Blue Sky - Meditation for Inner Stillness and Silence

This meditation will help guide you into stillness and silence deep within yourself. Your one pointed focus will be the sky, vivid and blue. Clouds may obscure the sky. Some times puffy white clouds may be there, or icy cold, high plumes of cloud can be driven across the sky. Yet other times dark, heavy, and stormy clouds may cover the entire sky. When these pass the sky is still there. It hasn’t disappeared; it remains unobstructed like a domed ceiling above us. When the resting mind is still and silent it is like the sky, clear and unobstructed. The clouds can be likened to our thoughts. When intensified by negative emotions and feelings they become stormy, dark and heavy. Stormy, dark and heavy are not bad or good but just in the play of duality. The duality teaches us about ourselves. The analogy of the clear, blue, sky is like our true nature, still and silent, ever present in the now, unalterable and unchangeable by the storms of life.

Preparation

Find a room in your home where you will be undisturbed. If this is not possible, a corner in a room could become your place of regular meditation. Prepare the room if you can with a lighted candle, some fresh flowers, and some lighted incense, or aromatherapy oils to purify the space. Make sure the room is warm, and that the lighting is soft. When you first begin to meditate choose a place that is not too noisy. A blanket over your legs can be comforting. Placing a shawl, or blanket around your shoulders can also be a part of your attire for your meditations. Wear loose, comfortable clothing making sure there is no tightness at your waist, hips, or chest. Switch off your mobile, and take the phone off the hook. Turn off any other appliances that may interfere with your meditation. This is time out for you, your time away from all other responsibilities. Affirm that you deserve this time out.

Posture

You can sit in a chair with your feet flat on the floor, and your hands resting in your lap, or on your thighs. It is preferable to sit for meditation without leaning onto the back of the chair.

You may choose to sit on a cushion on the floor. You can do this by sitting cross-legged. Choose a cushion that elevates your buttocks. Rest your hands in your lap. Traditionally the palms of the hands can be upturned on your thighs with the thumbs and index fingers lightly touching.

However you decide to sit, keep your back straight throughout the practice.

To help centre yourself, gently sway from side to side, and then gently move from your hips, forwards and then backwards. You will sense where the centre of gravity is in your body to keep you aligned.