There's a Netflix show on meditation. Can you believe it? It's called Headspace: A Guide to Meditation.
Here's a trailer. Watch this, then I'll tell you about my experience with it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H77PL7SlI1M
My Experience
I use TV as background noise. I turn it on to something that won't hold my attention too hard, and then try to dive into my day's work, which always involves the computer. As I sink into whatever I am doing, I keep reaching for the TV remote to turn the volume down. Soon it's only a dull murmur and I'm unaware of it.
It's my method and it works for me.
My Meditation Practice
To be honest, my practice has dwindled to almost zero in the past several weeks. There was this big 27-book project that took a whole year, you see. (I wonder how long I can ride that excuse? I finished it last week, so, a little bit longer?) I got really busy and I let my practice slide.
And I feel it.
It Happened By Accident
I was looking for background noise that wasn't news, because news just pisses me off lately, and I came upon the Headspace: Guide to Meditation series on Netflix. I put on Episode 1, and opened my laptop to start my day's work.
The soft, very slightly Britisht-accented narrator, a monk, he says, tells me a bunch of fascinating stuff about meditation and the next thing I know, the sneaky little shit had begun guiding me into a meditative state. I tried to use it as background noise while I composed a future blog post (an interview! I almost never do those!) but it was impossible not to be sucked into that soft, beautiful voice, and then into the meditation.
And as I sat, and breathed, and sank into that old familiar state that feeds my soul, that I've missed without realizing it, I sighed in relief. Ahhhh. That's better. That's what I need.
It Was Too Short
I didn't time it, but it felt like the meditation portion was over too soon, so I'm about to watch episode 2, and I'm confident he'll do it again. I need to get back to my practice. It nourishes my soul and heals my mind and body. I don't know why I tend to let it slide during high-stress times when I need it most. I think many of us do this. I'll work on it.
The giant project is behind me. The trilogy I had to tackle immediately after is also behind me. I can relax and catch my breath and re-fuel myself before launching into the next novel.
I can start to think and plan and visualize and plot the next story. I love this stage of creation, when I'm mucking around in the soup of pure potential, ladling the bits I like into the cauldron I carry to create my own stew.
There are gears to be shifted as I transition from re-visiting previous works into creating new ones; adjustments to be made.
It's an enormous task, writing a novel. So I'm going to nurture myself during this pre-writing phase, so I'll be ready. And I'm going to bask in my meditation practice while I do.