I've made no secret of the fact that I'm pathetic at traditional meditation--sitting in the lotus position and chanting "Ommmmm" just isn't for me. But I wholeheartedly believe in the benefits of hopping off the "Mental Chatter Rollercoaster" to clear my head, refocus, and appreciate the present moment.
I've often said that macro photography is my way of meditating, allowing me to focus (literally) on the small movements of tiny things and taking me out of my own racing thoughts. But you don't need a camera--even though I highly recommend it--to appreciate any of the following soul-soothing exercises that just might transport you to a meditative state:
1) Visually trace the outlines of a many-petaled flower, like a rose or a peony. Let your eyes slowly wander around the edges of all the petals, backwards and forwards. Breathe in its scent.
2) Follow the small but deliberate actions of a spider spinning its web.
3) Meditate on a flickering flame.
4) Carefully study the movements of ants hard at work, each one with a purpose.
5) Meditate on falling raindrops. Watch the droplets create ever-expanding circles on the surface of water.
6) Star-gaze.
7) Lie down on a picnic blanket and ponder the changing shapes of clouds.
8) Watch the waves meeting the beach (hopefully, with adorable little sandpipers scurrying back and forth to the rhythm of the tide).
9) Study a cat as it methodically gives itself a bath, massaging its ears with its paws, cleaning its face, tummy, and tail. Along those lines, listen to a cat rhythmically purring while it kneads its paws on a blanket before curling up for a nap. (Cats have relaxation down to a science, don't they?)
10) Watch a fish gracefully swishing around in its tank.
11) Watch the falling leaves.
12) Watch the falling snow, following the drifting journey of as many individual snowflakes as you can.
I feel calmer already, and no "Ommmms" were uttered.
Your turn: What's your favorite natural scene or creature to study, or a favorite outdoor activity, that puts you into a state of relaxation? Let's hear it in the comments section below--I'm all ears!
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© 2014 by Joy Sussman/JoyfullyGreen.com. All rights reserved. All photos and text digitally fingerprinted and watermarked. Please do not use any of my photographs without asking me first for permission at [email protected] and then clearly linking back to this site with photo credits. Site licensed by Creative Commons.
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