Meditation Monday
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(...now a 38-Day Journey because we're participating in a "Joy Rebel Blog Party" with Bella at She Sleeps with Sea Glass.)
Days 37: We Take Joy in Solitude
Meditation Monday
Another Monday morning comes and a frantic pace begins, but only if we allow it to.
Instead of starting the day in a rush, make a different choice. Set aside some quiet time to be alone and access solitude.
Periods of solitude are important for us to reconnect with our center—that sacred space within where inner wisdom resides. The world in which we live overloads us with activity and bombards us with noise. When we spend so much time lost in the cacophony of life, it may be difficult to access our sacred center.
Yet, the choice is ours. We can choose to step away and spend precious time in the quiet with our truest self. We can move away from the hustle and bustle to reconnect with our Peace, our Love, our Joy through regular periods of solitude. Take time today to step away, be completely alone, and commune with the One who lives and breathes through you.
Allow Solitude to speak ...
Breathe slowly, deeply, evenly. Allow your breath to slow your thoughts and ease your mind. Drop your attention down into your sacred center and notice what is simmering there.
It is not an easy task to still the mindless chatter
of our thoughts.
And, yet, we must do so
if we are to truly hear the gentle whisperings of Spirit.
Like the wind, the Divine Voice murmurs ever so softly
into the recesses of our heart.
Such whispers are sweet and we must quiet ourselves to hear them.
Be prepared to listen intently.
Seek solitude and prepare your soul
that you may be lovingly guided by sacred whispers.*
Now, does your heart have anything to say?
~~~~~
(*Excerpted from Awakening the Spirit Within by Jan (Forrest) Lundy.
Breathe slowly, deeply, evenly. Allow your breath to slow your thoughts and ease your mind. Drop your attention down into your sacred center and notice what is simmering there.
It is not an easy task to still the mindless chatter
of our thoughts.
And, yet, we must do so
if we are to truly hear the gentle whisperings of Spirit.
Like the wind, the Divine Voice murmurs ever so softly
into the recesses of our heart.
Such whispers are sweet and we must quiet ourselves to hear them.
Be prepared to listen intently.
Seek solitude and prepare your soul
that you may be lovingly guided by sacred whispers.*
Now, does your heart have anything to say?
~~~~~
(*Excerpted from Awakening the Spirit Within by Jan (Forrest) Lundy.
Image, "Sweet Memories," by the artist Roussouli. Visit his website to delight in more images of soulful women: Roussouli Art Studio.)
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14 comments:
Thank you for this..I really needed this after the last week. I had several hours of my vacation planned for sitting out in nature and just being, meditiating..ended up very ill - all week. So....I need to regroup and find some time to do it anyway..thank you for the reminder!!
Namaste, Sarah
Thank you,Jan,for the beautiful meditation.A great reminder of the wonders of meditation
blessings
sema
I really must find time to do this today. I'm feeling a bit of overwhelm at the moment. Today, my one day off this week, I have a multitude of things to do and places to be. I have consciously slowed down and I refuse to rush this morning. Baby steps....
Sarah,
I am so sorry to hear of your sick vacation. Ugh! I checked out your blog though and you certainly did seem to make the best o fit. How about Pockets of Peace claimed throughout your day? Sometimes even these snippets can have a better effect than a longer expanse. Think of it has a "station break," or mini-date with yourself, taken whenever you need throughout the day. I am taking one myself right now. I was up most of the night sick myself (double ugh!). The shine is shining and I am going to sit outside and read, journal, a bit and pen a note to a friend. JOY!
Sema,
Glad this resonated with you. May you find soul-nourishing solitude today!
Solitude and meditation is a time that I long for.
This "Meditation Monday" reminds me of the words of a song I know by David Haas: "I will come to you in the silence. I will lift you from all your fear. You will hear my voice, I claim you as my choice. Be still and know I am here."
PEACE BE WITH YOU TOO, JAN!
JG
It's amazing how solitude, and quiet, are things we often forget to seek out, lost in the busy-ness of our days. Even those deep, slow breaths work peaceful miracles. Thanks for the Monday reminder :)
Early this morning I left home to renew my driver's permit. I am spent from trying to be calm in the deluge of people and noise.
Now I say -
Bring on the solitude. May it rain on me and flood every crevice and surface of my being and take me away to a quiet place where I can re-connect to my center, my God and myself.
Carolynn,
I do hope you find some time for solitude today. Those multitudinous lists seem to take over everything, especially our day off. I recall thinking to myself how far out of sync I was at one point in my life when my housecleaning day Sunday! I changed that one in a hurry. May peace find a place in your heart today.
Julie,
Thank you for sharing this beautiful set of lyrics. They ring so true! The Divine One certainly does visit in the silence....Enjoy yours!
Joanne,
I'm with you. Even a short period of time with deep centering breaths work wonders. May your breath bring you "home to yourself" today.
Cheryl,
I am so glad you are noticing all of this. I love the metaphor you use of rain, healing rain, filling all our spent places with peace. On to JOY! May the rest of your day be watered in this way...
As for me, I am heading back outside (was there for about an hour this morning) for Round 2 of Monday Solitude. It's breezy but the sun is glorious and the birds are at the feeder. I have my Joy Book in hand and am journaling, sitting, listening to my heart. May all of you listen to yours today...
Really beautiful words, Jan. I started with an hour of meditation this morning (I normally do), but am feeling especially moved to sit again today.
Just needing it.
Thanks for your beautiful and inspiring words here.
I totally agree. Even with part time family practice and a preschooler, solitude is a MUST. I am so much kinder to others and myself if I remember to take time out for me.
Another wise post, Jan!
Molly,
So glad to hear that you are faithful about sitting and that this post gave you a nudge to do so again. Always a pleasure to know you are reading here...
May peace be yours...
Mermaid,
You said it well. Solitude invites us to greater kindness to self which then naturally outpours onto others. May you find joy in solitude today...
“Like the wind, the Divine Voice murmurs ever so softly
into the recesses of our heart.
Such whispers are sweet and we must quiet ourselves to hear them.
Be prepared to listen intently.
Seek solitude and prepare your soul
that you may be lovingly guided by sacred whispers.*
I so appreciate the reminder. We all need to center ourselves and listen… If I forget to set aside time,… the Devine sets time aside for me….Sometimes solitude can be taking personal advantage of a traffic jam…. Solitude while waiting for an appointment…. Solitude sitting at a table waiting for a late dinner companion, etc.. I can seek solitude in many places… However, to honor myself, I do set time aside to quietly meditate, pray, listen … to my “Devine Voice… and sacred whispers”
I can’t say it enough Jan, Thank you for this wonderful journey your taking us on…You are an amazing guide. Love and Light, Nina P.
Yes... going both by personal experience and from talking with others, building some form of peaceful solitude into day-to-day life helps both relieve stress and promote personal growth.
Nina,
I love your suggestions for impromptu solitude—when we are in the middle of other more mundane things—to have the awareness to drop down into our center. Wonderful, and very Thich Nhat Hanh. His book, Peace is Every Step addresses this. Works for me! And thank you for your kind comments on the blog. You are dear. :-)
Paul,
Solitude DOES reduce stress. I've been noticing this in my own life the last week or so. More alone time has really allowed me to process and let go of a few things that I was struggling with. Blessed solitude, oh the benefits! Peace to you this day.
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