resistance ( my word for how hard it is to meditate ). I find it so hard to even get my body to sit. I would much prefer the destractions.

But you are doing it you ARE meditating. And thats wonderful. Last night I did the meridian tapping. I also did the gazing. Not so much just sitting and meditating. today I have to get my act together and do this all before bedtime. I did clear and heal my naturopaths office today ( with her permission ) . And offered to include her in the healing and clearing.... which she always accepts when I offer. So I did work with light today. Now, I must go and " sit " in meditation for a bit.

I respect how you are persevering even though its challenging. Blessings for all !!!!!

Thank you so much for your kind words of encouragment ((((((((((SunSun)))))))))))) Wow, resistance......I know ALL about that. In mindfulness practice they talk about willingess versus willFULness (willfulness being the equivalent of resistance). I am finding it hard to let go of my wilfulness about so many things.......A lot of my anxiety has to do with control issues. I have a huge amount of resistance to letting go of control because it terrifies me!!! (even though control is just an illusion). These are the things I really need to work on. I am trying to cultivate more willingness and acceptance versus resistance and willfulness. I can but try!!!

Thank you for the GORGEOUS flower photo. My favorite type of photography is macro photography, where you see small things in stunning detail and clarity. I really enjoyed that photo!

Sending you much love dear ((((((((((((SunSun))))))))))))

(((( Sunnydog )))) So well said !!! Yes, it is the willfulness aka control that is mighty pesky. I like how you talked about it in relation to control, which is a biproduct of fear. Yes yes. " Thy will" vs "My Will" And what we resist will surely persist. In great measure. Its a tough one for me. In the willingness, we do surrender. And yes, because I am so attached to the illusion, it is very frightning for me to surrender my will. Thank you for discussing that. It is so true, as far as I am concerned.

I love Macro photos as well. Tonight I had a difficult time trying to get myself to do the gazing and tapping. However, I did a great meditation. It was very very nice. Lots of beautiful pink ( the color of love ) healing light.

It looks like just you and I are posting. what has happened to SS and Lavie?? I hope they come back soon. Perhaps I will surrender to the tapping and gazing before I go to sleep
Sending pink light to all who would like it

Thanks for another beautiful photo ((((((SunSun)))) I'm so glad you had such a healing meditation today. And thank you for the pink light. I love soft pinks

I did hear from lavie just the other day and she is doing ok, just hasn't had the opportunity to log on to PC as much. I don't know where SS is and I do hope we hear from her soon. I know she was away, but I'm thinking she must be back by now....

Sending you pink light (((((((((((SunSun)))))))))))

Thank you very much for the lovely pink light (((Sundog)))) I do appreciate it. And I am passing it along to anyone else who would like some. Especially Lavie and SS if they read this. And of course, sending some back to you Sunnydog.

Today I felt very anxious because I didnt do much. I did the tapping, but truthfully, i was not focused. I did the gazing. But there again I was not focused. Need I say what happened when I meditated? Yes. My mind was otherwise occupied. Ahhhhhh wouldnt it be nice to be focused and serene. If I am not ADD I do a very good imitation of someone who is, lol !! I am trying to remember to just surround myself with light through the day. Even if its just for 10 seconds at a time. Just to receive that healing divine light.

I do not know if the regulars just decided to start a meditation support group elsewhere. Or whats happening. But its a bit too lonely here now. Blessings all <3<3<3

((((((((((((((((SunSun))))))))))))))))) I'm sorry you were feeling anxious the other day. And I'm sorry I'm only just now coming to this thread. There is no other meditation group, to my knowledge. Lavie is taking a break from PC and I guess that SS is doing the same, though I have not heard from SS. I have been in touch with lavie though.

I agree that the thread is lonely without them. That's one reason why I haven't been back here either.

Sending you much love ((((((((SunSun)))))))) and I'm always just a PM away

hope you guys can continue your group again one day. it is such a nice one. i enjoyed reading about it and learning from it.

Hello. I can't believe how much time I have let slip by without posting. It has been quite the month. The biggest news is that I took a job at the show garden that I had initially turned down. It was a shock at first to be out in the world 5 days a week. Almost quit after the first two weeks. I saw the pattern so I talked myself into a compromise. I pulled back to 3 days a week. Turned out to be good timing because they were considering me for a supervisory role. There was a battle in my heart but I knew I needed to be cautious. I knew I needed to stick with a small job until I was certain I could maintain stability. I love the job.

