Exploring Meditation in Movement

I first knowingly explored active meditation in the late 1990's with Tai Chi. At the time, I found the movements too slow and my companions and I were too immature for this ancient art.

The next time I flirted with mediation in movement was when my coworkers and I signed up for a pottery class around Y2K. I loved being able to focus on only one thing: the clay that I was shaping. My senses seemed augmented as I felt the clay on the wheel, listened to the hum of the wheel, watched and breathed in the art of making. I wasn't particularly skilled at it, unless you count being skilled at wrecking my fingernails. At least I was able to create some serviceable pen cups.

What is Active Meditation?

In Active Mediation: A technique of the future, Eliza Mala Dalian describes it as "an evolutionary process of releasing our stress and pent up emotions from the body while simultaneously being engaged in witnessing and dis-identifying from our thoughts and emotions." Unlike passive meditation, you are actually doing something.

Ms Dalian describes Osho meditations, which has been practice throughout the the world since the 1970's. However, based upon her definition, I recognize meditation in movement in various activities that either my family, friends or I do, such as: nature or landscape photography, painting, drawing, knitting, origami and flower arranging. The way I see it, so long as it is an activity that requires you to move around, allows you to lose yourself into it and ground you in the process, it qualifies as active meditation.

Martial Arts and Active Meditation

I did wind up revisiting Tai Chi last year, taking classes from Jane Sponair. Having a much smaller class and different companions made my Tai Chi practice more successful. I was able to love myself into the movements.

However, at the end of the second course, I was yearning for something more. That something more "stares" at me in my office: my iaito.

After Christmas, I'll be resuming my Iaido studies. I know that it will be bumpy in the beginning (five years is a long time for your skills to dull).

However, I know that some of it will come rushing back to me. For instance, I still practice my sword cuts occasionally as doing so releases some of the tension in my shoulders. In Mushin: The State of Mind, Chris Caile defines it as follows: "The Japanese term Mushin is a shortened version of the Zen expression "mushin no shin" which translates as "the mind without mind" or "no-mindness." It is a nice way to describe active mediation.

These are just a few ways that one can practice active meditation. Are there any activities that you engage in that qualify as meditation in movement? Please share.

Exploring Stillness Through Photography

Last week, I went to Halifax for a music teachers' convention. I hadn't been to Nova Scotia since I was in elementary school, so I was looking forward to the opportunity to simply explore. Stillness can be attained in many ways, I find. Sometimes, traditional meditation just doesn't work. Active meditation, such as martial arts, crafts or in this case - photography - works. At least, for my family, it does. We have several talented amateur and pro shutterbugs in our family.

Some of these photos were from my solo jaunts through this very hilly city. While others are from a boat tour and walk I took with a friend/colleague:

The Importance of Artist Dates

I first read Julia Cameron's The Artist's Way over ten years ago. In a nutshell, it's a 12-week self-directed course to help you unleash your creativity through deepening your spirituality.

Since then, I've gone through the book approximately three times. There were quite a few exercises that I have never managed to do all of them.

I wasn't too keen on the "Morning Papers" exercise. However, one thing that I have tried to maintain between "run-throughs" is the Artist Date.

What is the Artist Date, you ask? You take your inner child - the budding artist within - on a date. It can be a home activity, such as building a fort out of pillows, sipping hot chocolate and doodling. Or it can be something more elaborate, like a weekend trip somewhere.

It my favourite activity from the book, hands-down. I enjoy the freedom and peace from getting away from reality, even it it's just for a few hours.

With each successive Artist Date come a giddiness from doing something without a care for what the world would think. It is a feeling that stays with you for longer periods of time.

These are some of the Artist Dates that I've enjoyed:

• visit the Calgary Zoo

• have a Pajama Day

• doodle with my Crayola markers

• make photo cards

• hang out in a library or bookstore and simply wander

• window shop in a funky part of town, such as Kensington, Marda Loop or Inglewood

• visit the Calgary Bird Sanctuary

• drive out of town, with no set itinerary

Here are some Artist Date ideas from other creatives from The Artist's Way Blog. For more information about the author of The Artist's Way, visit Julia Cameron's website.

What I've found is that these are great activities to break up the routine of ordinary life. They are opportunities to become grounded in a constantly shifting world. Finally, they provide a much needed energy boost during hectic times.

After a retreat at the FCJ Centre (2010). Photo by R-M Arca.