Contemplate in different environments - Quiet Spaces

by Midnight Freemason Contributor

Bro. Randy Sanders

This Masonic contemplation series focuses on simple exercises we can incorporate to make use of our time in different circumstances, in different environments, to further strengthen our minds and sharpen our focus.  Mindfulness and reaching an altered state of consciousness are different concepts, but both are useful and can be combined during a meditative session.  Let’s explore a scenario and put some context around it.

Mindfulness exercises can be as simple as setting a timer and focusing on some activity, or simply focusing on one single activity through completion.  Accessing the altered state of consciousness is more difficult at first, but becomes easier with practice.  Advanced practitioners reach a point where it becomes easy to tune into the body (body awareness) and find that deeper relaxation through even a few breaths or moments of concentration.  As Masons, you learned the most valuable lesson is Prayer, and applying that lesson now is suggested.

Quiet Spaces

As we look at different environments for contemplative practice, the most obvious of course is your own sacred space or any good quiet space.  Whether we create these spaces or happen across them in our lives, a good quiet space becomes a retreat maybe hidden in plain sight from the physical world of interruptions.

As a mindfulness exercise, let's sit silently and let our attention come to the feeling of simply sitting silently.  What does the air feel like against your skin?  If there’s a breeze, how does that wave of air interact with you?  I don’t have much hair on my head, but you may.  How does your hair feel interacting with the wind?  In my case, how different is the feeling from moment to moment as the wind blows across my brow?  What are my thoughts?  Why are those thoughts important, or are they?

As a contemplative exercise, either close your eyes or focus on one thing directly in front of you such as a tree or street sign, and take 4 long, deep breaths.  The first breath is to allow you to better focus on the next three breaths.  Contemplative work is often done while in a sitting or relaxed pose, but any sitting position can work so long as you are comfortable.  Imagine white light flowing into your lungs with each inhalation, and dark clouds of stress and tension leaving your body through your exhalations.

A couple of minutes each day can make a difference, so why not incorporate quick, simple exercises into your daily routines?

~RS

Randy and his wife Elyana live near St. Louis, Missouri, USA. Randy earned a Bachelors Degree in Chemistry with an emphasis in Biochemistry, and he works in Telecom IT management. He volunteers as a professional and personal mentor, NRA certified Chief Range Safety Officer and enjoys competitive tactical pistol, rifle, and shotgun. He has 30 plus years teaching Wing Chun Kung Fu, Chi Kung, and healing arts. Randy served as a Logistics Section Chief on two different United States federal Disaster Medical Assistance Teams over a 12 year span. Randy is a 32nd degree KCCH and Knight Templar. His Masonic bio includes past Lodge Education Officer for two symbolic lodges, Founder of the Wentzville Lodge Book Club, member of the Grand Lodge of Missouri Education Committee, Sovereign Master of the E. F. Coonrod AMD Council No. 493, Co-Librarian of the Scottish Rite Valley of St. Louis, Clerk for the Academy of Reflection through the Valley of Guthrie, and a Facilitator for the Masonic Legacy Society. Randy is a founding administrator for Refracted Light, full contributor to Midnight Freemasons, and an international presenter on esoteric topics. Randy hosts an open ongoing weekly Masonic virtual Happy Hour on Friday evenings. Randy is an accomplished home chef, a certified barbecue judge, raises Great Pyrenees dogs, and enjoys travel and philosophy.

Contemplate in different environments - Very Noisy Environments

by Midnight Freemason Contributor

Bro. Randy Sanders

This Masonic contemplation series focuses on simple exercises we can incorporate to make use of our time in different circumstances, in different environments, to further strengthen our minds and sharpen our focus.  Mindfulness and reaching an altered state of consciousness are different concepts, but both are useful and can be combined during a meditative session.  Let’s explore a scenario and put some context around it.

Mindfulness exercises can be as simple as setting a timer and focusing on some activity, or simply focusing on one single activity through completion.  Accessing the altered state of consciousness is more difficult at first, but becomes easier with practice.  Advanced practitioners reach a point where it becomes easy to tune into the body (body awareness) and find that deeper relaxation through even a few breaths or moments of concentration.  As Masons, you learned the most valuable lesson is Prayer, and applying that lesson now is suggested.

Very noisy environments

As we look at different environments for contemplative practice, we can practice our concentration skills by focusing inwardly in noisy environments.  I tend to caution against construction zones as jack hammers and heavy equipment often have a jarring effect unless you are around construction often.  I do recommend auto repair shops, street cafes, and so many other options open to you.  

As a mindfulness exercise, lets sit silently and let our attention come to the feeling of simply sitting silently in the midst of all the noise.  What does your skin feel with the weight of the clothes you’re wearing?  Please don’t tell me if you aren’t wearing any clothes in a public or noisy environment.  What other sensations do you experience through your senses?  What is happening around you in that exact moment?

