Guided Meditation: two most beneficial to me

The two meditations I've found most beneficial are the Loving Kindness and Subtle Mind meditations.  I like them because they do a nice job of complimenting each other.  I find any meditation on loving kindness beneficial because you are sending positivity into the universe and that always leaves me feeling grounded.  I like the subtle mind in conjunction with the loving-kindness exercise because it has an introspective focus.  Using both of these meditations helps work towards both a healthy connection with yourself and a healthy connection with the universe.  When you are focusing on both of these you can't help but feel the connection between the two as well and that oneness is simply beautiful and quite peaceful.

: "One cannot lead another where one has not gone himself"

There is a certain passion that arises in a person once they experience something.  This passion is a necessity in the art of teaching.  I don't think a person can fully lead someone towards growth if that person has not taken that path themselves.  A true teacher makes a connection with the student and if the teacher doesn't fully know what they are teaching than it would prove to be a very difficult task to get their student there; and in order to fully know something a person must experience it.  I think there's an accountability of the teacher; one that tries to teach without this experience or full knowledge is in a way cheating the student. 

Meeting Aesclepius

For this weeks meditation, I had a difficult time picturing my wise healer.  I ended up picturing a monk type figure but who did not have a clear face.  Then my mind started to wander to what setting we were in.  Throughout the meditation my mind did seem to wander a bit.  I do think I go something out of it.  The places where the guide spoke of the light going from the healer to me went well, it was sustaining the in the still moments I had difficulty with.  I think this is normal and will get better with practice. 

I feel with the meditations that sometimes I get to caught up with the details such as the face of the healer.  Perhaps, in letting go of the details I will relax a bit more into the meditation.  Does anyone else from the class feel like it's necessary to have those details?  Do you think it varies from person to person?

Exercise and Assessment

This week we practiced a loving-kindness exercise and an integral assessment.

I enjoyed the loving-kindness exercise.  I had recently did the loving-kindness guided meditation and felt similar when I finished this exercise to when I did that one.  I did find it harder to remember the phrases though, I think that would take some practice compared to the guided meditation where I just felt like I could put my full focus on what the person was saying.  When it was time for me to wiggle my fingers and toes and open my eyes for both exercises I felt refreshed and connected though. 

For the assessment I chose biological for what is causing me suffering and psycho-spiritual for growth and development.  My biological suffering is joint pain from Lymes disease and I just in general feel like my psycho-spiritual aspect is the most underdeveloped.  I do feel like practicing meditation on a consistent and regular basis would help both areas improve. 

Connecting the spirtual, mental and physical aspects of wellness

I'd say I have a pretty firm grasp on the ideas of physical and mental wellness.  Not that I'm an expert by any means but I read the text books and I can usually find a good amount of my life experience that I am able to relate the text to.  This forms a kind of connection where I am confident in these areas.  The concept of spiritual wellness is probably where I lack the most confidence in understanding.  I'd label myself a beginner in this area.  I read the text and I can't say I fully connect with it.  I think I'm at the point in my life where I'm beginning a bit of a spiritual journey.

I definitely can see where all three areas, spiritual, mental and physical are interconnected and if one area is affected the others are affected as well.  I think that goes along with the understanding that we are a whole being and that if one area of us is disrupted than we must look at all parts for the solution. 

Guided Meditation: Take 4

This week we had to compare "The Subtle Mind" meditation to the "Loving-Kindness" meditation.  I think the subtle mind exercise is a bit more difficult.  I did enjoy doing it and I think that over time it could be very beneficial.  I also think the day that I chose to do it my mind was a little extra busy so it added some challenge but I tried to just refocus on my breathing when I wandered.  When I wiggled my fingers and toes and opened my eyes to bring myself back I did feel very peaceful.  When I stood up I actually felt very light.  And then I actually got a little light-headed so I had to sit back down.  I like both of the practices but feel that I could definitely use some more practice.