Morning Meditation

Photo taken from hegoldenspace.com.my,

How do you wake up in the morning?  Do the kids run down the hall?  Maybe your baby screams for you or the alarm clock rings.  When you're in a deep sleep, it'a all annoying.  Especially for someone who savors her sleep, like me!  Then once you're up, what's the first thing you do?  Pick up your phone to check messages, read your horoscope or turn on the local news.  Talk about information overload and a whole lot of stress your heart doesn't need!

I'm typically right there with you.  Although my morning news is Dora the Explorer or Super Why, followed by a slight panic when I look at my schedule and everything that needs to get done.  Last week I met with my good friend and medicine woman, April Rucker.  I've been super exhausted lately, feeling like I'm a hamster on that wheel trying to get stuff done but it just keeps piling up.  April actually studied with my other friend Shaman Durek.  I always joke that some people go to traditional therapy, while I go to spiritual therapy.  In my opinion, they're both great.

So back to my exhaustion.  It ends up that everything stems from my morning routine, which really sucks!  So I listened to April.  The past few days before picking up my phone, I've been forcing myself out of bed.  I head to my front courtyard where we have a fountain, listen to the water flowing and meditate.  Now I've never studied meditation.  I'm saving that for another entry, but I do practice yoga and breathwork.  So I sit there for about 10 minutes relaxing and focusing on my breath.  Thoughts will creep in.  I'll acknowledge them, but then try and clear my mind.  It takes practice, so start off sitting there for only a few minutes.  You may go a little stir crazy otherwise.  Then, I say some affirmations, thank the universe for the beginning of a new day, ground myself and practice a few sun salutations to wake up my body.  Ah, it's heaven!

This quick little 15 minute routine shifts my day.  I have more energy, and I'm calmer when it comes to dealing with just about everything.

**  Oh, and if you want to learn more Shaman Durek check out my entry, Everyone Needs a Shaman.