Daily Meditation

Outward, Not Inward

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Today’s meditation was ten minutes and seven seconds, and focused upon the butterfly effect of how your moods and actions can cause a ripple that moves outward through the lives and others, and about how meditation can help in the process of altering how you respond to stress and aggravation.  These positive alterations then create less negative ripples and more positive ones, bettering not just your own life, but the lives of others as well.

This is a tenant of Buddhism.   That is, to be aware of these ‘ripples’, and be compassionately mindful of the ripples that you create and their influence upon others.  In other words, to be kind, careful, and mindful of what you put out into the world.

Today’s draw is the Queen of Wands, which is a representation of a “feminine” alpha energy, personality, or person in the area of one’s passions, drive, spirit, and soul.  This is a card filled with vitality and determination, confidence, respect, and goal oriented focus.  She is bold and confident, and self aware.

Today’s message from the Queen of Wands is to focus on myself and the things I love.  Share my passion for these things with others, and enjoy them to the fullest.

Entering this post at the end of the day, I also have the perspective to understand that today is not the day for journaling and introspection, but instead a day of action and purpose.  I had originally planned to use some of my free time today to catch up on some journaling that I need to do, but it turns out that today was far more about actions and outward expressions than inward contemplation and quietude.

 

Balance and Releasing Negativity

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Today’s meditation was ten minutes long, and focused on the release you can create in your mind and body during your exhale. This is a practice I am very familiar with through both my pain management techniques, and my yoga practice. It was not a big leap to use this to mindfully release negative emotions and bad habits.

Today’s draw is the Two of Pentacles, which is a representation of duality, balance, division, and “opening” in the areas of money, resources, and the physical world.

The image on this card really speaks to me today. The juggler in an eternal juggle of different aspects, always seeking balance, and looking just slightly overwhelmed.

The message of the Two of Cups today is that balance is important, as without it comes recklessness, danger, and irresponsibility. The appearance of this card is a reminder to go slow, take my time, and focus on fostering balance in all aspects of my life.

Onward, Intrepid Traveler

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Today’s meditation was ten minutes long, and focused on seeking a connection with your authentic self. That is, that self beneath the mask you show the world and the lies you tell yourself. It was about allowing that inner self to stand tall, even during the onslaught of outside influences that try to sway you away from your true self.

I did it twice, because I really liked it.

Today’s draw is the Seven of Wands, which is a representation of movement, progress, leaping ahead, and the unknown in the area of thoughts, logic, communication, and the mind.

This is a card that speaks to the doubts you have experienced, the worries that hold you back, and that moment in time when you return to yourself and surge forward back upon the path those doubts and worries had distracted you from.

It is the perfect card for today’s Full Moon in Sagittarius, which is chalk full of progressive “get it done” energy for one’s thoughts, aspirations, and endeavors.

It is also the perfect card (and moon, for that matter) for my Monday, because today is order preparations day and I have a crapload of earrings to make, which is one of the most time consuming of the types of jewelry I create.

So, the Seven of Wand’s message for today is one of progress. No lollygagging aloud.

Shedding Skin

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Today’s meditation was ten minutes long, and focused on creating balance in your life, not just between work and home but in all aspects. The guided meditation spoke on the necessity of balance in order to live a happy and healthy life.

This is a tenant that I am very familiar with and agree with. As you know, balance is something that I am always striving for. In some areas of my life I find it quite easily, and another areas it is always a struggle to achieve.

Today’s draw is the Six of Swords, which is a representation of transition and change in the area of thought, reason, instinct, and communication.

This card relates directly to the new changes that are going on in my life right now, not just in the reassertion of my spirituality, but also in my renewed efforts to find a balance between responsibility and the things that bring me joy.

When I drew the card, my focus was immediately upon where the points of the swords are embedded into the bottom of the boat.

Reading the card intuitively from that aspect, the appearance of the Six of Swords today is telling me that on my journey forward I need to be sure and check in with myself.

This means that I need to make sure that I am being true to my beliefs and values, while leaving behind any thoughts, assumptions, or habits that are not serving me, and may holding me back or slowing me down.

Hello Again, My Queen

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Today’s meditation was ten minutes long, and focused on “holding space” for others as a way to support them during times of struggle.  It was about how sometimes, people don’t need you to fix things in their life, they just need you to be there with them.  To share space with them in a quiet way that shows support either by listening, or just by the reassurance of your presence, without “butting in” on their problems.

Today’s draw is the Queen of Swords, which is a representation of a “feminine” alpha energy in the area of thoughts, reason, instinct, and communication.  The card embodies the tenants of truth seeking, independence, unbiased consideration, and clear communication.

I haven’t seen the Queen of Swords in a couple weeks, and was starting to think perhaps I had managed to somehow unwittingly absorb the message she has been trying so hard to teach me for the past year and a half, but… here she is once more, regal and beautiful and daring me to seek and speak the truth in all things.

During the depression, and during the time a few years ago when we “switched places” for a while, I stumble a bit in being honest with myself.  Not just with the expectations that I put on myself, but even with looking at -how- I’m doing.

I bundle myself up into this little ball of awareness, that is so focused on the day to day that I miss the bigger picture.

This activity on the blog here, my daily meditation (that I am still doing religiously every day), and my recent return to a more active path in my spirituality has, in a lot of ways, opened my eyes and my mind to how much of myself has been closed off, one little bit at a time.

Thank you for taking this journey with me, man.  I love you.

My Cup Runneth Over

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Today’s meditation was eleven minutes and sixteen seconds, and focused on techniques to assist in staying awake during your meditation.  Most of the advice was sound and included ideas like taking a few extra long and deep breaths to ensuring that your posture does not slump.

But, what had me cracking up during meditation wasn’t the topic of the guidance but rather the use of the word “dignified” when she was encouraging getting comfortable and settling into position.  “Lets start by establishing an erect and dignified posture.”

Considering that I regularly do my meditation lying on my back while in a piriformis stretch (it’s a good photo, but I hold the pose for a few minutes at a time rather than a few seconds), an “erect and dignified” posture is the last thing on my mind, instead I’m far more focused on alignment.

Today’s draw is the Ace of Cups, which is a representation of the “seed and sprout”, new beginnings, and potential in the area of emotions, relationships, and creativity.

I am feeling this card today.  I feel good, I feel fresh.  I feel like the potential for positive new things is with me today.   The mindset feels a little strange, mind you, as I am usually a far more grounded person (and more pessimistic person as well), but today feels like an optimistic day.

Maybe this new sense of optimism is something I might start to experience more often?  Its weird but I actually feel, the last couple days, as if I’m pulling out of not just that hole of my depressive episode in the spring, but also getting a breather from the dysthymia as well.   I’m pretty sure that’s something that’s never happened before.  If it is, it’s so far back as to have been lost to my memory.

I love you.

Just sayin’… but I’m really feeling that today too.  Like this whole lightness feeling in the chest when I think about you thing.   I hope you’re having a good day, man.