Unit 5 and Unit 6 seperately together

Unit 5 and Unit 6 seperately together...

In Unit 5 we were asked to compare our experience with practicing the Loving-Kindness exercise and the Subtle-Mind Exercise. After completing each practice session we were asked to report on our overall experience and what benefits or frustrations we encountered.

I meditate almost every day, and often more than once.  I have a room in our house that is just mine and it is filled with the scents, colors and decorations that are unique to me.  No matter what kind of chaos seems to happening in my life I can always go to my room and find peace.  My moments of meditation usually encompass my focus on my breathing and slowly separating myself from all that is going on around me and even letting the emotions of stress, frustration, confusion slowly exit my consciousness.  I sometimes listen to music or sounds that help put my mind at ease and bring about a state of peace.  I have been excited to practice other types of meditation and mental exercise in hopes to reaquaint myself with my psychic abilities and further my personal state of being. 

First I did the Loving-Kindness exercise.  I settled into my room away from outside distractions with the intent of only practicing for 10 to 15 minutes. In a comfortable sitting position on the floor I focused my concentration and energies on embracing and acknowledging all the familiar and unfamiliar emotions that were present in my mind.  Once I aknowledged their presence they seemed to slowly fall away from my consciousness.  I was then able to shift my attention and energy away from my outer self and even away from my present awareness and dive deep down into my inner being and visit for awile.  I will admit that even though I meditate I don't often spend quality time with my inner self like I should.  The ability to transcend into my inner self was almost effortless through the Loving-Kindness exercise.  My inner goddess was very happy to have the visit, so I decided that I would spend some quality time embracing my mind, my heart, my being, my spirit and the world.  I found a familiar peace and wholeness that comes with the ability to connect with your inner self as well as the clarity and wholeness that becomes present in my consciousness. I made sure to give myself love and gentle kindness and permission to be happy in all aspects of my life.  The overwhelming feeling of such genuine, compassionate and accepting love washed over me.  As I slowly came back to my present state of being, I was pleasently surprised to still feel like I was bursting at the seams with love.  I felt like I had opened up myself more than I think I have ever been able to do.  I really like this exercise.  I have practiced it about four more times since the first session and each time I just come away with this overwhelming feeling of love for life, for myself, for my husband and just so much love to give. 

I waited a day before I tried the Subtle Mind Exercise because I didn't want one exercise to take away from the possibilites of the other exercise.  Once again I went to my room, got comfortable and let the outside world fade away.  This exercise focuses on every aspect of your breathing.  I have often used deep breathing exercises as a way to transfer energy, anger and frustration, but I have not used deep breathing as vehicle for transending to my inner self.  It was hard for me to only concentrate on my breathing and not acknowledge and explore all the other emotions that I started feeling.  I often caught myself drifting away from my focal point and I would have to almost force myself to concentrate only on my breathing.  I believe that I did get to a mental state of inner consciousness but it wasn't nearly the experience that I had with the Loving-Kindness exercise.