My soul honors your soul.
I honor the place in you where the entire Universe resides.
I honor the light, love, truth, beauty, and peace within you,
Because it is also within me.
In sharing these things,
We are united, we are the same, we are one.
– Author Unknown*

I wasn’t initially drawn to meditating when I began my yoga practice. I knew I needed to start because of all of the benefits, but it just didn’t entice me enough. I didn’t start incorporating meditation until shelter-in-place was in full force.

Cabin fever set in after about a month of shelter-in-place. My feelings of confinement fed my anxiety and depression. Instead of running down the paths of unhealthy and unproductive habits, I turned to meditation to help ease my anxiety and depression, bring my awareness to the present, and connect to the Universe.

I wasn’t sure how to just sit on my meditation pillow and meditate – so I began my practice with guided meditations. I grabbed my meditation pillows (they’re really just the pillows I use on my couch), sat in easy pose (legs crossed with one foot in front of the other), with my spine straight, and my palms facing upward. I closed my eyes and let the meditation lead the way. I came out of each meditation matching the intention I set forth. I felt more aware, focused, relaxed, and in alignment. I began experimenting with different types of guided meditations depending upon what I wanted to focus on – cleansing my crystals prior to a full moon charge, connecting to my higher self, realigning my chakras, clearing negative energy blocks, and manifesting abundance. You name it: I probably did it.

Also during shelter-in-place, I reread The Universe Has Your Back^. Instead of just bookmarking the meditation sections for later, I incorporated them into my meditation practice. Now, I try to do one of those meditations with one or two others on a daily basis. Weekly, I try to balance my chakras and clear any negative energy blocks, so that I can stay in alignment and keep my positive energy flow.

This past week, I started incorporating palm stones into my meditation practice. I purchased a Flower Agate palm stone from Wild Heart Stones+, a wonderful and local rock business. Flower Agate aids in manifesting and nurturing our dreams. Its soft, feminine energy ignites passion to pursue our dreams, and live life to the fullest. It’s the perfect stone for entrepreneurs hoping to grow and flourish their business – or for those starting something new. (Shameless plug alert: I am now becoming an entrepreneur: a freelance writer for hire. If you hear, know, or come across anything, please send it my way. I would greatly appreciate it! I also started a jewelry business with Laima Haider called Silver and Sacred**.) I am loving the energy from my Flower Agate so far!

To prolong my feelings of Zen received from my meditation for the rest of the day, I listen to the Kirtan Kriya (Short Version) by Nirinjan Kaur playlist on Spotify^^ and light a candle (the more flavorful the better!) with a crystal in it. If you don’t have time to meditate or are unsure where to begin, I highly recommend creating a serene environment to sit in throughout the day to absorb the tranquil energy from the music and candles.

What does your meditation practice look like? Do you have any recommendations? If you haven’t started meditating, what’s holding you back? Any questions or comments? Please include your answers in the comments section below. I would love to hear from you!

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* If you know the author of the quote above, please comment below, and I will update my post accordingly. Thank you!!

^ Please see my post Love and the Universe for a link to The Universe Has Your Back: Transform Fear to Faith by Gabrielle Bernstein.

+ Here is a link to Wild Heart Stones: https://www.facebook.com/wildheartstones

** Here is a link to Silver and Sacred: https://www.facebook.com/silverandsacred

^^ Here is a link to the Kirtan Kriya (Short Version) by Nirinjan Kaur playlist on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/37i9dQZF1E8SHs4ZpvMiUm