What’s your capacity to be embodied, present and engaged with anger? Before we jump into this topic, it might be helpful to reflect for a moment on your relationship with anger: When you read or hear the word “anger,” what do you notice in your body? In your personal history, what has happened when youContinue reading “mindful anger”
Category Archives: Meditation
why mindful movement matters
Mindfulness gained popularity in the past few decades as a secular way to experience the benefits of meditation. It’s become so common as to almost be cliched. Your employer is encouraging mindfulness as a means to reduce stress (and lower their own costs). Your favorite actors go on regular mindfulness retreats. And now the manyContinue reading “why mindful movement matters”
sympathetic joy: learning to celebrate others’ good fortune
You’re probably familiar with the concepts of lovingkindness (metta), compassion (karuna), and equanimity (upekkha). When we wish, pray or chant, “May all beings be happy and free from suffering,” we have a clear understanding of what is being offered. Even equanimity feels pretty clear: we wish that all beings be unbothered by the ups andContinue reading “sympathetic joy: learning to celebrate others’ good fortune”
neuroception, embodiment & how to be with others in a nonreactive way
As I’m writing this, my dogs are barking fiercely: the lawn maintenance company is trimming some hedges around the house, and as the workers move past each window, it is FULL RED ALERT CRISIS TIME. You couldn’t have a conversation in here if you tried. This ability to perceive danger or threat is called neuroception.Continue reading “neuroception, embodiment & how to be with others in a nonreactive way”
your nervous system needs your support
Have you ever finished a long day of work sitting at a desk, and felt like you were too tired to move- even though you barely moved your body all day? Do you struggle to stick with a “workout” program because it always ends in burnout or injury? Have you ever tried to sit downContinue reading “your nervous system needs your support”
letting in the good
Do you find yourself scanning through your Facebook feed or news sites these days, looking for the next bad news (this has a name now– doomscrolling!)? Do you feel like you’re always waiting for the other shoe to drop? Does it seem like it’s hard to find anything good at all, some days? It’s notContinue reading “letting in the good”
you & your wandering mind
“My experience is what I agree to attend to.” -philosopher and psychologist William James What does it mean to agree to attend to experience? We have choice around what we will pay attention to; how we pay attention will shape our experience. The Buddha said, All experience is preceded by mind, Led by mind,Made by mind.SpeakContinue reading “you & your wandering mind”
Settling the Mind in Savasana: A Body Scan Technique
Recently I took a look at some different Savasana variations to help your body feel comfortable and relaxed for rest. When our bodies are supported and at ease, we give our minds a better opportunity to be calm and peaceful. Sometimes, even with the body in its most optimal position, our mind is still racingContinue reading “Settling the Mind in Savasana: A Body Scan Technique”
Who the heck do I think I am, anyway?
Dear Whomever, The other night I dreamt of an orchestra. It was an odd dream (aren’t they all?)- it had nothing to do with how the music sounded. Instead it was sort of a broad overview of an orchestra as a unit. I saw my dream-orchestra clearly as a collection of people, musicians with instruments, a conductor,Continue reading “Who the heck do I think I am, anyway?”
Creating New Karmic Patterns, & Some Crazy Good Ginger Chocolate Chip Cookies
In last week’s post, I talked about the self-sustaining karmic energy of recurring habitual patterns. I mentioned that meditation has been helpful in creating the space to identify the pattern and then to create a new pattern. How exactly, though, does the new pattern get created? In the past year, I was lucky* enough to find myself facingContinue reading “Creating New Karmic Patterns, & Some Crazy Good Ginger Chocolate Chip Cookies”