Walking the Wall

I’ve struggled to find a space that feels right for meditation this winter. In the late summer and early fall I found peace to meditate out on our three season porch with my candles and the sounds of falling water from our fountain–breezes from the windows and the smell of roses. Once the cold drove me inside I never quite found a space and I think that has had much to do with my stuttering progress. Our living room is large and open and I always had the feeling of someone about to walk in even late in the night.

There is a nook, though, that is created by our couch setting in front of my large book case, bounded by either side by the side of the fireplace and the door out to the porch. I was kneeling there this morning putting some books in order and I thought–this is it. Kneeling down in the space is peaceful to me–the books, the bricks of the fireplace, the perfect low ledge large enough for three candles (my number for balance) and two small gifted wooden bowls from good friends–one holding a small set of wooden mala beads I strung and the other filled with bits of shell, a heart shape rock, sand from Hawaii given me by a friend, coral my son found me, and more. I pulled out my meditation bench, lit my candles, fired up my iPod with a 6 minute meditation track (which I normally fidget through of late) and started practicing loving kindness meditation (from the metta sutra). In no time at all the music stopped and I was shocked that it was over all ready and I continued to follow my breathing for longer yet. Tomorrow I’ll definitely ease up to the 10 minute song.

Now I know that sounds like a blink of an eye to many people who meditate or pray, but I’ve really struggled not to fidget and mind wander and feel relaxed–the 6 min/10 min/ 20 min meditation tracks help me as I let go of the need to wonder about time and having a space that felt right seemed to really flip a switch, so to speak. I remember even when growing up hearing people talk about the benefit of “prayer closets” to step outside of daily life to a space set apart for prayer–this would be the same concept. There is something about routine, even ritual, that is calming–kneeling, striking the match, lighting the candle–and having a small space set aside for that creates a sense of sacred space. Joseph Campbell wrote, “Every sacred place is the place where Eternity shines through Time.”  I think people consciously or unconsciously set up up sacred spaces and even rituals–Friday night dinner dates with partners or friends, Sunday meals, movie or game nights, the yearly hunt for the perfect Christmas tree or pumpkin, morning email and/or blog reading all become rituals that serve to ground  us in the life we are living right this moment and at that moment eternity shines through.