meditation

[1sunworshipper]

I meant to ask one of the two teachers who runs the course today if it is Mark on one the BodyScan meditation CD I was given - he sounds double of the narrator of Bagpuss, maybe it's the same person on your CD Cate and that is why it is making you think back to childhood TV like me. Mark Williams I think must be based in this new building on the hospital site where I am going for the mindfulness course because I spotted a pigeon hole with his name on it and also noticed a research building there too. I'm very lucky to have got on the course, still early days and been given more homework so wondering how I'm going to fit it all in without falling asleep which I have done on two meditation sessions but I'll just have to

Cate that is very positive to see you looking forward to a future life AF - I'm not there yet and not sure whether I will get there but it's nice to know it can happen

[Mountainhare]

Thanks for the links Gerard.
I get insomnia too, but only when I drink. One of the great things I find when I am AF is that I actually sleep the whole night through. When I think about how long I have suffered from sleep deprivation and dehydration caused through drinking, I can't believe I don't look twenty years older than I am.

Cate I am aiming to stay alcohol free for good this time too. Then again I was last time, and the time before

I have noticed when I don't drink, I become more aware of my surroundings, more aware of beautiful things, and more appreciative of life in general. I hope the course in January will show me the way to get the best out of meditation and mindfulness.

1sun you sound like you are busy with your course and it sounds good, but.....homework!!! I hope I don't get any of that when I do mine lol I have enough homework as it is.

Hope it works out for you.

Take care everyone

MH

Edit: Hi Koala, just realised I missed replying to your post, sorry, I was tired and rushing last night.

It is nice you are finding some peace and a place of belonging at the Quaker meetings, if it is helping you then it can only be a good thing. For me though, I don't think it would be my bag to be honest. I prefer to reach deep into my spiritual side alone, up a mountain or in a forest. I am only going on the intro to meditation course, to learn more about it and how to do it properly.

Good luck with it though

[koalaBear]

No worries MH. I hope you didn’t think I was trying to convert you

I’m exploring various avenues at moment, trying to find my own spiritual path. I’ve tried mediating on my own but I tend to get too distracted, I’ll have to try harder.

I love the idea of meditating up a mountain or in a forest. There is place in Cumbria called Bleaberry tarn on the ascent to Redpike. It’s always moved me. It’s been on my bucket lost to wild camp up there and get up for the sunrise. I’ll have to get it done and factor in some mediation at the same time

[Mountainhare]

I think I know that tarn, I may have passed it as I climbed Highstyle in Buttermere, such a beautiful, picturesque place. I wild camped around there at the top of a valley. I met a bloke in a camper, who sold artefacts to the tourists. I spent the evening with him sat around a fire talking rubbish,drunk on vodka!

php2ZWp07_c1AM.jpg (6.72 KiB) Viewed 102 times

Not proper wild camping, I used a tent on this occasion.

[koalaBear]

Wow MH, that looks great! There is something intrinsically primal and soothing about gazing into a campfire…

My main obstacle is my own fitness, I would need to sweet talk Mr. Koala into carrying the tent up there, or start an intensive gym regime. I’m not sure it would be warm enough even in summer for true wild camping. Then again, would it depend on what type of sleeping bag you have?

met a bloke in a camper, who sold artefacts to the tourists. I spent the evening with him sat around a fire talking rubbish,drunk on vodka!

I presume you didn’t get up for the sunrise then?!

When I was growing up we used to go up Dodd fell a lot, there was a mesmerising fairy-tale like forest at the top which would be ideal for meditation. Just googled it and discovered that Forestry Commission have cleared it

[Mountainhare]

I’m not sure it would be warm enough even in summer for true wild camping. Then again, would it depend on what type of sleeping bag you have

You can wild camp anytime of year as long as you have the right gear. I actually prefer winter(no midges) I have camped in the forest in snow with no tent and been warm.

Just booked my accomodation and course for January at the Samye Linge centre. Hopefully I will still be sober and on track by then and the course will show me how to get the most from meditation exercises.

Peace and love everyone

[Cate]

Hello everyone.

Isun -

[Cate]

Opps,

Pressed the wrong key there. Now. Where was I ? Oh yes:

Isun - Do let us know if Mark Williams is there and I´m guessing yes about the bodyscan meditation. There´s a 15min Body Scan meditation on the CD. I´d love to hear how it goes on your course. Keep dropping in and tell us all about it if you can.

MH - Oh wow. That looks wonderful. I don´t get out into nature enough at all and I´m really feeling a need to recently. We´re going to manage the staying AF at some point or other. Just have to keep on at it.
Like you I really appreciate the proper nights sleep when not drinking. Oh the bliss.

Koala - I certainly can´t advice you on anything regarding camping. As much as I like the idea I´ve never actually done any. ( can´t count the times on my Grandads lawn when a child I guess ) The nearest I´ve got to it was a beach campsite and I didn´t even stay in a tent. We rented one of their bungalows.
Ahhhhrrrrggg. What a shame about you´re forest.

Gerard - Thanks for the Links. I´ve downloaded the Zinn meditations and am just checking one of the tracks out.

