Magic. Mindful Walking Meditation may be introduced to the vicissitudes of the day with simple grace and focused intent. Meditation is a manageable but straightforward shift in the feel of attention’s integrity, from the objects appearing in the spaces we walk through, to the integrity of the objects that hold everything apart and together. Observe and allow them to pass by like clouds in the sky. If we get caught up in such mind wanderings, we can bring our attention back to our breathing or the movement of our feet. Our minds become more settled with practice, distractions are infrequent and “gratefully” welcomed challenges.
I breath gently and evenly through my nose and concentrate/relax my attention to fully experience the simple, divine sensation of mindful breathing. I help stabilize awareness by counting my breaths or the feel of each foot hitting the ground. I started my practice by counting each inhalation and each exhalation, beginning with one and counting to ten; I inhale at the end of the exhalation, then count to one. Exhale at the end of the next inhalation; count two. Repeat until we get to ten, then count back to one and start over again. Until the observer or listener feels the nurturing essence of Home.
Simple concentration on fluids, and straightforward breathing helps any thoughts, sensations and emotions that arise to Now’s powerful and supportive feeling. I am very grateful that the more thoroughly the mind rests, the more deeply our bodies neither suppress thoughts and emotion nor get entangled in them. The entire body reaches a point of stillness rarely experienced, even in deep sleep.
My favorite walking meditation is the time worn “Trip to the Mailbox Meditation.” In the past, I labeled the trip to get the mail as a “chore.” Sadly, I unconsciously missed most of the sights and sounds of the birds that accompanied me while I was on my “chore” mission. The irony is that besides the singing birds, the desert landscape, and the desert smells, I enjoy the trip when not distracted by being lost in a chore or assignment.
Playing one of my wooden flutes during the almost empty list of my “waking up chores” of communication that I once called practicing is now a blessing to be shared with an engaging wildlife. I now label it, “I do not know what I am doing, except getting out of the way.” And, a knowing that life is here to inform, not define us!! What has life to show us, and reveal to us who and what we are, and what we value!
Being totally focused in the presence of the moment means that we are not shifting attention to the past and future, and are therefore freed from repetitive or future movements of mind activity particularly past and future attention that yields to the innate power and presence of “here and now.”
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