Confessions of a Wandering Mind
I have a confession to make- I am a terrible meditator (apparently meditator isn’t a word but as far as I’m concerned it is now)- ok I’ve said it. I am awful at clearing my mind, horrid at relaxing my mental gymnastics, spotty at resourcing my seven chakras. In short I can’t stop thinking. In a ten minute meditation I might have a brief period where my breath and my heart beat is all that my mind in fixing on but soon a little voice will say- “hey guess what you did it your cleared your mind”- and suddenly it’s all muddy again, sometimes it’s so bad that when the 3 bells chime to mark the end all I’ve managed to do is clarify my shopping list for the day. Ah me what’s a mediocre meditator to do? Keep trying I suppose. There are oodles of studies about the benefits of meditation from stress relief to pain release and just plain old happiness.
This week during a meditation at the beginning of yoga class Marie (the fabulous teacher) led us, as she always does, in a beginning meditation. Grounding, relaxing, breath… somewhere in there she spoke of our place smack dap in the middle of earth and heaven. My mind took off with this image (I know I was supposed to be clearing not creating) I love the notion of the human condition grounded on this solid earth but stretching, striving, searching for heaven. Our breath is a constant reminder of both; our animal, earthly need to pump oxygen to body and brain, and this ethereal thing of air filling our lungs feeding our mind and soul driving our seeking and our searching. So while I can’t say I cleared my mind in meditation I can say it lead me to these 4 monoprints. In my meditative vision I saw a standing figure with hands in prayer position at the heart with light and color placing the figure in silhouette. Suddenly I snapped from vision to thinking, thinking about how to translate the vision to the page and of course once I began thinking- the lovely figure full of simplicity and breath was gone. I spent some of the week recapturing her in these four monoprints; an ode to the process of thinking about not thinking.
These 4 monoprints and others along with jewelry, cards and other small art pieces will be for sale this weekend and next at the following sales:
•Sunday December 2nd,12-4pm in San Francisco at 379 Eureka Street (4th house from the corner of 21st & Eureka
•Saturday December 8th, 10am-4pm in Healdsburg 314 Center Street (up the stairs between Mr. Moons & Snow Bunny).
Hope to see some of you there.
doug wade
Try reading “A New Earth” by Eckhart Toole.
lisathorpeartist
Thanks for the suggestion>
David
Try making it an affirmative practice of holding attention on the breath, rather than a negative practice of pushing away thoughts, sensations, etc. – let them come, they’ll pass. So rather than clearing the mind, we’re simply holding the attention. Thoughts arising isn’t a sign that you aren’t practicing well. So no judgments about whether it was a good session or not. Don’t sweat the outcome; focus on the effort. And just take it as it comes. You’re doing fine.
lisathorpeartist
David thank you for your thoughtful response, I like what your saying about the affirmative of holding instead of the negative of pushing.. there is something positive in the effort no matter what I find.
Valerie Komkov Hill
I’m terrible at meditation too. Got that monkey mind chattering away. The only time I truly meditate is when I am leading others in meditation/relaxation at the end of Yoga class. Go figure.
lisathorpeartist
I clear my mind best when doing repeated sun salutations, physical but mindless that helps me.
Marie Hirsch
Lisa, I love these monoprints. Do I get the inspirational discount?
I will come to your holiday sale in Healdsburg.
Love, Marie
lisathorpeartist
Yes Marie inspiration should count for something… the muse gets so little attention.
Kitty de Brauwere
Lisa, I really like these, and I so understand the lack of ability to meditate… I hope to catch up with you in Healdsburg for your sale, it is on my calendar. Kitty
lisathorpeartist
I look forward to seeing you kitty
vivian helena Aumond-Capone
I understand completely that the mind tends to run, called the monkey mind… Wonderful when you can hit that moment of pure meditation… other wise I mostly create also,, which is sometimes very beneficial… love your new pieces.