EMBRACE THE STILLNESS

Winter is the season of stillness.  This is most apparent in snowy locations, but even here in southern California the air is cold, the grass brown and nature seems in hibernation.  In Chinese medicine, winter is associated with the Water element…the most “yin” element of all.  Quiet, cool, dark and calm, winter is the perfect time to learn how to meditate. 

I began meditating many years ago, thrown in without much preparation to a 10-day silent meditation retreat in Varanasi, India.  It changed my life.  It was a difficult 10 days….up at 4am, uncomfortable, long hours of sitting still and no speaking, but by the end of the retreat I had gained so much awareness of the nature of my mind.  I had never really “seen” my thoughts from the outside, as the observer.  I watched how my mind continuously went to the same places over and over again.  I also noticed my reaction to those thoughts.  Some made me happy, some very uncomfortable.  Over the course of 10 days, I actually tired of a lot of my thoughts and was able to put them aside as they came up, chuckling to myself, “here is that thought AGAIN!”

Meditation is the practice of stillness.  The ancient meditators discovered that it is only in this stillness that we can become acquainted with the nature of our mind.

Since that time in India, I have taken many more meditation courses.  One of my favorite quotes is from a very experienced teacher who said, “thoughts are to the mind like saliva is to the mouth”….they just keep coming!

This winter, I invite you to take advantage of the innate stillness of this yin season and begin a practice of meditation.  For most people, including myself, taking a course or joining a sitting group is the best way to begin.  Another option is to check out the many guided mediations available online. 

Wishing you illumination and peace this winter season!