How was the weekend everyone ? I´ve been busy but I´ve also been listening to my audio books and practising short meditations on waking up and before bed. It´s nice to feel that I´m getting back into it again.

Hope you´re all good.

xx

[joop]

Hello folks.

I need to get in the habit of meditating again, and make it part of my routine. I was managing to do 30 mins un guided last year and then I got totally out the habit (and back into the bottle)
I found then, when I was not in a happy place that meditating just helped me see my problems and solutions clearly. There is one that I did quite a lot from the Meditation society of Australia podcast that is now my 'go to' imagery when I need to calm down

the samyeling place looks stunning MH.

[koalaBear]

The ‘right gear’ sounds expensive MH

Great you have booked Samye Ling, you will have to let us know how you get on. I’d like to do the retreat myself one day.

My OH is having trouble getting to sleep so I’ve downloaded some free relaxation/meditation apps to play with tonight. Might as well have a go together, I might find it easier with some company.

Cate, you can definitely count a tent on Granada’s lawn as camping

Joop, all the best with getting back into meditation. The Australian podcast sounds interesting.

[Cate]

Sharon, you were asking about the Chopra meditation challenge ?
There´s a new one coming up. Here´s a link for you and anyone else interested.


http://www.chopracentermeditation.com/B ... BookId=172


xx

joop - Hi. look forward to getting to know you better and I hope you do get back into the meditation. It does help doesn´t it.

[Gerard]

Cate,

Did you try the Kabat Zinn meditations? I enjoy them. I've also begun reading the Mark Williams book on Mindfulness.

Listened to a bunch of audio material last night, as I simply couldn't sleep. Hopefully tonight will be an improvement.

G

[DD]

Well done Gerard. It's all about learning new coping mechanisms. Audio books sounds like a fab idea.

[Cate]

Morning all.

Gerard - No not as yet. I want to put some on my phone today and have a listen maybe tonight or tomorrow am.
I hope you sleep ok tonight.
I remember when I very first took the steps to stop drinking I couldn´t sleep for a while but suddenly I started sleeping the whole night through and it was bliss.
Try some meditations and make sure your bedroom is prepared for relaxation and rest. ( get rid of the TV if you have one in there )

I´ve just been looking at some Qi Gong exercises on youtube and it strikes me that it may be a nice relaxing thing to do in the evening but maybe thats totally the wrong thing to do. I don´t know anything about it, it´s just a thought I had.

Koala - Soooooo. How did it go. ?


Well. This morning I tried something new. I was on my morning walk which I´ve reduced recently as I want to do some morning meditation before starting work.
So I´ve been walking for an hour then trying to meditate once I get into work. ( I have a little shop and there´s no one else here apart from hubby who´s out doing his own stuff at that time)
Anyway. I walk along the beach front and decided to walk out onto a stone jetty and meditate there ( I´ve been thinking of doing it for ages but am too self-conscious) It was nice just sitting and listening to the waves, the seagulls and the fishing boats in the distance and the idea was to wait for the sunrise but ...
It got a bit chilly especially on the b u m
Still I tried I´ll just have to go more prepared next time. Maybe carry a cushion with me

I hope you´re all having a good day.

xx

[Mountainhare]

Hi all,

I sleep great now I have a few weeks of sobriety under my belt. This in turn leads me to feeling better in myself. Today I am feeling "the love" I have that warm feeling inside, that energy, that feeling of wellness and I feel happy. It is great. I want this feeling to stay forever.

When I feel like this, I feel more spiritually aware too. I see more, my eyes are opened to things, which I do not notice when I am hungover or drunk. My awareness and senses feel keen, I'm alert and live each moment, instead of fumbling my way through each day. I have more chance now of reaching within myself and unlocking that door to happiness and contentment, which meditation can help bring about.

Cate your description of walking alone the beach front and out onto a stone jetty took my mind away from rainy Manchester and for a moment I was in Kefalonia gazing at the ocean.

I think meditating in a beautiful enviroment, or in a wild and spiritual place or at the end of a stone jetty there is more chance of sucess, than in sitting in a bedroom in Manchester trying to feel the vibe

Have a good day everyone

[1sunworshipper]

Oh Kefalonia Mountainhare I couldn't agree with you more. I was there a couple of years ago and was blown away by its beauty

[Mountainhare]

Hi 1sun, if you ever want any info on Kefalonia, places to visit or stay, pm me, I'm an expert on Kefalonia:D

[damson]

Hi folks, just to let you know the Chopra Centre is doing another meditation challenge starting at the beginning of November. I tried to download it today but I couldn't get it. Perhaps it will be available nearer the time, or more than likely I was doing something wrong I'm not terribly keen on them myself as there is too much talking for my taste but I'm sure someone asked about them recently.

[koalaBear]

Hi Damson, I registered for the Chopra course the other day and got an e-mail saying they will send me the instructions on Day One, which I understand is the 5th of November.

[damson]

Thanks koala, I see that Cate posted the link earlier too, my fault for not reading back

I will give it another go, have you done them before?

I certainly feel better when I make time to meditate and then life gets all chaotic and I forget

Think I'll switch my computer off and do a few minutes now before the family wake up