As a contemplative exercise, either close your eyes or focus on one thing directly in front of you such as a tree or street sign, and take 4 long, deep breaths.  The first breath is to allow you to better focus on the next three breaths.  Contemplative work is often done while in a sitting or relaxed pose, but any sitting position can work so long as it is marginally comfortable.  People who sit in a zazen pose will argue with me, as zazen is never fully comfortable, but I argue back that’s the point of zazen is to get past that discomfort.  For the contemplative exercise, focus on gravity pulling you into your chair with each breath.  Feel the effect on your bones as they feel heavy inside your body.  When you feel the heaviness and connect with the deeper consciousness, continue focusing on tuning out what’s around you and redirect your inner attention back to the relaxation and deeper consciousness for 9 to 27 more breaths.

A couple of minutes each day can make a difference, so why not incorporate quick, simple exercises into your daily routines?

~RS

Randy and his wife Elyana live near St. Louis, Missouri, USA. Randy earned a Bachelors Degree in Chemistry with an emphasis in Biochemistry, and he works in Telecom IT management. He volunteers as a professional and personal mentor, NRA certified Chief Range Safety Officer and enjoys competitive tactical pistol, rifle, and shotgun. He has 30 plus years teaching Wing Chun Kung Fu, Chi Kung, and healing arts. Randy served as a Logistics Section Chief on two different United States federal Disaster Medical Assistance Teams over a 12 year span. Randy is a 32nd degree KCCH and Knight Templar. His Masonic bio includes past Lodge Education Officer for two symbolic lodges, Founder of the Wentzville Lodge Book Club, member of the Grand Lodge of Missouri Education Committee, Sovereign Master of the E. F. Coonrod AMD Council No. 493, Co-Librarian of the Scottish Rite Valley of St. Louis, Clerk for the Academy of Reflection through the Valley of Guthrie, and a Facilitator for the Masonic Legacy Society. Randy is a founding administrator for Refracted Light, full contributor to Midnight Freemasons, and an international presenter on esoteric topics. Randy hosts an open ongoing weekly Masonic virtual Happy Hour on Friday evenings. Randy is an accomplished home chef, a certified barbecue judge, raises Great Pyrenees dogs, and enjoys travel and philosophy.

Contemplate in different environments - Outdoors

by Midnight Freemason Contributor

Bro. Randy Sanders

This Masonic contemplation series focuses on simple exercises we can incorporate to make use of our time in different circumstances, in different environments, to further strengthen our minds and sharpen our focus.  Mindfulness and reaching an altered state of consciousness are different concepts, but both are useful and can be combined during a meditative session.  Let’s explore a scenario and put some context around it.

Mindfulness exercises can be as simple as setting a timer and focusing on some activity, or simply focusing on one single activity through completion.  Accessing the altered state of consciousness is more difficult at first, but becomes easier with practice.  Advanced practitioners reach a point where it becomes easy to tune into the body (body awareness) and find that deeper relaxation through even a few breaths or moments of concentration.  As Masons, you learned the most valuable lesson is Prayer, and applying that lesson now is suggested.

Outdoors

As we look at different environments for contemplative practice, how can we not look at the outdoors, or a park like setting, for both mindfulness and accessing the altered consciousness.  Any nature walk, visit to a botanical garden, zoo, park, trail, or even your own backyard gives access to a simple connection with nature.  

As a mindfulness exercise, lets walk with purpose and attention.  Slow your pace, slow it more.  Now feel the bottoms of your feet as they walk, heel-to-toe.  What does the sock feel like against your skin?  Or maybe we are barefoot, and we can feel the grass against the soles of our feet and toes?  What do the muscles feel like in the ankle, the lower leg, the knee, and the upper legs?

As a contemplative exercise, either close your eyes or focus on one thing directly in front of you such as a tree, and take 4 long, deep breaths.  The first breath is to allow you to better focus on the next three breaths.  Contemplative work is often done while in a sitting or relaxed pose.  When you consider Chi Kung, Tai Chi or other martial arts, or even some Yoga practices, standing and walking also become a contemplative practice method.  Taking the mindfulness exercise above, we build upon that exercise and focus on any object ahead of you on the trail as you walk.  If you are standing or sitting, do the same but with a tree or bush in front of you.  Stretch the breaths to 60 or maybe 90, and let the relaxation of the breathing take you into a deep relaxed state.

A couple of minutes each day can make a difference, so why not incorporate quick, simple exercises into your daily routines?

