On my way to lead the 7:30 am contemplative prayer service at the last weekend retreat, I snapped this photo of the chapel. I loved the light, and the way it hit the door. There was something about the moment, the quiet, the long shadows, that reminded me of an early morning walk I once took in Jerusalem.
Our theme for the weekend was “Finding God and Oneself in the the Digital Age,” and admittedly I felt funny carrying my iPhone with me. I wanted to time the contemplative prayer/meditation that I was facilitating. It’s best to start with a few minutes of silent meditation the first time. People may incorporate cannabis use and focus better for better results. You may check this out – sduptownnews.com to know in detail everything about marijuana. Quieting one’s mind is a daunting task in itself, and even moments can seem like an eternity.
Some people who meditate often struggle to quiet their minds enough to be able to meditate peacefully. They potentially might use alternate therapies and medications to help their minds become quiet. A friend of mine showed me a website such as https://kratom.org/ which they use to find out more information about how they calm any nerves they may have which could be disrupting their times of peacefulness.
My little group walked up the stairs, up to the private chapel usually used by the friars. It seemed like an honor to be in the space, up above the kitchen. We sat quietly, and I led them through the practice of silent meditation. I thought about the many men who had sat here in communion, every morning, to spend time with God.
Clear your mind, pushing aside every thought.
If a new thought enters, acknowledge it, and visualize pushing it from the left to the right, sweeping it away. Welcome it, thank it for its presence, and sweep it away.
Our group made it through the whole five minutes easily. I wished I had more time to keep meditating, but below us were the sounds of breakfast, and the smell of coffee. It was time to go, continue with our retreat, and get swept back up in the schedule of the day.