Be Ignited
In a beautiful poem, “What I have Learned So Far,” the poet Mary Oliver keenly observes the benefits of having a meditation practice even though she also recognizes that it is not an easy practice to maintain. Still, she admits there are fruits and benefits to the practice, and she ends her poem with these powerful words:
“Be ignited, or be gone.”
In other words, we can choose to inhabit greater realms of joy and bliss and to embody the sublime – to be ignited as it were – or to live a sterile life without the vibrancy and passion that a meditation practice can infuse within us over time.
A meditation practice steeps within us - just like a steaming cup of tea (or coffee!) you warm your hands with, that engages all your senses, and that nourishes your body and spirit.
It takes time for the tea to reach that special moment where its aromas are rich and delightful. The confluence of the right temperature and minutes spent steeping the brew brings forth the delicate flavors in our tea that we have been waiting for.
And so it is with meditation as well…
You let the practice brew and steep, waiting for that perfect moment where it engages all your senses, and energy centers and feeds and heals you.
Then, you are ready to begin deepening your practice even more as it rewards you with more nuanced experiences, because there is always another level, there is always a deeper experience, it is a never-ending font of graces…
And how will we do this?
Very simply, you will:
Increase your sitting time to 15 minutes.
You’ll experience more benefits once you increase the length of the time you sit. There is no other way around it. This is where the practice REALLY begins to bear fruit!
Follow this 4 Part plan during your 15 Minute meditation period:
Practice this way for a while until you feel more steady and comfortable with the pace of your new routine. Once you are, then you are ready to move on even further. And go deeper…
As always, follow the three simple rules and do what feels right to you in this moment. Maybe this is a goal you prefer to work towards.
What else can you do at this point to further deepen and enrich your experience?
Simply, meditate twice a day, even if it for 5 more minutes before bedtime:
Add a second meditation period to your day. And follow the 4 Part Plan.
If you meditate in the morning, add an afternoon or an evening practice when you feel ready.
Add a second, shorter practice period to your day. Start with 10 minutes. If that’s too much, start with 5 minutes. It will go quickly.
Notes On Your Practice:
NEXT
In a beautiful poem, “What I have Learned So Far,” the poet Mary Oliver keenly observes the benefits of having a meditation practice even though she also recognizes that it is not an easy practice to maintain. Still, she admits there are fruits and benefits to the practice, and she ends her poem with these powerful words:
“Be ignited, or be gone.”
In other words, we can choose to inhabit greater realms of joy and bliss and to embody the sublime – to be ignited as it were – or to live a sterile life without the vibrancy and passion that a meditation practice can infuse within us over time.
A meditation practice steeps within us - just like a steaming cup of tea (or coffee!) you warm your hands with, that engages all your senses, and that nourishes your body and spirit.
It takes time for the tea to reach that special moment where its aromas are rich and delightful. The confluence of the right temperature and minutes spent steeping the brew brings forth the delicate flavors in our tea that we have been waiting for.
And so it is with meditation as well…
You let the practice brew and steep, waiting for that perfect moment where it engages all your senses, and energy centers and feeds and heals you.
Then, you are ready to begin deepening your practice even more as it rewards you with more nuanced experiences, because there is always another level, there is always a deeper experience, it is a never-ending font of graces…
And how will we do this?
Very simply, you will:
Increase your sitting time to 15 minutes.
You’ll experience more benefits once you increase the length of the time you sit. There is no other way around it. This is where the practice REALLY begins to bear fruit!
Follow this 4 Part plan during your 15 Minute meditation period:
- Breath Awareness exercise
- “I AM” Mantra, followed by the
- “Be One with the Sublime” BreathTechnique
- Finish with quiet time at the end.
Practice this way for a while until you feel more steady and comfortable with the pace of your new routine. Once you are, then you are ready to move on even further. And go deeper…
As always, follow the three simple rules and do what feels right to you in this moment. Maybe this is a goal you prefer to work towards.
What else can you do at this point to further deepen and enrich your experience?
Simply, meditate twice a day, even if it for 5 more minutes before bedtime:
Add a second meditation period to your day. And follow the 4 Part Plan.
If you meditate in the morning, add an afternoon or an evening practice when you feel ready.
Add a second, shorter practice period to your day. Start with 10 minutes. If that’s too much, start with 5 minutes. It will go quickly.
Notes On Your Practice:
NEXT