The Art Of Slowing Down

We are going to start our journey on the art of slowing down by getting out of our heads and into our bodies. We will do this with a body-based meditation called a body scan. The body scan is a form of mindfulness meditation that involves bringing awareness to the physical sensations in your body. It is a great way to relax and reduce stress, and it can also help you to become more aware of your body and how it is feeling.

A listening meditation is a type of meditation that focuses on the sense of hearing. It is a way to train your attention and awareness to the sounds around you, without judgment or analysis. This can help you to become more present in the moment and to appreciate the beauty of sound.

Walking meditation is a type of mindfulness meditation that involves bringing awareness to the physical sensations of walking. It is a great way to relax and reduce stress, and it can also help you to become more aware of your body and how it is feeling. This session has no music so you can pay attention to your surroundings.

By its very nature, poetry invites us to slow down and pay attention. When we approach a poem the purposeful choice of words, the shape and language of a poem invites us to read with curiosity, and openness. It can’t be rushed.

Everyday tasks are the fabric of our lives. When we slow down apply our attention, and engage our senses these habitual activities can be rich with pleasure. When we bring a slow attentive gaze to our everyday activities there is much richness to be found.

There is a Buddhist saying: busyness is laziness. What does this mean? It means we engage in busy distracted activities in order to avoid being still and really noticing. It depletes our spiritual life when we fill up our minds and our days in this way.