Divine Meditation

I want to share a personal breakthrough I've experienced with meditation~ one of my spiritual Achilles heel. In the past, I've only needed a few days to sabotage any effort at creating a consistent meditation practice. The intense boredom I feel is too much as I become quickly absorbed with thoughts and overcome with fatigue. My mind rarely turns off for more than a few seconds before some comment, judgment, or memory barges in. It's not long before I'm nwondering how much time is left before the alarm goes off and I can get on with my busy day. I actually feel relieved when I finally abandon my practice. In the aftermath, I convince myself that meditation is not necessary for my spiritual practice. Yet no matter what I believe, my medicine path undeniably calls me back to take my seat and to meditate.

I recently had a shift in my understanding of meditation that appears to have changed my attitude and desire toward meditation. I've experienced this approach as much more active and participatory than my previous approach of observing arising thoughts and continually returning to a focus of breath. This transformation began when I integrated my spiritual beliefs with my meditation. I believe in a Divine Source flows through all life. The Source exist within all of us, without favoritism or judgment, regardless of differences- cultural, social, religious, familial, etc. The Source is our shared fundamental nature from which all else is created. I imagine the Source as Light which exists everywhere in the universe with the exception of a few black holes.

To begin my meditation, I say a short prayer of intentions that includes using this time to consciously connect with the Source. I slowly imagine Light flowing through every cell in my body and how it sustains my life. I remember that the Source is who I am and connects me to all Life. I breathe that realization into my being. I imagine in this moment being connected to all the people I love and to my favorite places in nature. When I feel in the light, I feel connected to life. I then focus my attention on my heart level and feel my connection to the Source. When I realize my attention has wandered, which it does continuously, I simply return my attention to the Source which can only be experienced in silence.

This participatory act of consciously merging with the Source has brought a newfound positive charge to my meditation. I now look forward to my daily meditations and experience longer periods of time in silence. I feel less burdened by my noisy mind and instead feel much more "light"-hearted about my practice. There are still those days when I struggle with meditation and am bombarded with thoughts and heavy feelings. Yet I am more patient with the mental chatter as I know that all things arise from the Source. The Source is always present. With open heart and an acceptance of "what is", my connection to the Source, my true nature, is my foundation for spiritual evolution.