Time for meditation

The day after Beau (our beloved 14 year old male Shih-Tzu) crossed the Rainbow Bridge, I realized our morning walk (when I’d do my walking meditation) could become my regular sitting meditation practice time. I knew I could honor Beau (during my meditation time) by sitting with a blanket in the spot where he had made his transition to the “beyond”. Also, I could place the two small stuffed animals (my loving husband had given me years ago) near me, to sort of represent our kids with fur, Beau and Lou-Lou. Two little stuffed representatives to comfort me somehow.

Why meditate?

To center oneself emotionally, mentally, and spiritually within your being
To nurture self and enhance well-being
To take note of thoughts
To expand the space between thoughts – which sharpens one’s focus over time and makes the mind serviceable
To allow self to connect with God – our LIMITLESS Ever-Living Filling-All-Space Creator. (More about that connection here.)

My meditation time is priceless to me.

Meditation class

After taking structured meditation classes, I realize that I’ve always meditated, just not in any structured way. I have learned methods from Dr. Alison J. Kay and a MeetUp group, and I continue to learn. A couple of weeks into my new sitting meditation routine, I visited Alania Starhawk’s crystal shop and studio in Largo, FL (Alania also runs a MeetUp group) and I was drawn to two wonderful “sister” crystals, which I brought home and proceeded to incorporate into my meditation seating arrangement.

Beginning to meditate

When I begin my actual meditation, I set a timer next to me (UPDATE: I was right, after two months, I did not need the timer).

I settle and relax my body into a comfortable position with my legs crossed. I envision the light from the sister crystal next to my left foot, entering my body in a spiral fashion, clicking into place all of the gears or points of connection on each chakra wheel (beginning with the root/red chakra, sacral/orange, solar plexus/yellow (always visualizing a sun rise), up into the heart/green chakra (where everything grows from the sun and filters out as love to all in my community, city, county, state, country, continent, and world).

Continuing, the Energy blooms into the throat/blue chakra, and to the purple third-eye chakra, where levers and switches get flipped up or down, and re-calibrate as necessary whatever needs to be accurately tuned, through the very essence and into the center of my body, aligning my spine, reaching out through the light of the other sister crystal in my right hand, and finally, connecting with Limitless Creator Source Energy God via my crown chakra (top of my head).

I naturally come out of my meditation with a word, or phrase from the Divine.

Honored Connections

When Beau passed, I wanted a pillow with a picture of him on it, but it took me awhile to figure out the picture and how to obtain it.

One day, I looked at the beautiful Awakened Fibers wall hanging in our bedroom and realized who I’d ask. I reached out to Mary Ann Pickard, owner of Awakened Fibers — and she was more than happy to create my Beau pillow! I commissioned her to make one pillow for me and one for my granddaughter (who also loved Beau, often asking to see him when we’d Skype or Google Hangout).

Whem the pillows were finished, I met Mary Ann to pick them up. I was elated! She had lovingly designed and created such extraordinary pillows! So much detail, like the hidden zipper (so Jennie wouldn’t catch herself on it), along with super neat trim (blue cording on mine / frilly lace on Jennie’s) — really artistically crafted!

Upon returning home, I immediately sensed that I would use my new “Beau pillow” during my meditation. My yellow shirt is from Rekha (of India Artisans, Sarasota FL which was next door to the Crystal Cave a beautiful crystal shop.

Other meditations

Moving meditation

I did stair climbing meditation five days a week for more than two years. I used that time to de-stress from my tasks, stretch, practice Jin Shin Jyutsu, pray, and even practice Pilates and other movements to build and tone my body. I gained much calm during that time.

Sitting meditation

My sitting meditation is something I really look forward to each morning though. It’s a quiet, tranquil time where I feel totally nurtured and supported by All There Is.

A time where the walls of “me” melt away and allow me to become ONE with All There Is, know and feel exceedingly that, We Are All Connected.

Focused meditation

You don’t need to have “things” around you when you meditate – but I have found that for now, these are pleasing to me and anchor me to my little piece of heaven on earth.

Quick recap

You can actually meditate with your eyes open! Just pick a point to focus on. Also, clearing your mind isn’t the goal. The goal (over time with consistent practice) is to make the mind serviceable.

You can use a phrase instead of a word. You can try walking meditation if sitting annoys you. The point is to observe and detach. Notice who (or what) is thinking the thoughts and let each gracefully float away. Oh, and no spirituality is required. OM ❤️🦋🌀 Namaste. OM

UPDATE April 2019: My morning routine has changed. Now, I mentally say, “Thank you.” Then before I get out of bed, I do this actual breathwork (yes, with this link): https://youtu.be/lcC_DUtNr1M Then, before brushing my teeth I look in the bathroom mirror, look into my eyes and say out loud, “Thank you mom and thank you dad for creating me”! (As both are in the Grand Beyond now). And then shower, dress, and do some yoga, Pilates, and/or Qigong. A little later in the morning, I do this exercise too: https://youtu.be/PwJCJToQmps

