Home is our sacred space. As we are scrolling through our social feeds,
we’re faced with people doing very cool stuff. We also see
“take this online course”, Marie Kondo your home, learn to play the piano,
take up gardening – the list seems endless.
However, we are all about the balance.
Thanks to Christian & Natalie, you are able to set up a space that is just. for. you.
Here’s how
Select an area of your home which feels appropriate for meditation.
The bedroom can be a wonderful haven-like space, although practicing
actually in bed may not be ideal as we naturally associate that so
much with sleep – the aim of meditation is usually not to nod off!
A quiet and inviting corner of the living room can also work particularly well.
The space need not be used uniquely for meditation so long
as you pick that same location each time in order to psychologically establish this as your meditation area.
Buddhist meditation practices are full of rituals. Creating your own simple meditation rituals can help to create a sense of being in your meditation space, even if that part of your home is also used for other things.
Natalie Morrison, Collective Wellbeing
Rituals which you can try:
️Lighting a candle.
Create an invitation to meditate. This could be as elaborate or as simple as you like, comprised of any pictures, statues or objects of people, places or ideas you hold sacred or important and that inspire peace. Fresh flowers, petals or a healthy plant on your alter can also become symbols of a well-tended practice and mind.
Burning incense or aromatherapy oils such as lavender for relaxation, frankincense and myrrh for spirituality, sandalwood, rose or neroli for their soothing properties, or vetiver for it’s grounding properties.
️Burning palo santo wood sticks, sage leaves or frankincense resins which are said to be energy cleansing by many spiritual practitioners around the world.
Taking a couple of stretches or mindful movements such as those practiced in yoga or tai chi or just whatever feels good to help establish the meditation space.
Simply sliding a screen or curtain across to section off your meditation area.
These rituals can all help to establish a sense of stepping away from the concerns of day to day life and moving towards finding a deeper feeling of connection with yourself and your environment.
Have whatever you need to support your body in meditation thoughtfully placed in or near that area. A buckwheat-filled meditation cushion on a soft mat or rug is what is traditionally used in seated meditation as this allows the hips to be elevated above the knees and the pelvis to be gently tilted forwards to allow the front of the body to be open and breathe freely. However if you require more support an upright chair might be more appropriate for you. The most important thing is to be able to sit comfortably for the duration of your meditation – whether that’s ten minutes or an hour long.
Quietness
We don’t necessarily need perfect silence to meditate but we do require a certain degree of quietness to avoid becoming too distracted. This can be a big challenge, especially if you live in a city or have children, pets or noisy neighbours! Where possible, find a time that’s convenient for you to practice which is also as quiet as possible. First thing in the morning or late in the evening can be great times to meditate. Setting the same time for meditation each day not only encourages you to stick to a regular practice but also allows you to manage any distractions that come up around that time, perhaps simply by sharing your enthusiasm for your new practice with anyone who might be a little noisy at that time so they’re aware you’ll be looking for a little more stillness.
A little background noise can be helpful to incorporate into your meditation as a means of bringing you back to the experience of being in this moment, however conversations, lyrics or otherwise overwhelming sounds can easily become too intrusive. If all else fails, noise-cancelling headphones playing white noise, sounds of nature or meditation music can work wonders! Moby’s Long Ambients album is a great accompaniment to any meditation
Check out Natalie’s Collective Wellbeing website – it’s full of uplifting tips, tricks and more. We’ll be sharing some on here so keep a look out!
See more writing from Christian here.
