Meditation can be transformative, and even life changing, when you find the method that works for you. Between juggling responsibilities and what feels like countless events happening at once, it’s more important than ever that we take time for self care every day. Even ten minutes of mindful meditation a day is proven to promote a clear mind, and improve concentration and memory. It’s a matter of starting where you’re at; consistency is much more important than duration.
When you think of meditation, what do you envision? You may imagine a calm figure with their hands in their lap, eyes closed, in a complete state of zen. Perhaps this is why so many find meditation difficult, or are intimidated by starting a meditation practice in the first place.
There are infinite modalities and benefits of mindful meditation, all of which can be elevated with various uses of full spectrum CBD. we’ll explore a few modalities, and how your experience can be elevated with different elements of CBD, cannabis essential oil and other ritual tools.
It’s a matter of starting where you’re at; consistency is much more important than duration.
Box Breathing
Box breathing is a simple yet brilliant technique for calming nerves and anxiety. There are four easy steps: inhale for four seconds, hold for four seconds, exhale for four seconds, hold for four seconds, and repeat. Once you’re comfortable with four seconds, experiment with creating a larger “box” with longer breaths. This can be done sitting upright, laying down, or combined with movement. Add our Calm Cannabis Essential Oil CBD inhaler for deeper relaxation and grounding. Our formula uses organic essential oils and the powerful benefits of terpenes from cedarwood, frankincense, lavender, and citrus. Plant terpenes help reduce tension and promote a calmer you.
Body Scan
This is a great tool for your mindfulness “toolkit,” especially when you’re short on time or need a quick grounding reset. Take a deep, slow inhale, and as you do, perform a mental scan from the tips of your toes to the top of your crown. Then, as you exhale, perform the scan slowly from the top down. As you work your way up or down, feel each part of your body you scan relax, and release any tension. Take your time, and feel your body sinking down towards the earth. Try this with our Clarity Cannabis Essential Oil CBD Inhaler, created with essential oils to soothe the sinuses and terpenes to relax your state of mind.
Candle Gazing Meditation
Candle gazing, or trataka, is exactly like it sounds, but the benefits are profound. This practice brings energy to the third eye, improves memory, and increases concentration.
To get started, create a comfortable seat on the floor, on a cushion, or in a chair. Place a candle in front of you about two feet away at eye level or close to it to prevent strain in the neck. Turn off or lower your lighting, light the candle, and allow yourself to focus on only it. We think you’ll love our Let Your Soul Shine Cannabis Candle for this meditation. Each essential oil in the formulation was chosen for its healing properties including stress relief, comfort to the body, and even aphrodisiacs. Maintain your sight on the flame, even if you begin to feel distracted or bored. As time passes, your peripheral vision will blur and your awareness will be only of the flame. Bring your mind to a place of stillness. This practice can hone and develop your concentration and memory, and welcome awareness.
This practice brings energy to the third eye, improves memory, and increases concentration.
Mantra Meditation
The power of positive affirmations are vast. Through mantra meditation, we quiet fear-induced mind chatter, move energy throughout our bodies, and reprogram our subconscious mind. Light your candle to create your sacred space, close your eyes, and repeat your chosen mantra. They can be chanted, written down, or sung – the important thing is the consistent repetition that brings this positive energy to the physical plane. Similar to a visualization meditation, the benefits here are that our thoughts truly create our reality, and amplify the quality of our lives. Your mantra can be anything from “I am exactly where I am supposed to be” to a sanskrit mantra like “so hum,” meaning “I am. You will quite literally embody the namesake of our candle and what it was created for: Let Your Soul Shine.
Visualization
Visualization meditation invites you to envision something or someone in your mind. Perhaps there is something you desire, or a goal you want to achieve. Ask yourself what you desire; be honest and specific. Then cleanse out your space by burning your Palo Santo with this intention in mind. As you wave it in a circle around you, imagine that you are surrounded by a bright, golden light orb of pure loving energy that cannot be penetrated (this is a great one to keep in your “toolbox” for boundary protection at any time).
Set it down in a safe place like our Palo Santo Holder, close your eyes, and as you breathe, envision yourself doing that thing, receiving that message, creating that piece of art. What does this scene look, smell, feel, touch, or taste like? Envision the specifics. We have the opportunity here to observe our minds, notice physical sensations, and signal to our brains that we’ve already “done” this thing, which can help with overcoming our self-imposed limitations. We’re also raising our vibration to be an energetic match for what we desire, so we are ready. Rest assured when incorporating our Palo Santo and Palo Santo Burner, they are ethically sourced from Ecuador & Peru. Use these tools to enhance any ritual or daily practice.
Dance Meditation
If you sit at a desk for work during the day, you might enjoy finding meditation through movement. For some, this may look like the repetitive motions of activities like cooking, yoga, surfing, or pottery, and for many of us, it’s dancing too. The practice of embodied movement can connect our often disconnected minds with our bodies, allowing us to more fully process or express what we’re experiencing in that moment.
The sacred plant medicine of burning Palo Santo is a beautiful way to find grounding, clear out any negative energy in your space, and access creative energy.
Clear your space by lighting the Palo Santo and guiding the smoke in a clockwise direction in your space. Place your Palo Santo stick into its holder. Watch the smoke, turn on some music, and let yourself be inspired by the dancing movement of the smoke itself. Listen to your body and begin moving intuitively. There is no right or wrong way, just let it flow. You’re moving through more energy than you know.