I love meeting people from all over the world, sharing my travels to their country (where applicable lol), talking about plants and gardens and recommending other places to visit in and around my home territory.

Between the job, my garden and rearranging rooms in my house (relocating my design studio space) I have been going steady every day. The garden is late this year because of the unseasonal cold spring we have had. Very few sunny days. Many many rainy days.

I questioned how well I would be able to manage this new pace. I still do but less and less as each week goes by better then the one before. I feel a lot like my old self. I stay in the day and shake it off when I feel anxiety grip with worries about tomorrow. That old fear of waking up depressed and unable to get out of bed. I can turn that fast and is always waiting in the back of my head to pull me down with worry.

Meditation has been the key factor in providing me with the strength and understanding to bring myself back to level day by day. I don't do anything formal. It just isn't my thing I guess. My meditations are more focused on moments in the day when I feel overwhelmed, racy or just off balance.

I take moments to sit in the garden and just breath in the beauty. It refreshs and regenates me to continue on with the day. If I can't take the time to sit in the garden I go out into the plant section of the gift store to water and deadhead the plants. I am attentive to how I feel and pamper myself with permission to take care of me. It is working.

I am actually getting my sleeping time regulated to thanks to meditation. That is a big reason for my absense on the boards. I am in bed everynight before midnight. When I get into bed I meditate laying down. I stay in a meditative state until my mind has settled and I am no longer replaying my day, thinking about the next day or stressing about the things at home that were not getting done. Meditation helps put me back in the moment. Helps me get to sleep. If I don't do it I toss and turn until I put myself on my back and meditate.

Focused breathing is getting me through difficult times through the day. It has been a life saver for me to trust it can help. You know how when it crosses that line you don't believe anything can turn it around. I believe now so it is actually automatic for me to turn on the anxiety busting skills I have learned from this thread.

Thank you thank you thank you to every one who has come to share this thread with me. I hope I can help to add some energy back into the thread again. I pray all is well with Lavie. I apologize to Sun for disappearing without an explanation. It is a blessing to see others sharing and that has moved me to take a few moments to get back on the boards.

Okay... I guess I have rambled enough about my life the last few week. It is all good. One day at a time. I am so so grateful for my garden. It is my favourite place in the world even in the rain.

Be well and be present in every moment without wondering or worrying about what is coming next. Meditation has taught me how to do that and shown me where to go when it feels like I can't get there. Only faith in the process have I been able to overcome my fears about failing.... again. Able to stay out of the future in my head.

Opps.... rambling again. Have a wonderful day moment by moment.

Hi to SS, Suzzie, SunSun, Sundog and everyone who's dropped by this thread. I'm sorry for my absence from PC and appreciate the inquiries and concern that's been expressed by you dear people. I'm okay. It just got harder to get back to PC the longer I was away. Not sure why.

I hope that Sundog and SunSun drops by. I'd love to connect. I've been going to my local sangha every week, sometimes to an additional sangha in the next town. I was on an all day meditation retreat/hike with a group on Sunday. It was wonderful. I've been doing more walking meditation than sitting at home. But, I've been able to bring more moments of mindfulness into the day. I hope that everyone's well, and that I don't flake out again. I'll try to stay more connected to PC.

I got so excited when I came across this thread, and think it is such a great idea.

My introduction to meditation came earlier this year, when I started kundalini yoga. I'd never really tried to meditate, and my mind was always way too busy and cluttered. Through yoga and the meditation done in class however, I discovered the most amazing things... it was like that feeling of getting into a hot bath after a long day.

The past month or two I haven't been getting to yoga, and I can feel the difference. Not only on a physical level (which I miss too!) and energy level (which I really, really miss!) but also on an emotional level. I don't feel as calm as I did, and I miss that sense of being in the moment.

Hopefully I will get back to yoga soon, but in the meantime, this thread has inspired me to do my own meditation and gentle yoga at home when I have time.

On that note, I will leave you with a kundalini blessing we always said in class, which I think is so beautiful. I hope that it brings a bit of peace to all who need it...

May the long time sun shine upon you,
All love surround you,
And the pure light within you
Guide your way on.