by Cara Lumen
It’s way too easy to stay busy and forget who we are and what we are here to do. We get caught up in deadlines and projects and family and forget to take that sacred pause, the moments in which we move within and connect with our wholeness and our oneness with all.
You have to make time for your inner work
Like anything else that is important, you need to set up specific times to contemplate. When I first learned Transcendental Meditation 40 years ago it was suggested we do it 20 minutes in the morning and 20 minutes when we came home from work to mark the change between work and an evening of relaxation. I even know of a married couple who do not speak to each other upon arriving home until each has gone to a quiet place to release their day and embrace their forthcoming time together. Pauses are good, whenever you take them.
You may walk daily and find that a time to contemplate. You may journal every day to record some introspective thoughts. I find journaling helps me sort out what I’m thinking and feeling. It may be as simple as blessing your office space as you sit down to begin your day, and offering that space gratitude for its gifts when you leave. It could be about blessing your food as you prepare it and as you eat it. It could be a gratitude journal that records your blessing.
Decide what form your sacred time is going to take and place it into your daily schedule.
It has to be quiet time
You need to spend enough time in this contemplative mood to let things percolate and rise to your conscious awareness. You need to breathe deeply and consciously relax your body with a mantra like AUM or just by watching your breath. You can consciously go through your body to relax it and talk to it to see what it needs from you. You may want music. You may not.
Create your sacred space
When you create a sacred space for yourself you establish your intention to take time for contemplation. As you use your sacred space the energy will begin to build around it. I do Falun Gong in the morning which ends in meditation. I am surrounded by crystals and I have a small collection of hand holders that I choose from when I meditate. I have a Goddess piece of driftwood that is three feet tall that I’m going to take with me even to my smaller apartment. It helps me think of nature and of possibilities. It will be part of the focus for my meditation. But it could be a sacred space on a table, or the top of a bookshelf. Gather items that are meaningful to you – a feather, a shell, a rock, a photo. Perhaps use a chime to begin and end your meditation. Or light a candle. Give yourself some signal that you are devoting this period of time to inner reflection. You will quickly find your sacred space becomes an oasis of peace for you.
Still your mind
You don’t get to make lists while you meditate, you don’t get to plan projects or run assorted possible scenarios through your mind. You are to listen to your inner voice and it won’t be talking about the physical plane stuff. Let your mind transcend the limitations of what you know how to do here in the physical realm, and go exploring where all things are possible. All things. And then some….
Where will your sacred space be? When will you set aside time to be there? Today’s a good day to begin.
© 2010 Cara Lumen
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