TO RELIEVE ANXIETY, LIFT A LOW MOOD AND RESTORE BALANCE & CONNECTION
“People from a planet without flowers would think we must be mad with joy the whole time to have such things about us.” Iris Murdoch
"If we could see the miracle of a single flower clearly our whole life would change" Buddhist quote
"The earth laughs in flowers"
Ralph Waldo Emerson
"Every flower blooms in its own time"
FLOWER GAZING RELAXATION
Flowers are symbols of life, openness, and beauty - usually present for life’s biggest moments- birthdays, weddings, funerals... Given their symbolic power, it’s not much of a surprise that these colourful plants have come to embody the spirit of life, which is why they are a focus of an ancient form of conscious relaxation known as “Flower Gazing”.
Flower gazing meditation is a method of grounding oneself in the present and connecting to essential life vitality and universal love.
Flowers are not just an object to focus on, but a living being whose unique energy can be deeply healing and can help us channel our celebration of life.
Examining a flower to see what it actually looks like, with all of its unique shapes and curves, textures, and colours is a simple and effective mindfulness practice and goes back to Taoist flower gazing meditation, a yogic gazing meditation known as trataka, and open-eyed Zen meditations.
A nice one to do with kids 😊
How To Practice Flower Gazing Meditation:
If you have a garden, or a flower box, or flowers in your house, allow your gaze to fall on one. It’s good to focus on one single flower instead of a bunch. If you don’t have any flowers nearby, a picture is fine.
Place yourself about a foot away, and feel conscious of your body’s contact with the ground. Connect with the earth and the sunshine that grew the flower sitting before you.
Gaze at it with soft, relaxed eyes. Blink normally, smile softly and relax your facial muscles. You can meditate for as long as you like, a couple of minutes or as long as you like.
Look at it as if it’s the first time you’ve ever seen a flower. Discover what it reeeeeally looks like. Avoid labelling what you’re looking at; instead of focusing on “petals” or “pollen”, see the unique shapes, colours, textures, and notice any scents in front of you. Feel its vibrant life energy. When thoughts come up, notice them, and gently redirect your attention to the flower in front of you, neither pushing them away nor indulging them.
After however many minutes you like have passed, thank the flower and offer it gratitude for its gifts. Close your eyes for a minute or so. See if you can still see its image in your mind, or feel its presence in front of you.
Continue with the rest of your day and see if you feel calmer, more relaxed, and your attention is clearer. If you start practicing this regularly, you just might start noticing the specific details and beauty not just in flowers, but in every common object you come across.
"Those who engage with nature are more likely to take an active role in helping protect it."
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