The Mediocre Meditator

Meditation and the Pink Moon

Meditation and the Pink Moon

I've always been as drawn to a full moon as the next person, but following the cycles of nature just hasn't come “naturally” to me. So this month, the only reason I knew there was a think called the Pink Moon or Strawberry Moon was that a local spa...

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Sound Meditation

Sound Meditation

Teachers of meditation have all kinds of suggestions for how to calm the monkey mind. Some use a mantra Some use the breath Some suggest focusing on a sound Recently, during a stay in Palm Springs, I was able to create my own little floating...

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A Hummingbird in the House

A Hummingbird in the House

Sometimes I try too hard to find the meaning in random things that happen, and sometimes the meaning just reaches out to me. That's what happened recently when we wound up with a hummingbird in the house. Don't worry, the hummingbird came out of...

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In Search of Awe

In Search of Awe

This month I went in search of awe.  For me, awe opens a mental and emotional door to the state of mind, or mindlessness, I try to get to when I meditate.  Since I was in Paris, there was no shortage of world famous,  awe inspiring places to choose...

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Meditation should be easier here

Meditation should be easier here

This is the Duomo in Milan, Italy.  Like so many world-renowned landmarks, it is  awesome in detail and in scale. Whether you aspire to  prayer, contemplation, or meditation and whatever your spiritual tradition, spaces like this seem like they...

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When the sirens go off

When the sirens go off

The weather has been really beautiful lately, so I've had the windows open quite a bit more than usual.  Where I live, that means city noises,  and since I live near a hospital, that means sirens. I've noticed though, that the sirens outside are no...

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A Meditation Reset

A Meditation Reset

I've been meditating for years, but like a lot of things we do routinely I think I've gotten a little sloppy with it lately.  So, I'm hitting the reset button, trying to put a little more intention behind the mindfulness part of mindful meditation....

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AI is not invited to my Morning Pages

AI is not invited to my Morning Pages

I’ll never ask AI to summarize my morning pages. Of course I repeat myself - my worries - my dreams That’s the point.  The repetition is the key to what is unresolved, to what is important. The path to change - from the pen - to the page - to the...

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Quieter outside than inside

Quieter outside than inside

What could this picture possibly have to do with meditation, mediocre or otherwise? Well, this is the view I have from my little nest, the comfy chair big enough that I can sink in to it with my legs folded up and meditation every morning, usually...

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Feeding Your Demons

Feeding Your Demons

My personal meditation practice took an interesting turn when I came across this book recently.  It talks about a modern interpretation of an ancient Tibetan practice called Chöd. I'm pretty sure we have all had thoughts, feelings, or even physical...

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