'Walking With My Mentors' Meditation

2010-07-24 16.08.40

I am in the middle of creating many different things in my life. This requires a lot from me in terms of making time for my son, my husband, my friends, myself and my projects. This is a place where I can get easily overwhelmed and get stuck in the fear. It’s also a space where I can choose to become the martyr, the “see how busy I am” mama. I’ve been in each of those spaces. I can still hear the voice of overwhelm creeping in. But I’ve learned to identify the voice much sooner.

The difference is that I have some amazing tools to use that can help me to unravel those knots that start forming in my stomach, my mind, my life. I have my intuition, I have yoga and I have confidence in the rhythm of life. I’ve been a yogi since I was 16 years old. Sometimes more in theory than practice. But I always come back to yoga as a mainstay to create peace and a sense of positive movement in my life.

I know things are so much more balanced for me, internally and externally when I slow down long enough to get on the mat and on the meditation pillow. It’s an illusion that there’s not enough time. In fact, when I slow down to take extra care of myself, I miraculously find more time to do the things I love. I am so grateful for yoga and the deeper places I was able to go earlier this year on my 5 month yoga intensive. I encourage anyone who asks to ask the questions, to find the tools that take them back to center.

Back to my original musing . Besides yoga, another refocusing and centering tool for me is going into nature. I am fortunate to live in a beautiful place surrounded by lots of trees, water and animals. To get back to nature, I just walk out of my door and keep walking. It’s not long before I encounter squirrels, deer, and many other beautiful creatures that have no worries about deadlines, workshops or designing logos. I can take a deep breath of fresh air and come back to my body and out of my brain for a while. It’s amazing what a little nature can do to replenish our souls and the quiet space we need to create and just BE.

Spiral with rocks

Sometimes, when I am stuck on a particular concept, project or just confused about a choice, I like to use a visualization tool that takes me into a higher space of creating. A while back, I created a list of women whom I admire, respect and would love to have over to dinner and wine to laugh, imagine with and create together. Most of the women in my mentor circle don’t know me personally, but that doesn’t really matter. I still take them walking with me. The way I do this is as follows; I go for my nature walk with the intention of releasing any pre-conceived ideas or solutions and try to get to a relaxed and present state. Then I will ask a question, and listen. In my mind I envision these women walking with me, sometimes it’s one or two, sometimes the exact right one will show up. Are you thinking that I’ve completely lost it by now? Just give it a try. You may giggle at first, or have a hard time conjuring up the mentor/s walking by your side. That’s ok. Just keep walking and wait. The response may just be a whisper, a sense, a knowing or even a vision.Ultimately, the amazing thing is, that the wisdom that comes from these mentors is all of the intuitive knowledge that you already have withing yourself. By letting go and getting your imagination involved, you are also releasing that voice of fear and your defenses drop. Once you get your answers, you can decide whether you want to take your own advice. My mentors (i.e. my intuition) have always been right on. And mostly, it’s a reminder of what I already know but could not get to with all the noise around me and in my head.

Do you have a similar tool that works for you? I’d love to know how this goes for you if you give it a try.
Enjoy!
~Elena