Waterfall Mindfulness Meditation
In the same way that Nature's wilds remind me–life is at once mean and magnificent, gorgeous and grisly–a place where treacherous terrain reveals untamed treasure.
Through the oscillations and "uncertainty" of the pandemic, I have found peace & gratitude where deep respiration meets adventurous imagination–in the reflective wilderness of the body. To round out the year I wanted to share one of my favourite somatic meditations with you designed to relieve stress and tension. I learned it from Michael Reed Gach’s book on Acu-Yoga, an acupressure stress management book.
A moving meditation for memory & release
Sit comfortably with your spine straight, and close your eyes. Allow yourself to move into spiritual awareness.
Place your palms over your ears so that your index and middle fingers touch the base of your skull (underneath what is called the occipital ridge). Thumbs gently press the muscles on the side of the neck where the "windows of the sky" acupressure points are located.
Breathe long and deep. Listen to the inner sounds of breath, and imagine a giant, majestic waterfall.
On your inhale, imagine that the water represents vital energy and rushes into your head.
On your exhale hear the water fall down your neck, shoulders and chest, into the abdominal organs, legs, feet, arms, and hands.
Continue to visualize this powerful waterfall as you breathe deeply through your nose. Allow energy from this image to enter, clearing away all that you wish to release.
Gently let your hands rest in your lap, and sit quietly for a few moments. Reflect on the majesty of your inner world as it encounters the outer world.
