Youth

Chaos is inevitable in our ever so growing world. The question is, how do we prevent chaos from disturbing our inner peace? When our world has been tipped upside down and shaken like a snow globe, how do we make time for ourselves? When was the last time your world fell silent? A time where you stepped outside this chaotic realm and truly, focused on yourself. When it seems like the world is screaming at you, take the time to heal and rejuvenate.

I’m going to begin by guiding you through a state of mind and body relaxation. If this strikes your interest, sit back and relax and let my words guide you. This is a spiritual journey from me to you.

Let’s start by taking a deep breath in. Through the nose and exhaling out the mouth. Repeat these steps two more times. On the third breath, hold it for 5 seconds. Now slowly exhale out the mouth. A quick tip: when you inhale, make sure to inhale as much air as you can. When you exhale, exhale all the air from your body. Feel your stomach go flat. When you inhale, I’d like you to really focus on your intentions for this meditation. What is it are you searching for? It might be happiness, love, wealth, abundance. Or to simply relax for the time being.

Relax your muscles starting with the shoulders. Moving down towards your arms and fingers. Your limbs go floppy. Moving onto your hips, your thighs, feet and toes. Feel your body sink into the earth. Or perhaps you’re sitting in a comfy chair or lying on your bed. When you do this, remember to relax every muscle in your body. Do your best to shift your responsibilities to the side for the moment. If there are worries or concerns that you cannot shake, write them down. Once this is done, return to your comfortable position. You may listen to music. preferably when I'm meditating, instrumental music works best for mediation. You may choose nature sounds, shamanic healing or even binaural beats.

Your thoughts may flicker back and forth but don't think too much of it. This is normal. In time, those flickering thoughts will be no more than shifting clouds. After this is done, concentrate on how your body feels at this moment. If you feel uncomfortable, gently reposition yourself. If you are happy, content and secure, indulge in this moment. Let it soak in. Once your body is relaxed and your mind is at ease, allow me to share a story. What I’m about to share with you is a very memorable piece of my childhood.

When I was a little girl, I use to visit my great grandmother and grandfather frequently. I didn’t know it at the time, but being much older, those are the times that I miss the most. I remember the long drive on the straight dirt road. I would often do puzzles and wordsearches to keep myself occupied. My grandmother would lean over from her seat to tell me “You know great nan has a surprise for you.” This always kept my ears perked and sustained my excitement. Whenever I completed a puzzle, I was always eager to share my progress. “Look nan I did another puzzle.” With excitement I would reach over and hand the puzzle book over to her in which her response was “very good. You keep getting better and better.” Once I finished a few pages of my puzzle book, I’d stare out the window. I always knew when we were getting close. A country like scene painted the landscape. Bundles of hay were scattered across the slick grass. There were barns and tractors. Wildlife such as horses, cows and sometimes sheep. I loved looking at the animals. I still do to this day.

After the long journey we finally made it. When we entered the house and I found my grandmother in the kitchen, rummaging through the cupboards in search for teacups. Or she’d be at the table, knitting. My great grandfather was always plunked in his favorite chair, watching the news or game shows. I didn’t care much for the news or game shows, but I was happy to see him. Great nan always embraced me with a warm welcoming hug. Whenever I saw her, she responded with “Hello deary.” My great pop was a bit more of a rough man. Sort of like an uncle almost. He would always pat me on the back and approached me with “Hello Luv, it’s good to see you.” Still loving, nonetheless.

My great nan and grandmother would often sit by the table sipping tea and exchange details of weekly shop specials. Sharing recipes and details of their week. My great pop and grandfather would talk of motors and cars and fixing houses. I would often sit by great nan and show her my puzzle books. When my grandmother wasn’t looking, she would sneakily slip a $5.00 note into my hand while whispering to me, “shh, don’t tell Nan and Pop” I’d thank her and slip the note into my pocket. Then I’d go on to tell her about school, and my friends. She’d ask me how my schoolwork was going. My response was always “Good, but I’m no good at math.” She chuckled. I asked my great nan, “Nan said you have a surprise for me?” I said eagerly. In which my grandmother always shushed me for being impatient. “Of course, let me go fetch it.” Great Nan made her way to the kitchen and retrieved a baking dish. I could already smell what it was. Great Nan’s special blueberry pie. I always loved her pies. The freshly baked scent wafted throughout the house. She retrieved a small set of plates and forks and we dug in.

My great Nan would often share her recipes with me. She would show me book and books filled with her recipes that were passed down to her. I appreciated them. She would share with me her secrets. How to bake the best dough. The best quiches. The best Pies. The best cakes. Everything. Even the best cup of tea. But there was something special about this day. My Great nan her knitting needles out. It was attached to a pink ball of string. Hung over one of the dining chairs was a large woolen blanket. I asked her, “did you make that.” Her response was, “I sure did my dear.” She reached over and handed me the blanket to get a better look. I ran the soft material through my fingertips. It felt velvet like. The wool was creamy white, covered in rows and rows of fine stitching. I remember staring in awe at how my nan managed to make beautiful piece. It must’ve been so difficult, I remember thinking. At this moment it was like she read my mind. She handed me a pair of knitting needles and begun teaching me how to knit.

“What you need to do is get yourself a pair of knitting needles and a ball off wool. Hold one needle in each hand, and I’ll show you how to make a stitch.”

Step by step she taught me how to thread the string. Showing me which needle went were. I got the hang of it quickly and soon; I became the knitting master. At least I thought I did.

With a bit of a patience and perseverance, I took a liking to this beautiful craft. With each thread, I got better and better, my fingers guiding the needles more and more swiftly. Occasionally I’d have to go back to fix a mistake, but I enjoyed it. My grandmother looked proud and impressed.

When it was almost time to go home she kindly gave me a pair of knitting needles and a ball of wool for me to take home. I thanked her and we each shared our goodbyes. I was that excited that I even tried to knit on the ride back home. On second thought… due to a bumpy ride, maybe its best to wait until I got home.

To this day I am grateful to have learnt this craft form one of the most cherished people I know. Reminiscing this memory, has brought back my love for knitting and how peaceful it made me feel. Determined and focused, yes, but beautiful and peaceful.

Our journey now comes to an end. To end this session, gently sit up, open your eyes and shift your awareness to your body. I enjoy reflecting on my meditative journeys. Meditation for me is the art of self-discovery. What may be repressed in our daily lives we begin to shift our awareness towards. When we do this, we begin to understand why we think and behave the way that we do. Using this knowledge, we can now regulate these emotions and entice self-growth. This piece has personally helped me rebirth a very special moment of my life. One that will stay with me for as long as my heart beats.