WHAT'S THE POINT OF MEDITATION?

Meditation is a radical, liberatory practice. We know this for a fact. It’s been corroborated over thousands of years, by countless traditions; Hinduism, Buddhism, Tantra, those across East and West Asia, and around the world. In the West today though, the trend is to discuss the benefits of a regular meditation practice in a way that leans more towards mollification and assuaging stress.

For obvious reasons, corporate culture loves mindfulness. And cynically, some of the people selling it promise certain industrialist-friendly or ego-based benefits accordingly: sleep better, work smarter, succeed harder, focus longer, stay calmer.

Meditation and mindfulness is not a self-optimisation or productivity tool. It’s a simple yet profound path to learning how to see and be with reality, as it is. Rather than running from it. And sure, it will may. result in the better management of stress, but better yet, it will allow you to disengage with its sources—internal and external.

These practices are also often packaged in a one-size-fits-all way that doesn’t accommodate difference, or even admit to struggle. This is why some people think they can’t meditate. Because someone or something made them feel that way. The truth is, everyone can meditate. It’s just that some expect it to look or feel a certain way. When expectations are intensely high and rigid, you might as well be spruiking anti-aging skincare.

If you’ve ever tried to meditate and beat yourself up for having so many thoughts and being constantly distracted, please know: that’s all meditation is. It’s witnessing how noisy and annoying your own brain is and then gently, happily reeling it in over and over. Do people who fish hate themselves every time they reel the line in, and then have to throw it out again? Of course not. They’re content with the repetition. They know that’s the whole point. When they get frustrated or disappointed, that’s just a part of fishing.

The point of meditation is just to observe thoughts without reacting, so we can avoid getting wrapped up in them and instead cultivate the skill of presence, aka bringing awareness to the reality of the current moment as it is. That’s it.

And in this world, at this time. That is radical….

This is a short excerpt from the latest edition of ☆THE DREAMER☆, my free newsletter and online space dedicated to exploring creativity, magic, the occult, neurodiversity, and mental health. Read more from this article at the link below!

BREAKING NEWS*:･ﾟ✧

I have a six-week course called Write About Now, created in the wake of the pandemic and only ever taught live before. Soon, I’m going to release it as a self-paced online program. <3

It’s called Write About Now because it’s designed to introduce students to meditation via mindful writing—a practice that has shaped my life. Every week for six weeks, participants will be guided through a specific type of practice (I’m presenting a smorgasbord, so you can find one that suits you best), an associated mindful journaling practice, and a consistent meditation practice where each week builds on the last, supporting you as your confidence grows.

More soon, but if you have any questions about the course, email me any questions! <3

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