For beginners

Here are a few things I’ve found in common between all the various meditation teachers I have learned from:

Focus on your breath
Your mind will wander
As thoughts enter, allow them to float on by as if on a cloud
Stay unattached to external sounds or environmental conditions
Return to the breath
Start with one or two minutes
Sit comfortably in the same place each day
Try to meditate at the same time each day

After some practice, allowing the thoughts to float by and finding the space growing in between the thoughts is what is most important. Namaste. OM ❤️🦋🌀🙏

To our feeling great, better health, and longevity,

Sheila Murrey

Your alternative health researcher, joyful wellness guinea pig, and mindful Mind-Body-Spirit guru! Reach out to me if you need a boost, or a boot, to get yourself back in charge of YOUR well-being.Take it upon yourself to be healthy, joyful, wholly vibrant, and beautiful. And yes, it’s important to take good care of yourself because, We Are All Connected.

A bit about me:

An Amazon bestselling author of two co-authored books: “Transform Your Life Book 2 Inspirational Stories and Expert Advice,” “Energy of Receiving”, plus author of “Blue Eyes: Ethereal Messages of Connection,” and holistic health book that details how I naturally reversed asthma, “Have Yourself a Wholly Vibrant Life: Reversing Asthma and Other Chronic Illness Naturally” all available on Amazon.

Be the best version of who you want to be.

Information provided is for educational purposes only and is not intended to treat, diagnose or prescribe.

For more about me, this blog, how I create websites, why I wrote a holistic health book, and more, find me on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

Take It Upon Yourself is about accepting responsibility for yourself. Your health. Your dreams. Your talents. Your passions and desires. It’s about knowing who YOU are.

TakeItUponYourself

Who are you? Have you asked yourself this question? Have you said, “Self, who am I”?

Take a look in the mirror – go ahead, take a good look. Do you know who you are? I realize I may err on being a bit annoying here. But I just wonder how many of us really examine ourselves – and ask ourselves this question. How well do we know our own unique person… mind, body, and soul (or spirit if you’re so inclined to believe in a spiritual self). Each of us have a unique set of fingerprints to remind us that we’re all different, particular, specific individuals.

I’ve been asking myself who I am since turning fifty (50) years of age. I am on a journey of self discovery. I can describe attributes and characteristics of myself, but who am I?

I have discovered that I am Energy, focused in a physical body. I am the sum total of my previous choices and experiences.

I’ve accomplished many things that I never thought I would. I’ve been given everything I have ever wanted. Along the way I did some things I would not do again – but I learned lessons from those experiences. I can’t explain why I did some of the things I did, but I think I had good reasons at the time. I think most people act on the best information they understand at the time.

So, I can’t condemn my former self since I acknowledge that my past choices taught me lessons and turned me into the person I accept as my self today. I believe love is a choice. Life, humility, gratitude, sanity – all are choices.

I have also come to an awareness that beliefs are just thoughts we keep thinking over and over – we always have the power within us to think different (better) thoughts and change ourselves if we don’t like what we see in the mirror. Me? I’m always changing!

So, who am I? LOL

I accept responsibility, fully, for who I am. And I deeply love and accept myself for who I am.

I am a mother, a new grandmother, and wife. I’m a highly responsible individual. I take it upon myself to feel better and make healthy choices everyday. I’m fabulous. 🙂 And I bet you’re fabulous too!

I am more than my mind, body, and soul / spirit. I am the culmination of everything I’ve experienced. And I stand on GREAT shoulders. Strong, loyal, God-loving, parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, and so on.

I have also had great mentors and teachers along the way too! Thankfully, God gave me one in particular who proved the value of higher education to me many years ago (because I couldn’t wait to finish high school and had never wanted to go to college). She proved me wrong. Obtaining two degrees kept me gainfully employed on my career path!

Some of my ancestors were persecuted for their beliefs, religion, and even their race, which knowing this – keeps me grounded and humble. I believe that also is the reason, or at least one reason, why I am an empath. I am strong. A survivor of hurt, pains, and traumas. A survivor of former marriages, of loves lost.

I look in the mirror and see a woman who’s changed – a lot!

I now eat foods that I didn’t eat five (5) years ago. I beat asthma. I’m a creative and technical career woman. I’ve co-written songs (with my talented soul-mate hubby), and tried all sorts of alternative health modalities that most of my family and friends haven’t yet explored. I’ve gained weight, but I’ve lost it too! I consider myself somewhat of a renaissance woman. Forging ahead and leading my daughter and granddaughter down new trails.

Taking it upon myself, I want something better for them, an easier path perhaps, than what I had. And I know a lot of people who feel the same way. They want to give their kids more than they had – not material things exactly – but knowledge!

Knowledge is power. An explored, informed, due diligence done, and educated response to life – wow! Just imagine the time I’ll save them, and maybe some pain too.

I heard it once said that a wise person learns not from experience, but from the experiences of others.

I’d like to go down that road less traveled. So, I invite you to… take it upon yourself.

Imagine who you want to be. Won’t you?