Monday Meditation – Let Your Heart Sing

A few years go I was drawn to Kirtan chanting. I cannot remember how, it was one of those unlikely chain of events that leads somewhere amazing without even trying. Each morning I chant for anything between 10 and 30 mins depending on the time I have available, it sets me up for my quiet more mindful meditation time. Kirtan is a type of devotional chanting from India. My introduction was through the work of Krishna Das, an American who combines the...

Monday Meditation – Altars

That word would have made me run a mile in years gone by, before I had worked on my adversity to anything that smacked of religion, but that’s a whole other story. So altars, what do I mean by that? I mean a space given over to you, your mediation, creativity, joy and passion. A space you can call your own and personalise with things which bring you pleasure and remind you of what you love. It can be a shelf , window sill, dressing table top,...

Monday Meditation – Pat Yourself on the Back

Soon after my diagnosis with CFS/ME I came across 4 cd meditation set by Jon Kabat Zinn. These cd’s form the basis of an 8 week programme used in his Stress Reduction Clinic, where studies have shown that mindfulness meditation is highly effective in dealing with stress, chronic pain and illness. What struck me more than anything and still affects me every time I hear it was his reminders to: “congratulate yourself for taking the time, the...

Monday Meditation – Lesson 4

One of the best most helpful phrases I have ever come across is to “notice”. You may have “noticed I’ve said it a few times before now! It’s useful because we become the observer, we create distance between us and the “other”. We become less attached. I remember lying on the floor going through a guided body scan meditation when I felt the need to stop, I’d had enough for that day, I had lots of things to do, places to go and so on. I was...

Monday Meditation – Lesson 3

How’s it going? What’s going on? Have your expectations surfaced? It’s easy to start to expect things of our mediation. We want to be more relaxed, to float along through life, we want to do it “properly”, we want to feel connected, moved and more spiritual, or whatever it is you hope for. Let go and keep meditating. I say this because I have done all these things; do all these things and whilst there are many benefits from meditation expecting...

Monday Meditations – I do not…

To meditate: I do not have to sit in the lotus position or even crossed legged. I do not even have to sit on the floor. I can sit anywhere I like so long as I am sitting upright and well supported. Actually that’s not even true I can lie on the bed if I need to. I do not need to wear special clothes, probably something comfy makes sense, but no flowing robes required. I do not need to put my fingers in a mudra, index finger to thumb. I do not have to...