On a mountain, over the sea
Try something new, create a new path! A story, a metaphor and a meditation to contemplate.
Whilst visiting my Aunt Vicki and my Dads’ Brother, Uncle Ron with my Sister Lisa in Camden Maine we were able to visit Mt. Battie. Together two generations meandered up a small path and short, unspectacular, hike up from the parking area. My Dad and Ron with walking sticks in hand, slowly and carefully navigating each step, clearly focusing on the moment. Lisa, Vicki and I forged ahead, with curiosity, towards the top anticipating the view, they simply enjoyed the walk.
Like life itself, we wander throughout our days, as we may be working towards goals and wondering, mind meandering, what’s next for us in our future around the next bend. Often we may look behind and remember happier moments, or we may regret the sadder experiences. We may become nostalgic or revisit past wounds, or worry about what our future holds for us, but these thoughts, we realize are robbing us from the momentary essence of life itself.
To be in the moment and not think ahead or behind is a novel thought. But in the bliss of the moment, in the silence, is where we often find clarity.
What if, for a few moments each day, you sit in complete silence? I would invite you to then take 3 deep slow and deep breaths, as you let your eyes close down as you focus your attention to your third eye point, the point between and slightly above your brow. With relaxed then closed eyes, this upward glance, helps the brain relax and go deep into our inner guidance, our intuition, our pineal gland point, in the center of our brains, made up of crystals that can connect us to our higher selves, and the universe, think quantum physics. Here we are equipped tap into the moment, the real us, the now, the all knowing and we are suddenly in a relaxed meditative state.
RJ Spina suggested to imagine, now, that there is no future and no past. I would then invite you to sit with that quandary for a few minutes if you will. Realize that now you are in a meditative state where only the moment counts. Sit with this thought, and repeat the words in your minds eye “No past…No future…No past…No future…” this then becomes the “mantra”. I am curious to know what your experience of that mini meditation was.
My experience when I practiced this mini meditation was so interesting. It went like this…in that moment of realizing there is no past and no future, I felt a sense of relief and deep relaxation, calm at the irony of the fact that I often am not in the now. The now is so simple and profound, yet beautiful! The now is now a place I strive to be!
We generally are not taught as children to sit in silence or to meditate, with perhaps, the exception of a “moment of silence” here and there. We don’t really know what’s expected of the moment of silence and as we start to contemplate that moment is over and is interupted with noise once again.
When we try a new meditation, if even for a few minutes a day, we establish new neural pathways in our brains that help us rewire our inner thoughts and worries about the past or future that lead us directly back to the moment. In this now moment, we experience the joy of life and chemicals in our brains are released help us to calm our system and live in the moment.
This is a sample of how, even a short daily meditation practice, can help you in your life, feel a sense of safety and calm. often in this silence, profound answers and insights, that help you live and enjoy each moment and cope more easily in moments of stress will easily come to you without stressed efforts. In times of confusion, anxiety and stress, consider going back to this mantra “No past…No future…No past…No future…” knowing that this too will pass.
Suddenly at the summit of Mt. Battie, we were met with this spectacular view overlooking the ocean! The moment of beauty and bliss at the sight is reminiscent of “no past…no future” just the perfection of the now moment. It was well worth the effort!
Try the technique by Joe Dispenza a guided meditation on the now moment
https://youtu.be/ciuBnIyr8tc?si=G8-4BL5lBhgbdtLT
Joe Dispenza video about the now moment
https://youtu.be/eESYy4ur_KM?si=UZcvILk2zTAtfzWn
Read more about the history of Mt. Battie below
https://www.thetravel.com/things-to-do-in-camden-complete-guide/#stroll-along-camden-harbor
Mount Battle, Camden Maine
