(featured above: Sumi e painting)
What is moving meditation?
Meditation is such a hot topic word right now, since wellness, yoga and the over-all holistic lifestyle has seeped into mainstream territory. Hey, I’m not complaining, it’s a way of life, a life I’m all about living. But, none the less, what does it mean to meditate and is it actually possible to sit still for long periods of time and feel peaceful while doing so?
To be honest, as a beginner, someone totally new to meditation, I’d say not really. Being a true multi-tasker, a high pace person who takes more time to unwind it is hard to just shut off, sit down and get right into a trance like state, even with a proper breathing routine.
A great place to start “trying on” meditation is to take a hike, literally. Walking in a natural, quiet environment is the perfect way to ease into the practice of mediation. This kind of meditation isn’t done in stillness but through moving, hence, being called moving mediation. Through mindful movement the mind begins to slow and thoughts become observed as they pass by like the rustling leaves at your feet.
But it doesn’t just have to be walking, any movement can be turned into a moving meditation. All that is required is awareness of your mind, breath and body. If you are now thinking about yoga, yep, it’s definitely a moving meditation. Dancing and tai chi are also great ways to enjoy moving meditation.
Another way to practice moving meditation is through art making. Drawing and painting are wonderful tools to quiet the mind and zone out to zone in. It’s as if you lose yourself in the act of creating to find yourself, not at all relying on the success of the finished product.
When you first start meditating (quieting the mind to a state that is able to observe thoughts without judgment) the body tends to get restless, it doesn’t really like being still to pay attention to feelings or thoughts that might be uncomfortable. This is why people fidget, change the subject, drink too much, shuffle papers, walk out of the room, text or check out of any situation that makes them uncomfortable. For these reasons it will always be easier to introduce the concept of movement while meditating, first, before graduating into a full blown still practice in meditation.
So how do we actually practice moving meditation? You move, but with intention and awareness. Each step you take, notice the rise and fall of your feet, the rustling of the leaves along the path, a chipmunk dart amongst the branches, the distant swoosh of passing cars beyond the trees. You notice the pressure of each brush stroke and the dripping paint sliding down the glass pooling on the hardwood table. The way the paper warps a little from the wetness of the soaked bristles and the intensity of color straight from the tube. You then begin to move past these observations and observe the thoughts that you have about the movements you are making, how they make you feel and how you slowly begin to slip into reflection over your day and your actions and interactions of the past, present and future. Even when the dog plops her head in the paint, you laugh and observe. The thoughts happen. And you let them, you just observe. You judge at first because it’s human and you will but over time and practice you will begin to let the thoughts pop up and then fade out. After a moving meditation your mind will feel clear and your body alive and rested.
The kindest thing we can do for ourselves is make time in our day for mediation and not be too hard on ourselves while we are practicing it. Not getting alarmed at some of the thoughts we have and knowing that we don’t have to commit to all the thoughts we have. We only have to commit to being aware for once we are we can never not be.
If you are interested in trying moving meditation dream_n.joy will be hosting Moving Mediation Events + the next one is March 1st @dutchhillhomesteadSign up by clicking the link in the events section on my website 😊
For more on Sumi e go to http://www.sumi-e.it/en/history-of-sumi-e/
n.JOY xo N
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