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meditation - visualization
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May 22, 2009 - 4:31 pm
Although I do not believe in a divinity, during my 5 weeks of radiation, during treatments, I thought of Michelangelo's Creation of Adam and visualized God's finger zapping away my cancerous tumor. Recuperating from my surgery and struggling with a temporary colostomy bag, I was very depressed, had difficulty adjusting to the bag and had numerous accidents. My bedroom overlooks a small wood and in Jan. 2005 a very wet snow fell, clinging to the trees in the late afternoon. The snowflakes were large, wet and soggy. An ostomy nurse was visiting me and remarked how pretty and peaceful the scene was. I was lying in bed, and we both just stared out the window, watching the snow fall. It was peaceful, and my fears, unhappiness and depression started to melt away. She reminded me how lucky I was to have such a great view and suggested I think back on that moment and remember the peaceful scene and calmness of the moment. Every now and then, when needed, I close my eyes and think back to that afternoon and picture the snow falling and the pretty scene, and find I am able to relax, calm down and find a few moments of peace. |
Joined: Jul 2006
During and right after a snowfall, it is like another world. Everything is quieter and cleaner, more peaceful. It's amazing how it changes even places that aren't so pretty into lovely places. When we lived in the north I always took a picture of the first snow fall. I have one of the trees with their branches each one coated. It was lovely.
Joined: Oct 2007
I call those moments of true joy. Those moments of joy, strung together create the illusive one - happiness. Savor all of them, the large one like you describe and the small ones. It is amazing how beautiful the world is, even in canzerLand. Joy. Gratitude. Hope.
Kimby
Joined: May 2005
Nature surely can Nurture.
It can just create such a calming effect. I thought was great what your nurse said to you. I bet it helped numerous times.
This isn't snow but it was after an ice storm. I love how the icicles are bending from the wind and how they captured the sunrise'
This one captured some of the depth of the snow. I think we had well over a foot, maybe 18 inches or so.
Joined: Jul 2006
Beautiful sunrise! Isn't it odd being different when you think of the sky as always being blue? I painted a picture for my sister of her house and I made the sky orange for the sunset.
Joined: May 2005
But you are so right Marcia. You never see and orange sky during the day, which is probably a good thing. I love sunrise, sunset, sundogs, everything!
Here's a good sundog. Does anyone ever notice them?
Can you post a photo of your painting?
Joined: Jul 2006
I don't have a picture of the painting and my sister lives in another state. It's just a hobby anyway. But I do have a picture of a double rainbow. Is that what you mean by a sundog? Are sundogs rainbows?
Joined: May 2005
this explains it well. It has to do with ice crystals. You'd be surprised how many times they are there and unnoticed by many. I see them often (along with the pink elephants)
:-)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sun_dog
This site is even better, lots of photos. I've seen a few different things like arcs and iridescent clouds.
http://www.atoptics.co.uk/
Double rainbows are great too.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3147/3079660669_88ffb9e0f9
(add a dot jpg at the end of the link, CSN won't allow links to images anymore)
Joined: Feb 2004
Here is one of my favorites, it just has a calming effect on me. When we were there I sat for nearly an hour just listening to the waterfall, it was mesmerizing.
Joined: Mar 2009
on my windshield beside the oil change sticker i keep a small pic of a beach, a small row boat with some palm trees. many times while driving around the dallas fort worth area i look up and my eye catches it and it reminds me that there is a place of peace and serenity. at 75 mph rush hour traffic i can't day dream to long............ lol, but it helps me to relax, slow down and get in the slow lane. then i remember it's not about the money, the job or dead lines. someday i hope to live in a place like that pic. the best to ya'll. tony
Joined: Jun 2009
Just a photo to calm
Joined: Jul 2008
I guess that could be like a form of meditation. Focusing on serene and peaceful scenes can definitely be calming and lower blood pressure. Back when I was in junior high, I remember a wacky teacher I had (he was wacky, but he was a favorite of everyone's)- anyhow, he used to always have us take a "5 minute vacation", as he called it. Every now and then when the class was acting up, he'd call out "5 minute vacation!" I think he actually needed it more than the class, but he'd make us all get silent, close our eyes, and "journey" to the place in our minds that gives us the most peace and joy. We'd have to imagine ourselves there and think nothing except peaceful thoughts while visualizing this peaceful place for 5 minutes. Probably most kids didn't actually do it, but I did and still remember the experience.
Now, if I find I'm in need of a rest or want to destress- I'll go find a quiet place and take my five minute vacation. You should all try it!
Lisa
Joined: May 2005
That's funny Lisa, I bet he did that mainly for himself but also to try to get others to quiet down. Right after high school I practiced TM, Transcendental Meditation, it helped me be calmer and also made my mind more alert. I should get back into it (along with 50 other things I should get back too). Currently, my brother who got me into the TM has become a Zen Buddhist. He studied for years and converted a few months ago. It's not like he shaved his head or anything but he just embraced the whole meditation thing. He will go on week long trips to the monastery in NY state and they meditate for about 12 hours a day in 3 hour intervals. It requires a lot of discipline but I think it has helped him a lot.
Getting back to what your teacher did. I wonder if that would fly these days? People would complain that it's either prayer or not prayer so it