Day 20 and 21

Upon arising, I meditated each day. 12 minutes.

Day 19

Nice morning moments today.  Treadmill then meditation.  Some thoughts were taken out, other thoughts ferment into being.  Not all thoughts are bad during these few moments of thinking.  The thoughts plant and become part of the day.  Meditating is a very productive part of the creative process.

Day 17 and 18

I meditated on Sunday and today.  A lot of processing of the days/evening events.  Breath work - concentrating on inhale / exhale tunes me into myself and where I believe I am.  Taking this out to the real world then thinking before acting and speaking is very helpful to me.

Day 15 and 16

I missed my entry for Friday, but not the meditation.  Saturdays mediation went smoothly - it is funny, I can tell when the 11 minutes are complete and the 12th minute is excruciating long even if it is a minute.  Funny how that works. 

Day 14

I had a hard time focusing this morning.  The to do list kept entering my head, even thought everything is accounted for on my lists.  Not sure.  I even got emotional during certain benign thoughts so something is brewing in the mind that wants to surface.  I did sit for 12 uninterrupted minutes.  The Insight Timer app is terrific.  You can even see who else is meditating with you - ingenious software to know there are others like you looking for calm.

Day 13

Meditation occurred this morning.  I need to write this earlier in the day so that I have something coherent to say, observe.

Day 12

Meditation occurred this morning.

Day 11

A nice meditation.  Worked out most of my thoughts during the TRX workout.  Included backstretch into the practise.  During meditation I concentrated on the breath.  Thoughts of the gutter project entered my mind  due to Sunday's rains.  The 12 minutes passed in 12 minutes.

Day 10

Sunday morning means a break.  Not from meditation, but from exercise ... and shaving.  I meditated quietly in the bed room, sitting on the teak meditation stool near the window.  I saw on the Insight Timer that 28 users of the program were were meditating.  I thanked my teachers and wished for those who are sick, better health.  I added a minute to my practise.  I felt the difference in time. 

Day 9

Saturday came and went.   My morning stated an hour late.  I used the treadmill for 20 minutes then meditated for  11.  My theme today was thanking teachers and wishing my friends with cancer and tumors much better health.  It was a satisfying  time.

Day 8

Waking up alert - no fog - going to bed early does make a difference, I slipped on the gym short, socks and sneakers and proceeded to the TRX workout - I will call this my yoga.  I kept myself upright and straight keeping the esophagus and stomach aligned.  When complete, I turned off the lights in the "cave" then sat on the weight bench and proceeded to the daily meditation. 

I thanked all my present teachers, Jim, Hari, Michael, Lisa and past  teachers - Kim as my exercise teacher, and even past employers who did not shed good lessons but how not to act.  Those are important too - employers or people behaving badly.  Nothing like a bad example to set you straight.  I concentrated on my breath - inhale, exhale keeping my mind clear.  When I look to the third eye, I usually first see a dark whole, almost tunnel like, then the blue emerges then the all knowing eye.
In hindsight, I also need to show gratitude to my wife Lena who turned me toward this path of meditation.
Inhale, exhale.

Day 7

The cat alarm is stuck at the 4:30 range.  She knows what is good for me.  The treadmill was easier this morning.  Still in a fog when I step on the treadmill, but those moments clear as the walking progresses.  Seventeen minutes this morning.  Followed by eleven minutes of sitting.  Today I thanked my teachers - past, present and future.  Thoughts of Ari returning from camp, the to do list and Luna filled the earlier moments of thought until the third eye was found staring at me.  The thoughts from that moment went to the mist - not an uncomfortable emotion but one of calm, peace and confidence.  When the chime rung, I leaned back, feeling rested and ready for the day.  The tone of my day is hopefully set for me and for all those around me.

Day 6

The cat alarm meowed at 4:36 a.m.  So much for yesterday's theory.  I awoke in a fog and donned my exercise gear and headed for the basement.  Despite my foggy brain, I exercised, thinking of the word endurance and persevered through the 30 minutes.  I turned off the overhead lights and sat for my eleven minutes ( I was thinking of upping it, but that did not happen).  Thoughts were taken out and forgotten and I felt myself soaring in a mist.  It was peaceful and it seemed short.  When the gong chime made its sound I regretfully opened my eyes.  I sat for a few minutes leaning against the concrete wall until it was time to move on.

Day 5

The cat alarm meowed at 4:38, ten minutes later than Monday.  Perhaps on Wednesday, Luna will morning meow at 4:48 ... one can only hope.  I ventured to the basement.  The temperature is cool there, it is dark in the morning light and for me, good for mediation.  I did walk on the treadmill for 15 minutes.  I tuned in, rocked my lower back, breathing in on the up, exhaling on the downward movement.  I then turned on the timer.  It is much easier to meditate when you are chanting than letting the mind wander, I mean focus, on the process.  Today I though of Hari's email and gathered the teacher in my life - those in this world and those that are not - and thanked them.  I also thanked and prayed for a friends father who recently passed. It was a fast eleven minutes.  Time to add one more to up the exercise to 12.  A little each day and I will progress.

Monday night emails from our group went out. It is nice to see everyone communicating with their efforts.

Day 4

Day 4 - Luna, our cat, awoke me at promptly 4:30 a.m. for morning meditation.  The alarm clock was set for five a.m., but instead of hearing classical music to break me from my slumber, I heard the ear scratching meow.  Twice.  Yes, I awoke, followed her down the stairs of our cape style home and dropped some food in her bowl.  Morning light did not exist.  I went back to sleep until 5:10 a.m. when this time the alarm and the cat beckoned me.

 This time, I put on my socks, sneakers, gym shorts and proceeded to the basement.  At Lena's (my wife) recommendation, I exercised using the TRX for 30 minutes (no TV on in the background) followed by 11 minutes of meditation.  Using the Xoom and Insight Timer app, I sat on the weight bench for 11 minutes chanting and clearing my head.  Finding and focusing on the third eye kept me occupied for the long 11 minutes.  I know all of this will become easier as this practise develops. 

This week, I will fill you in on how this suddenly came about.