There's this ugly little thought in the pagan community. It's an insidious thing--this thought. It says that if you can't still your mind, you can't work magic. It has a bit of shame connected to it. Like pieces of tissue with bits of the brown stuff stuck to your shoe, it flutters about just waiting for someone more knowing, more "silent of mind" to notice.
As you may have guessed I have really struggled with meditation. My walk on the path of the Craft began in the early 80's. My teacher did guided meditations. My mind did what I like to think of as solo explorations of the story possibilities of those guided meditations.
In other words, she would start us out on a beach and I would end up in Russia on a swing. Or I found myself swimming with whales and talking to seals. At least in that scenario I was still near the water, right?
Still mind? HA!
Don't get me wrong. I do think meditation is a good thing. I just don't think the only way to meditate is with a candle, soft music and a joss stick. I have to move. Since that earlier time, I've found ways to let meditation work for me. Ways that involve less quiet music and more movement.
Walking meditation has proven to be one of my best methods. I've come up with more than one Tarot spread while walking the dogs. I can just let my mind go quiet while I walk. Well, as quiet as I can when I'm monitoring the poop patrol. But there comes a point on the walk where we are all three just walking. That's when the magic happens for me. My monkey mind falls into a space where my mind finds answers just popping up.
But as much as the dogs might love it, I can't take them for long walks every time I need to find that inner stillness. But I need that calm. Some days I need it for me. Other days it's just a good idea if I want to avoid jail.
In the past few years, I've found another tool that really works for me. It's a meditative art form called Zentangle(tm). Some folks dismiss it as just doodling, but I have to disagree. It's beyond doodling. The tagline is "one stroke at a time" which really defines how different it is from doodling. Mind you, there's not a thing wrong with doodling.
Zentangle is done on a small piece of art paper called a tile. I use the Sakura Micron .01 pen for most of my work. I am fortunate enough to have a teacher locally who has also turned into a friend. I took a class from her in August of 2012. If you can find a teacher, take a class. The books are great, but I don't think they really impart the wisdom of Zentangle. If you go the book route, read the reviews carefully.
So how has this made me a better psychic?
First, it helps me see patterns in a different way. I find that I am connecting the dots more rapidly as well. When I read Tarot, I get random things that pop up in my head. I tell my clients that what I see in one card for them might be completely different for the next person. That is why I style myself as an intuitive, or psychic, reader.
For the record, I don't do neon. I have been known to dress the part when I do large corporate parties. Hey! If you pay me enough, I will wear a turban.
Back to how Zentangle makes me a better reader. By training my mind to focus on the one line at a time method, I am able to zero in on individual cards not just more easily but for longer amounts of time. I've been reading professionally for thirty years now. I tend to read super fast because I know the cards.
But it's a better reading when I pull more out. When I dig deeper into the symbols in front of me. As I said, I am an intuitive reader so different things will pop out at me when I'm looking at a reading for a client.
So while I may not be a good meditator in the "sit on a cushion and breathe" sense, I'm finding that I'm very good at meditating while drawing "one line at a time" ala Zentangle. Strangely, tangling is when I love to put on quiet music and burn a joss stick. A favorite of mine is the Green Man from Bayou Witch.
So tell me what your meditation tricks are.
P. to the S. Many of the links are Amazon affiliate links. The Zentangles are all mine. I am slowly working on a Tangled Tarot as well.
P.P. to the S. I do a weekly Tarotscope forecast. This week's was done with the black and white Daughters of the Moon. Enjoy.