7. Contemplative Practice
May 2, 2025
In my essay last week, I mentioned how, as I was seeking to connect with my creative self, my inner self, I realized how important quiet time is. Over the years of my adult life, when I had some time alone, I might take a little time to read over my past journals, write, walk alone with an observant eye, or sit and watch the pond in our backyard with my feet on the ground. I called this my “musing” time, and it helped me feel more connected to the person I wanted to become, even in the busy-ness of full-time work, a young family, and a growing caregiving role for my parents. Now I recognize “musing time” as a contemplative practice that I created to meet an inner need. Since then, I have read a lot about contemplative practices; in fact, when going through my mother’s books and journals after she died, I found many on contemplative prayer, so apparently this is an inherited interest. I loved finding that connection with my mom.
I found this tree of contemplative practices referenced in the “On Being” podcast with Krista Tippet https://maiaduerr.com/tree-of-contemplative-practices/ It’s from the Center for Contemplative Mind in Society. I love that, first of all, it’s a tree. I also love that there are so many options to choose from in terms of contemplative practices – some things that I would not have thought of as part of this category. And finally, I love that it is rooted in communion, connection and awareness. All of these things resonate with me, and I hope that you also find this resource helpful.
I mentioned in an earlier essay that I meditate daily. I know that mediation is a new focus for many, and that some have tried it (and some have not). Yoga studios commonly offer meditation, and there are free guided meditations on YouTube. In my initial post about this journey in 2023, I shared the “Waking up” app, which I often use for daily meditation. There are many options. I have heard many people say it’s not for them, and I understand that it’s quite different from most other experiences in our culture. But it has been transformational for me, so I want to share one mediation method that I have started using, in case it may be helpful to you.
I set my timer for 15 minutes and sit comfortably. The posture does not matter, in my experience, except that if you are not comfortable, it is hard to let yourself relax. Once I am settled, I imagine that I am in a relatively small room with no furniture and nothing on the walls. I look up and the entire ceiling is filled with helium balloons of various colors. I gaze up at the balloons. Then, a thought pops into my head. For example, “I have to remember to tell John that I paid the gas bill,” or “I wonder if my neighbor ever found that package that they said was delivered to the wrong address.” Thoughts about things I need to take care of almost always arise. Once I recognize a thought has distracted me, then, I consider that thought to be one of these balloons. I had grabbed onto the string and pulled it down next to me. But now that I realize that I can also let it go. I let it go, and it floats back up to the ceiling. And I spend some time gazing at the empty space in the room between me and the balloons. Then, another thought pops into my head, and I repeat the process – another thought, another realization, another letting go, and another holding the space.
Meditation is like that for me – a continuous back and forth, realizing your thoughts are something separate from you that you can choose to hold onto or to let go of. The space in my brain that is made by recognizing that I can let go of thoughts is a key benefit of meditation for me.
I hope you can try out different contemplative practices and find the one that feels right for you.
