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

^^^^ Beautiful! I'm getting plenty of rain-kisses today!! Thank you (((((((((ss))))))))))

Had a relaxing meditation session last night before bed. I didn't manage a sit this morning and I won't be able to sit outside on my walk today since it's so wet. I think I'll try a walking meditation instead.

Love to all

What an awesome picture! Imagine running across that in real life. I would want to bring it home to my garden. The moss reminds me of the streams and creeks around here. When I lived in the dusty desert I couldn't wait for the weekends when I would return home to my mossy rainforest.

Enjoy your walking meditations. I am working it today too. Hoping to squeeze in a walk in the kissing rain later this afternoon after I run some errands around town.

I haven't been meditating the past few days. Valentine's Day really stirred the pot for me. I suppose it could have been "grist for the mill", as everything passing through the mind can be. I've no doubt that I'll get back to that and to sitting at home too. Thank you SS for your supportive thoughts on not attending the group Sunday, and thanks to you, Sundog for your support as well.

Hi guys I'm really sorry Valentine's Day was triggering (((((lavie))))) Really hope you feel better soon.

Hope you're doing ok (((((((ss)))))))))

I certainly had an encounter with the rain today, but "kissed" by it is not the first word that comes to mind!!! It was more of a buffeting, since it was very windy as well as wet. Actually it was kind of neat though! I enjoyed the storminess. It felt exhilarating and powerful. I couldn't really do any meditation but I was definitely in the moment!

I've missed my morning meditation the past couple of mornings and I want to make it more of a priority tomorrow.

I wonder why it's hard for me to make it a priority when the benefits are potentially so huge?????

A peaceful Zen-meditation-themed image for us!

Guess what...I sat for 10 minutes twice each of the last 3 days...no particular method, just a personal combination I created that is meaningful to me.
The visuals are wonderful.

That's GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Good for you!!!! ((((((((((wing)))))))))))))

(Sorry to be so un-zen-like in my response!!! )

Here's another visual! I find them inspiring!

i find myself immediately contemplative when looking at certain images. Can you meditate staring at an image on the screen?
I think yes!

oooh! That's actually a really good idea!!!! I think I'll try that!!!

Hi guys... been missing from action lately. I had a rather trying day on Monday. I took a lot of meditation breaks the last couple of days but nothing formal. Mostly relaxation meditations to manage anxiety and help me sleep.

(((((lavie))))))) I see it has been a couple of days since you stopped by too. How are you doing? How is Sherman doing with his new diet? Wishing you well.

I am a very visual person. I see things in everything. I love to meditate on images or objects. I was introduced to mandalas and sacred circles a few years back. Staring into their centres can be a very spiritual experience. It is healing to make your own and use it for meditation.

Here are some samples.....

Wow, how beautiful!! (((((((ss))))))) Do you meditate with the physical objects themselves, or by looking at them on a screen or as an image?

I'm sorry you had such a trying day on Monday. It's great that you've been using your meditation practice to help you get through this. Sending you many peaceful and healing thoughts

The ones I draw myself or the one on the bag of my matt are physical. Others on the screen. I will save the picture and then open it up in full screen, turn out the lights and sit infront of the screen just staring into the centre. Your periferal vision plays all kinds of fun tricks.

Thanks for explaining that! It sounds awesome!

The one potential downside for me is that I already spend a huge amount of time in front of the computer. Probably in excess of 10 hours a day. I use the computer for work and I usually have PC open simultaneously. And, well, it all adds up to a huge amount of time online!! I know this isn't good for me - and I have the back problems to prove it!!! So meditation is a good way for me to get away from the computer completely. However, I do really like the idea of what you describe here: turning the lights off and then focusing on the image on the screen. So I might give it a whirl!!!

I know what you mean about computer over dose. I have a laptop so i will put it on the floor or a stool in front of me or I will pull a lounger up to my desk top. If you gt out of your usual computer siting position and change the environment.... put on soft music.... light some candles.... burn incense. Those kinds of things that you might do to meditate normally.

There are lots of books about mandalas. Maybe even in your local library.

Let us know how it goes. Remember to make sure your breathing stays even and be patient. Just keep looking at the centre.

Thanks for the great suggestions (((((ss))))))

I am liking the top one I posted. It is doing a lot of shape shifting when I look at it. I think I am going to spend some time with it tonight. It should look great in the dark too.

Oh I should also mention that its good too when you are done or at times throughout to close your eyes and tilt your head back and sometimes the image will appear. This can sometimes get you to go even deeper. Sometimes I will just see a black box when I close my eyes but if I look into it long enough the image or some other image will appear and draw me into it.

I find these kinds of object focused exercises especially helpful when my mind is racing. Having something to focus on besides breath can make it easier to not be distracted by random disruptive thoughts.

That makes a lot of sense. I didn't use any images last night because I meditated in the bedroom and I don't want to bring my laptop into our bedroom. My mind was really racing last night and it was very difficult for me to turn down my intrusive, obsessive thoughts. Focusing on my breathing was very difficult and I can see how it could have been more helpful to use an additional image. Thanks for that tip! ((((((((ss))))))))))

a sound may be used for meditational focus also, i have accumulated quite a few of the pure crystal bowl tones,, and even the sounds of rain or waves, if they are good enough quality to not be just white noise,, which is something else... there is a power in silence that is hard to find in the city... i'm glad to see you all still meditating,, best wishes,, Gus

How beautiful, Gus!

nice... could really get lost there for a while.

The sun has broken out here again so heading out to meditate at the river.

Just wanted to check in. I've been sort of disconnected from myself lately. Tried to meditate for only a few minutes yesterday, not at all today. Concentration problems make reading difficult also, so not as much time spent on PC. I'm glad that you guys are carrying on with meditation practice. I did listen to part of a dharma talk last night.

I can relate to how you are feeling. Was feeling the same the last couple of days. I hope you feel better soon. Don't count yourself out on this journey just because you had a couple of days disconnected.

I haven't been having as many formal sits as I was in the beginning either. Mostly taking a few minutes through out the day to re-centre or just let my mind get lost in observing something. I had a nice meditative walk around the garden today. Spent some quiet time sitting next to Babba puppy's final resting place and remembering the love. Also took some pictures so it was relaxing and refreshing.

A lesson I appreciate about meditation is that regardless how you apply the principals of getting out of your head it offers benefits.

Thanks for the dharma talk reminder. Good idea.