The Westmont Garden Meditation Project
Framework of Project
I meditate a lot on my own time in my room, and typically there are no distractions other than my roommate, and I am most definitely not wearing a mask. Initially thinking about this idea, I thought it would be interesting to do meditation in a public space, but I could not make myself go through with that plan for my mental health. Out of compromise, I thought about my favorite place on campus: the garden, and there is not much foot traffic. Each day I would trudge down from the GLC listening to yoga music, which got me into a meditative state. When I reached the garden, I would do a walkthrough, and whichever spot was calling me, I would plop down and set up my mat. I noticed my meditation shift from silence and closed eyes to seeing and observing the world around me. This experience was an excellent way to manage stress and taught me to ritualistically rely on God throughout my day.
Day 1: Citrus trees
Isaac came down with me today, and we took a walk to see where the best place would be to begin my meditation process. We were intrigued by the citrus tree, and started quizzing ourselves on which tree is which. Perfect, I have found my stop. Sitting down, I instantly noticed the cool, cloudy breeze; luckily, I had a jacket on. Beginning my meditation, I started my 20 minute timer and chose a random book of the Bible. As the Bible app rang in my ear, I observed many things: a crow feather lying on the ground, rotting citrus fruit, rejected oak leaves crunching after my every move, birds singing and squawking, gardeners working, and machines in the distance humming. The study that was randomly selected today was John 16. I jotted down notes on this chapter, and I noticed the overwhelming grasp God has on the world and how we neglect to take time out of our day to observe that creation He has provided for humanity. I also felt a deep meditative connection to my surroundings because the day to day sounds I had not focused on became so apart: the breeze hitting the branches, birds, etc. As time went on, I noticed my body reacting to my stagnant motion, and I began to feel numbness in my leg. The numbness harkens back to our task as humanity: constant movement and work. My meditation closed to the sound of a helicopter soaring by. Today’s experience was such a great way to pause and realize my surroundings.
Day 2: Big Oak Tree by the Citrus Trees
Today, I walked through the garden, and it was a little chilly, so I wanted to find a half shade situation, so I placed myself below a strong, prominent oak tree. Sitting down, I felt the uneven ground below me, I began to scan my surroundings, and I noticed some beautiful houses around me. One house, in particular, stood out to me because of the big windows which brought in beautiful lighting. Today's study was on 1 Peter, and I noticed many aspects of this book relating to humanity and nature. While listening to 1 Peter, I heard more power tools in the background and others maintaining the garden. I felt uneasy because I was used to a meditation space being exclusive to certain sounds, but I let it go and welcomed in new sounds. Love stood out to me in this message as well: “Since you have purified your souls by obedience to the truth so that you have a genuine love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from a pure heart” (1 Peter 1:22). We need a little love in today's world, and it is a great reminder that regardless of our viewpoint, we are still children of God, and should treat each with love and compassion.
Day 3: Oak tree by the Benches
Today I went down by myself, took another walk through the garden, and landed in the shade near the benches. Here I began noticing verses about love again, from my random selection of John. As the crows spookily squawk, I felt the warm October breeze pick up. Planes were audible overhead, and leaves dwindled to the ground. These moments allowed me to stop and think about God's gifts and how it is vital for humans to take a minute and observe these gifts. The book of John was a perfect chapter to listen to because it allowed me to enter a state of peace and remembrance of the natural environment surrounding me. We are so lucky to be in such a beautiful place.
Day 4: Another Oak Tree
Today I perched under the shade of a large oak tree adjacent to the tree I sat under on day 3. Each day increasingly gets hotter, so I was so thankful for the shade. When sitting in the same spot, I noticed recurring sounds from previous days: birds, tools, crunching leaves, dropping branches and leaves, etc. In the beginning, I was overwhelmed by the intruding sounds during my meditation, but finally, I felt the peace of consistency. However, out of the corner of my eye, I could see an animal which I thought to be something of a coyote, but with closer examination, I saw a cat. For the random selection today, I chose Philippians. A verse that stood out to me was, “rejoice in the Lord always” (Philippians 4:4-8). It continues this idea of praising the Lord and giving this world a moment of my time to appreciate God’s creation.
Day 5: Beginning of the Garden Beside the Trellis
It was incredibly hot today, and I am not a hot weather girl, so I laid down under the shadiest, convenient tree I could find. Sitting here, I started observing a trail that I had never seen before leading up to a shed. Anchored by olive trees, the trail framed the arches on the distant mountain. Listening to Psalms, I sat in awe of the realization that I had discovered something new even though I had been walking past this trail each day. Then a verse popped up in my head, “trust in the name of the Lord” (Psalms 20:7) and “the Lord is my rock...my fortress...whom I take refuge...I call to the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and I am saved from my enemies” (Psalms 18:3-4). These verses sat in my head for a long time because they are so accurate, I do not need to worry about the struggles of my day to day life, and when I am feeling that anxiety, I should immediately take it to God.
Takeaways
I was delighted with this project's outcome as it was a shake in my normal meditation process. I found a safe place to notice new ways in which the world continues while I sit still. Wearing a mask made the experience different as it was a little distracting when going through deep breathing exercises, but it wasn't terrible. Another observation from the outcome of my experience is that I have started getting in the habit of intentionally looking at the life around me. The actions of observation have helped me to see that I am not the only living being on this earth and my problems aren't so big when I rely on God. Love, Rejoice, and Rely in the Lord!
Comentarios