The Goods: Meditation + Dharma Talk Edition
“The Goods” is a monthly edition intended to share the love and spread the word about people, products and services I authentically support. It’s my hope that by sharing with you some of the things that are inspiring and supporting me, you’ll give them a try in your own life and experience some of the same benefits I’m receiving.
It’s that time, friend!
Another round of The Goods is ready for you. This edition is all about the quality of air, the tarot suit of the swords, or in plain english, your MIND.
In this edition of The Goods, I want to highlight the importance of taking care of your mental body. While there are many ways to do this, I'm going to focus specifically on some of my very favorite meditations, mindfulness methods, and mental clearing techniques.
Let's head into summer with clarity, focus, and peace of mind, shall we???
Meditation App Recommendations
There are 2 meditation apps I've used a lot over the years. They're both great, for different reasons. There are links to specific meditations included below. If you want to up your game with meditation, I recommend one of these.
Waking Up - my current choice. I love the simplicity of always having ONE meditation that is your central practice each day. from there, if you want to go deeper, there is a ton of excellent content to use for meditation, dharma teachings, sleep support, psychology and mental expansion, and on and on! Try it free for 30 days with this link.
Insight Timer- my old faithful. Lots of diverse instructors from different traditions, plus mini courses and live workshops. I even have a few meditations of my own offered on Insight Timer, which you can listen to here.
A Peaceful Life is Priceless - Meditation with Mooji
(Guided meditation: 22 min 43 sec)
Listen here.
Mooji is one of my favorite dharma teachers. His style of meditation is simple yet profound. I often use this recording to help me wind down my mind at night before bed. If you havEn't listened or experienced Mooji yet, you're in for a treat, beloved.
How to Keep Your Heart Open when You're In Hell- Dharma talk by Ram Dass
(Video: 13 min 44 sec)
Watch here.
Sound advice to keep you grounded in the knowing that all is well, even amidst the reality that there is unbelievable suffering, violence and oppression happening all around us on this planet. As I often say, keeping our heart open is the greatest work of our lives. Ram Dass, show us the way
Start Close In - Poetry reading by David Whyte
(Audio: 9 min 42 sec)
Listen here.
David Whyte is one of my go-to teachers. I'm absolutely in love with his series of work on the Waking Up App, where he reads his own poems and excerpts from his booked called 'Consolations.' His writing is accessible and yet stirs the soul in an unforgettable way. This piece is one of my absolute all time favorites, reminding me to slow down and start with the very first step. Helpful, if you're a visionary and you get overwhelmed by thinking about the long journey ahead of you!
Slow Walking - Guided meditation by Sam Harris
(Guided meditation: 12 min 38 sec)
Listen here.
Each time I have gifted myself the experience of this mediation, I am struck by the transcendent experience of simply walking mindfully! You don't need a lot of space. You can literally stay in a single room. Put on your headphones and give yourself the exquisite gift of this practice. Then watch how the rest of your day unfolds from there.
Fresh Air... go outside!
Last but certainly not least, our brain requires fresh OXYGEN to function well. If you're feeling sluggish, depressed, lethargic, foggy or simply unclear, head outside and take 5-10 deep clearing breaths, in and out through the nose— there's lots of research showing us how nostril breathing is so much more beneficial for our bodies and brains than mouth breathing.
It's no coincidence that in the Tarot tradition, the suit of swords represents the element of air, and speaks to the state of our Mind and mental well being.
AIR and MIND are intricately connected in this mystical tradition, and in the most basic sense of physiology. Give your brain some fresh, clean air, move your body, and you give yourself a higher chance of shifting your perspective, mood and state of mind.
Alright beloved. I hope that this infusion of mental mastery helps you move through your day with wisdom and grace.
In love + liberation,
