Hey, our green living-room is on the CBC's book site today. It accompanies an interview I did with them on blogging -- on being a blogger as well as a fiction writer.
This morning, I walked again. But I'm restless nevertheless, so it occurred to me to try something different. What I'm missing about running is not just the physical release, but also that sense of taking part in a moving meditation.
But in challenge is opportunity!
Yesterday afternoon, I had time to listen to the radio and bake bread, and I tuned in to Tapestry on CBC Radio One, where I can always find peace on a Sunday afternoon. The subject was "crazy busy," as in, "Hi, how are you?" "Oh, I'm crazy busy!" More to the point, the subject was finding stillness in a culture that has latched onto the concept of being so busy we just can't slow down.
Now, I like busy. I've even been told that I scare people a little bit with my busyness. But I also like still. Or say that I do. I say that I like stillness, but perhaps in truth I privilege busyness over quietude. I sit in stillness at my writing desk, but my mind is whirring with energy and imagination. I find stillness of mind when I run, but it's curious, isn't it, that I need to be in motion to fall into such calm. So here's a radical challenge for me: how to be still, while being still?
Meditation, of course.
If you listen to the Tapestry program (if you're not too crazy busy, they've got podcasts of past shows), you'll hear that it ends with a discussion on meditation. The man being interviewed suggests starting by repeating a mantra, word or phrase, preferably in a language not your own: he gave "maran atha" as an example, which is from the Aramaic, and means "Come, O Lord."
This morning, I tried meditating. I set a timer for twenty minutes. The dogs were very interested as I sat on the floor, knees crossed, eyes closed, within licking range (not helpful, dogs!). I thought the words maran atha over and over, and it kind of reminded me of "marathon," which seemed just about right on a number of levels. I ended up meditating for half an hour, and what worked best was to say the words in combination with this four-cornered breathing pattern I remembered learning in yoga a few years ago. It probably has a name.
Breathe in for a count of four. Hold for a count of four. Breathe out for a count of four. Hold for a count of four.
I found it easiest to breathe in, hardest to breathe out. I like metaphors, so I decided this means I'm in a place where I'm more prepared to take it all in, rather than pour it all out. It was really really really lovely and when I opened my eyes I felt like I'd been quiet for awhile and gone somewhere, quietly. I'm thinking of setting my alarm early so I can take time to start my day like this. Even if I'm not rising early to run -- to meditate in motion -- I can keep to a routine of rising early and entering the day with a practice.Labels: CBC, interviews, radio, running, spirit