Earth Mind Meditation

This meditation explores two domains of experience: the flow of Mind and the solidity of Earth. Moving back and forth between them, we feel how they interweave with each other and with the body that supports both. It's a great way to stabilize the mind and reclaim the authority of Earth and Life.

Transcript

In this meditation,

We will explore two domains of experience,

The experience of mind and the experience of earth.

Both are embodied experiences,

And we will gradually weave them together into a single,

Whole body.

Let's begin.

Settle into a comfortable meditation posture.

Allow the body to relax and also maintain a measure of alertness,

Relaxed and alert.

Direct your attention to all the points of contact that let you know your body is supported from below by the earth.

You might feel an area of gentle pressure on the feet or the backs of the thighs or the sitting bones and buttocks,

The lower or mid-back.

Anywhere that your body is supported from below is an area where you will feel some gentle pressure as the earth holds up this dear living body,

Feeling that area of support,

That area of holding,

That contact with the earth.

Gently feeling the earth holding this dear body.

If your surface had been covered with fresh paint before you took this meditation posture,

There would be an imprint now on the surface that upholds you.

See if your mind's eye can imagine the shape of that imprint,

Where it's broadest,

Where it's faint.

As imagination begins to work on this question,

You can allow your attention to move up into the space of mind.

Sometimes that will feel like a vague area above and behind the eyes,

Or it could be around the forehead or the ears or the whole head.

Sometimes the area of mind even extends down into the shoulders and neck and jaw,

Noticing where your region of mind is most noticeable,

Most palpable right now.

Noticing what thoughts move through this space of mind.

What images,

What memories and plans.

The space of mind is its own landscape,

Three-dimensional,

Vague in outline,

But very familiar,

Inviting mind to reveal itself as an object in awareness,

As a living process,

Dynamic,

Vibrant,

Creative.

After exploring the dynamic creativity of mind,

Allow your attention to settle back down toward the earth,

Feeling into those areas where the earth is supporting this body.

It might be supporting the feet,

The legs,

The bottom,

The back,

Perhaps even the head and neck,

Depending on your posture in this moment.

Noticing the points and areas of support,

Feeling the stability of the earth.

The area of contact with the earth is its own domain of experience.

The body feels the contact and is reassured by the solidity and stability of the planet from which this body grew.

The earth is not only below and upholding this dear living body,

It also wraps around the body as a layer of air we call the atmosphere.

Adding to the awareness of contact with the earth below,

Awareness of the earth around us in the form of atmosphere.

Feeling the earth below and around,

Supportive and stable,

Solid,

Reliable,

And then inviting attention to rise up the body toward the area around the eyes,

The forehead,

The ears,

The whole space of mind.

It's likely that there are thoughts and images that pass by.

There may even be opinions,

Judgments,

Concerns,

Or delights.

Mind can contain so many things.

Now is a time to simply notice how it lives and changes.

What is the mind creating in awareness right now?

What is the texture?

What is the content right now?

And allowing attention to move down again toward the earth,

Toward the pressure points,

Going down into the earth,

Letting attention be like water that flows to its lowest,

Most stable position quite effortlessly,

Letting the attention settle down into the points of contact between the body and the earth.

Attention might even flow deeper into the earth herself,

Feeling where the body contacts the earth and feeling deeper,

Just an inch or two or three deeper into the earth,

Allowing the body to really stabilize,

Not just upon the earth,

But within it,

Feeling the body's awareness penetrating into the earth,

Just a little,

Just for now,

And feeling awareness penetrating into the space around the body,

The part of the earth we call the atmosphere.

At all times,

There is the firmness of the earth below and the softness of the earth around,

Both ever-present,

Stable,

Reliable,

Supportive,

And inviting attention now to rise through the body to the space of mind,

Wherever it's residing right now,

Feeling into that space of mind as if it's an actual volume.

How far up and down does that volume go?

How far side to side?

How far front to back?

Feeling the texture and space of mind and noticing the life forms that move through it,

Those forms we call thoughts,

Memories,

Images,

And plans.

Noticing the whole space of mind and noticing what swims by within it.

Now begin to allow attention to settle in a special way,

So keep some awareness of the space of mind,

But allow it to expand and settle down so it becomes larger,

Fills in more of your body,

And starts to connect with the earth.

So there's the space of earth below and around,

And the space of mind around and above.

One space,

One body,

One earth.

Don't worry if they don't weave together right away.

Just notice that there is space below and around that we think of as earth and atmosphere,

And space around and above that feels like mind.

Noticing how it might be hard to find any dividing line or boundary between them.

Where does mind end and earth begin?

Where does body begin and end,

Or does it?

Now allow attention to go as it will.

It's a living process that changes and flows.

Where does it seem to want to flow right now?

Does it gravitate toward the earth or spiral toward the mind?

Just noticing.

If it spirals toward mind,

What does it find there?

What life forms are present in the space of mind right now?

What thoughts?

What ideas?

What images?

And if it gravitates toward earth,

What does it find below and around the body?

What does earth actually feel like when felt like this,

Right now,

From within?

Awareness.

Perhaps attention will flow like tides flow.

Rising into the space of mind and settling into the support of earth.

Or rising into the head and the thinking and settling into the pressure points and the ground,

Rising,

Settling,

Rising,

Settling.

And perhaps attention will tend to spread over time,

Soft and broad,

Holding everything,

Earth,

Body,

Mind,

A whole universe of experience.

Right here,

Creating itself right now,

Allowing the space of earth and mind and the body that connects them to be one space,

One intelligence,

One mystery.

There's room here for doubt,

Objections.

There's room here for hopes and pleasures.

There's room here for you,

For your whole self,

Every part of your mind,

Your body,

Your history,

Your gifts,

Your struggles and your wounds,

Your love,

Your loneliness,

Your light and your shadow.

All of it is here in this one space of mind and earth and life.

You don't need to do anything.

Just be.

Just be you.

All this space below and around,

All this life,

The little thoughts,

The little memories and plans,

The body,

So substantial in one way and so light and spacious in another.

And the whole earth,

In some ways heavy,

Substantial,

And in others mysterious and expanded in awareness,

In life.

And as you begin to bring this meditation to a close,

You might want to wiggle your fingers and toes.

Take two rather quick breaths.

Begin to open your eyes and reorient to your surroundings and your life.