Why Meditate?

For me, meditation and Reiki are entwined. The precepts of Reiki and the practice of Maitri are woven in the same tapestry. My self-treatments are bound together with distant healing; the reiki being sent to all beings near to my heart and far. I picture the Reiki radiating outward, knowing which being to land upon.
Why meditate? I meditate because it brings me into the sacred.

Fear and where it can lead ...

I recieved a comment - and I published it because I think that it is important to allow  people their views. It was shuffled to past pages. I only wish that when people decide to comment they have the courage to do so, and not anonymously.
So here is what Anonymous wrote regarding the Opening Candle Lighting Ceremony

Anonymous said:

For the candle lighting ceremony you are asked to make an alter with an icon of the world and burn candles for all the world religions known and unknown. They ask you to “invoke the presence of the prophets and masters who brought those teachings of Truth into form.” What you are really doing is summoning spirits and worshipping fake gods/goddesses and the world. This is of satan! They trick people into thinking it is about world peace but there will be no peace until the Lord returns.

I'm sorry that your Lord has abandoned you - my "lord" is in every petal that blossoms forth, in every breath and every tear, in chidrens laughter, in every being, in every day, in every night, in every sunrise and sunset, in ALL forms of prayer and meditation.

For today, you will be in my thoughts and prayers that you can see and know Peace.

For today, you will be in my thoughts and prayers that you can know Trust.

For today, you will be in my thoughts and prayers that you can know Love. 

Thanks,

Julia

Winter Feast - fallen off the daily meditation wagon

I have fallen off the daily meditation wagon. It was so easy to follow through when I was nursing a cold; but, now that my health has returned ... so today I am going to meditate. I don't really want to make the time - but I do want to see this Winter Feast through to the end. It's funny, I actually love meditation. I guess my practice is sloppy, which is really one of the reasons I began the Feast. I wanted to find out what would happen to me if I did it - 40 days for 40 minutes - what transformations would occur? Would there be any transformations? What were my expectations? Now that I've fallen off the wagon; will I still get something out of it if I start again?

Winter Feast Days ...

I am now listening to a few of the talks on meditation provided by the folks at A Winter Feast for the Soul. Today I spent time meditating sitting at my kitchen window as the sun poured onto me. I was listening to a recording of summer birds, frogs and crickets - no music, just nature. It was a wonderful feeling; you wouldn't know that it was really -10C.

Winter Feast - Day 8, 9 & 10

We all live busy lives. When we commit to 40 minutes every day it can be a challenge to fulfill. Some of us have family obligations that take precedence; others have work obligations - or perhaps we allowed other activities to distract us. I found myself challenged over the past few days to listen to the Insight meditations - though I did take time each day to sit in a shorter meditation. That said, when I went back to listening to the recorded meditation talks it was not that much of a surprise to find that they were about The Hindrance's. It was an intense day to listen and meditate for such an extended time today, but I feel much lighter.

Winter Feast - Day 7

For a moment, I was carried to an infinite space.
For a glimpse, I melted into All.
Peace.

Winter Feast - Day 6

Today I wasn't well enough to participate.

Winter Feast - Day 5

Today we moved from focusing on concentration to focusing on insight. Turning our attention to what is present in the moment.
How fast the time goes by.
I thought I had just begun and the 40 minutes moment was over.

It was redefining of my commitment to the Reiki concepts:

Do not anger
Do not worry
Be humble
Be honest in your work
Be compassionate to yourself and others

Winter Feast - Day 4

The mind relaxed.
The breath flowed in and out; beginning, middle and end blurred.
The time flew by. Stillness.

Winter Feast - Day 3

My inner struggle was reflected back at me and I saw how the mind will go to great lengths to keep everything the way it knows it to be. It doesn't want to release old thought patterns that no longer have value or meaning. I am beginning the journey of the witness (observer).

Winter Feast for the Soul - Day 2

After the layers of self doubt were lifted away I came out of this meditation with the realization that where I believed I was committed to a project, it was merely stubbornness of will.
I must be mindful in the future; commitment of self vs. stubbornness of will.

Winter Feast for the Soul - Day 1

Back to the basics - How to Meditate

To settle the mind you have to settle the body.
Sitting erect but relaxed; one vertebrae on top of the other.
Let go of any expectations of what this meditation should look like.
Have the intention to release any thoughts that may arise.
Anchor the focus to the sensations of breathing to help settle the mind.
Gently allow your body to relax into your breath.
Breath in, breath out; notice the sensation where your attention is focused.
Allow the breath to be what it is, do not try to change the way you breathe.
When your mind wanders, gently return to breath with no judgement.

Forty minutes of silent meditation was quite a unexpected challenge.
My mind created discomfort in my body;and I released by coming back to the focus of my breath.
My mind created self doubt, I was meditating all wrong; and I released by coming back to the focus of my breath.
My mind created distraction, perhaps the computer had gone to sleep and I wouldn't know when the 40 minutes was up; and I released by coming back to the focus of my breath.

In conclusion I am reminded of the importance of silent meditation.

Winter Feast for the Soul

Today is the first day of participating in the "Winter Feast for the Soul".

"The mission of A Winter Feast for the Soul is to support individuals around the world in making a commitment to daily spiritual practice for forty days. A life grounded in daily practice is one that knows inner peace. It is that peace which translates into peace throughout our lives and ultimately to peace and healing for our planet.

We know that it only takes a few committed individuals to change the world. We are here to do that. Please join us this coming winter for

A Winter Feast for the Soul
a 40-day worldwide spiritual practice period for people of all faiths everywhere.
January 15 – February 23, 2010"

I hope that you will have a look at this site and perhaps join in ... it's free!!

http://www.winterfeastforthesoul.com

I will be sharing my experiences as I journey through the 40 days.

Peace to you,

Julia