~RS

Randy and his wife Elyana live near St. Louis, Missouri, USA. Randy earned a Bachelors Degree in Chemistry with an emphasis in Biochemistry, and he works in Telecom IT management. He volunteers as a professional and personal mentor, NRA certified Chief Range Safety Officer and enjoys competitive tactical pistol, rifle, and shotgun. He has 30 plus years teaching Wing Chun Kung Fu, Chi Kung, and healing arts. Randy served as a Logistics Section Chief on two different United States federal Disaster Medical Assistance Teams over a 12 year span. Randy is a 32nd degree KCCH and Knight Templar. His Masonic bio includes past Lodge Education Officer for two symbolic lodges, Founder of the Wentzville Lodge Book Club, member of the Grand Lodge of Missouri Education Committee, Sovereign Master of the E. F. Coonrod AMD Council No. 493, Co-Librarian of the Scottish Rite Valley of St. Louis, Clerk for the Academy of Reflection through the Valley of Guthrie, and a Facilitator for the Masonic Legacy Society. Randy is a founding administrator for Refracted Light, full contributor to Midnight Freemasons, and an international presenter on esoteric topics. Randy hosts an open ongoing weekly Masonic virtual Happy Hour on Friday evenings. Randy is an accomplished home chef, a certified barbecue judge, raises Great Pyrenees dogs, and enjoys travel and philosophy.

Contemplate in different environments - Work

by Midnight Freemason Contributor

Bro. Randy Sanders

This Masonic contemplation series focuses on simple exercises we can incorporate to make use of our time in different circumstances, in different environments, to further strengthen our minds and sharpen our focus.  Mindfulness and reaching an altered state of consciousness are different concepts, but both are useful and can be combined during a meditative session.  Let’s explore a scenario and put some context around it.

Mindfulness exercises can be as simple as setting a timer and focusing on some activity, or simply focusing on one single activity through completion.  Accessing the altered state of consciousness is more difficult at first, but becomes easier with practice.  Advanced practitioners reach a point where it becomes easy to tune into the body (body awareness) and find that deeper relaxation through even a few breaths or moments of concentration.  As Masons, you learned the most valuable lesson is Prayer, and applying that lesson now is suggested.

Work/Office

As we look at different environments for contemplative practice, I highly recommend work, or the office, for both mindfulness and accessing the altered consciousness.  We spend 40+ hours each week in the office or work, and why not use it for our own personal growth and benefit?

As a mindfulness exercise set a timer for a couple of minutes, or possibly set your phone alarm for 2-3 minutes in the future.  We tend to focus on what we’re typing, or what we’re doing onscreen.  For the 2-3 minutes exercise, let’s just focus on the feeling of our fingers moving across the keyboard or the arm and hand as we transition to the mouse.  What does the hand feel like as it rests at the base of the keyboard?  What do the tips of the fingers feel as they touch the keys?  Which thumb do you preferentially use when hitting the space bar?  What does the rest of your body feel like while sitting there typing?

As a contemplative exercise, either close your eyes or focus on one thing directly in front of you, and take 4 long, deep breaths.  The first breath is to allow you to better focus on the next three breaths.  I like to use this exercise to clear negativity and stress, so as you breathe in, let us focus on bringing in good, clean air, and as we exhale imagine a little cloud of dark negativity and stress being kicked out of the body and mind.  In with the good air, out with the bad, right?

A couple of minutes each day can make a difference, so why not incorporate quick, simple exercises into your daily routines?

~RS

Randy and his wife Elyana live near St. Louis, Missouri, USA. Randy earned a Bachelors Degree in Chemistry with an emphasis in Biochemistry, and he works in Telecom IT management. He volunteers as a professional and personal mentor, NRA certified Chief Range Safety Officer and enjoys competitive tactical pistol, rifle, and shotgun. He has 30 plus years teaching Wing Chun Kung Fu, Chi Kung, and healing arts. Randy served as a Logistics Section Chief on two different United States federal Disaster Medical Assistance Teams over a 12 year span. Randy is a 32nd degree KCCH and Knight Templar. His Masonic bio includes past Lodge Education Officer for two symbolic lodges, Founder of the Wentzville Lodge Book Club, member of the Grand Lodge of Missouri Education Committee, Sovereign Master of the E. F. Coonrod AMD Council No. 493, Co-Librarian of the Scottish Rite Valley of St. Louis, Clerk for the Academy of Reflection through the Valley of Guthrie, and a Facilitator for the Masonic Legacy Society. Randy is a founding administrator for Refracted Light, full contributor to Midnight Freemasons, and an international presenter on esoteric topics. Randy hosts an open ongoing weekly Masonic virtual Happy Hour on Friday evenings. Randy is an accomplished home chef, a certified barbecue judge, raises Great Pyrenees dogs, and enjoys travel and philosophy.