Over the course of
this year, I’ve heard so many people talk about how everything in life seems
crammed in. There is the need to work
longer hours, while still taking care of family and home life, and then there
are the multiple ways we communicate via text, email, and social media that
constantly divert our attention. While
the digital era has made life easier, it has also made heart centered
communication and human connection more challenging.
I was recently
talking to a friend about how life in New York City feels like an overstuffed
walk-in closet. Everything one could
ever need or want is there, but we are so crammed in both physically and
mentally, sometimes there isn’t enough space to see and appreciate what we
have. While NYC does have its own unique
dynamic, I suspect many who don’t live here feel the same way. In a modern, fast paced lifestyle, it’s very
easy for the mind, body and spirit to mirror this and become like that
overstuffed walk-in closet. We’re
constantly thinking and worrying about what’s next or getting overstimulated by
messaging and social posts, and so our being does not get a chance to calibrate.
When one cleans out
a closet, there is a physical and emotional feeling of freedom and
lightness. Sometimes there is also a sense
of gratitude due to all the wonderful things from the past that are
rediscovered. Perhaps this is why more
and more people are turning to practices such as meditation, reiki, yoga and
other disciplines that require the mind and body to surrender to the
present. They offer space for the “inner
walk-in closet” to get cleared out. The
more regular the practice, the more fully one can return to center when life
does get chaotic. Taking the time to
quiet the mind and calm the heart is one of the most empowering things you can
do on a daily basis, and all it requires is you and a clear intention. It allows us to move through life with more
grace and take pleasure in and appreciate all that is good in the here and now.
With the onset of
winter and shorter days, we have many holidays that celebrate light. This is a great time to light a candle, quiet
the mind and allow spirit to shed light on all the great gifts that reside
within us. I invite you to do this
simple meditation I’ve written:
Inner Walk-In Closet
Meditation
Read this meditation
a few times before you begin, so you can remember the steps. You can take as little as a few minutes to do
this meditation or as long as a half hour or more. Try doing it several times over the course of
a few weeks and see how it evolves.
Find a place to sit
quietly in a chair or on a meditation cushion, or you can lie down on the floor. You may wish to light a candle, burn some
incense or play some soothing music. Gently
close your eyes and relax your facial muscles.
Take some slow deep breaths, expanding your lower abdomen on the inhale,
allowing your body to release and relax on the exhale.
You see before you a
door. Take a few moments to examine the door,
its color, texture and design, as well as the details of the doorknob. As you do so, a light begins to stream from
the gap between the door and the floor. You
turn the knob and find yourself stepping inside a walk-in closet. Take a few moments to adjust to the light and
look around you. Are there boxes, books
or clothes? Or are there a lot of
objects piled up inside? Is it neat and
organized or cluttered and in disarray? Is
it empty, or is it overstuffed and in need of purging?
As you look around,
a box of some sort catches your eye. You
open the box and look inside. Take some
time to connect with what is in the box.
It could be an actual object or it could be something abstract like a
color, sound or word. What does it mean
to you? Is it something connected to
your past? Or does it remind you of a
forgotten desire? Does it symbolize
something you’ve been trying to release from your life or does it represent advice
for a challenge you are trying to overcome?
Or is it reminiscent of a happy memory?
It could be something that reminds you of a lost loved one or of someone
you’ve wanted to contact. The
possibilities are endless, so take your time and connect with what is inside
this box you have uncovered and what it means to you.
When you are ready
decide what you will do with what is inside this box. Will you use it or throw it away? It may be time to release what is in there or
it may be time to connect with the thoughts, feelings and ideas it inspires.
When the time feels
right, take a few deep breaths, imagining you are stepping out and closing the
door to the closet for now. You can
always return whenever you need to take inventory of your life or to empty out
the mental and energetic clutter. Gently
open your eyes and write down any details you wish to remember.
