A note to the reader: This is the first practice-centered post in our series of “Your Daily Ritual: 11 Embodiment Practices for Presence and Transformation” Series. We will begin with the practice itself – a short and simple opportunity for you to experience that which we will then be discussing. Then, we will move into a deeper dive into the topic of physical stillness and the cultivation of all those spiritual qualities we desire (e.g., inner stillness, peace, clarity, focus, etc.)
May it serve your spiritual evolution and embodiment path.
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A Practice in Physical Stillness
The Purpose: To guide you through a practice of physical stillness, through which I intend to open many doors to the inner spiritual qualities that we all wish to experience, including:
- inner stillness, peace, and clarity
- centering, alignment, discernment
- and so much more!
The reality is, the ability to slow down, and to do so to a degree that you are able to settle into complete stillness – this is a practice and a skill that is mostly lost on our modern population.
Still, the ability to find it within yourself to do so – to slow down, and to do so to a degree that you are able to settle into complete stillness – this is a practice that is likely to offer you the peace, the clarity, and all of those other skillful inner states that you are seeking.
However, before getting too carried away, I want you to know: each one of us is different. The practices that serve one individual does not necessarily serve all. Therefore, by saying yes to the following practice, you may receive immediate gifts in the form of those inner qualities you are seeking. And, from continued devotion to this practice, you may find that one doorway after the next invites you into a greater depth of your spiritual path – including deeper presence and skillful transformation!
Alternatively, it may happen that you receive a different gift – that which comes in the form of information – coming from your own awareness that this practice is just not serving you at this time. Let me explain…
What happens when this practice is too challenging and is not producing direct results?
For some, it may be the case that a stillness practice is not directly peaceful and clarifying, and it is not guiding you into a meditative state. For these people, it could be the case that the practice is misaligned, causing more distress than benefit.
If you find that this practice is “too crunchy” (e.g., anxiety-provoking), then don’t get too caught up in it. Fortunately, the realm of spiritual embodiment practice exists in abundance, and there are countless other tools that you can call upon to help you cultivate those inner states that you desire.
If you find that this practice is not serving you, then you can try out any of the other 10 practices offered in this series.
Note: At the time of this writing, this is the 1st in-depth look at the practices. A full exploration of all 11 practices will be done in-depth in the upcoming months.
Your Daily Ritual: 11 Embodiment Practices for Presence and Transformation
Now that you have a basic understanding of what you are getting into, it is time to practice. I invite you to set some space, read through the practice in its entirety, then
Note: For paid subscribers on Substack, a guided audio version is included at the end of the Substack version of the post. Read this post on Substack and subscribe to receive the guided audio practice.
Practice:
Take a moment to settle into a comfortable seated position –
Cross-legged, or with your feet on the floor – it doesn’t matter.
What matters is that you find a seated, upright position that feels comfortable.
Set a timer. Perhaps for a minute, or 5 minutes.
Choose the allotted time, and press go.
Then, simply, cease all activity
as you sit in stillness.
If need be, focus on your inhale and exhale.
Or, watch your thoughts as they flow in and out.
Give your mind a simple task, if it needs it.
Otherwise, your task is as simple as it gets:
Do nothing, except sit.
Witness what flows through your consciousness.
But do not move.
Got it?
Your task is to do nothing,
except to be witness
until the timer goes off.
I strongly encourage you to complete the practice before continuing, even if it is just for a single minute. Know that you are free to return to a longer practice after the completion of this post (something I will, indeed, encourage).
Reflection and further commentary
Upon completion of the practice, the first thing I need you to know is the following:
- This practice may be one that readily invites you into a state of inner stillness.
- This practice may be one that is challenging, yet with dedication still offers a powerful path to understanding your inner world, and with time, cultivating that inner stillness (and all those other qualities) that you are here for
- It may be the case that this practice was not just challenging, but wholly terrible. Know that if this is the case for you, then it might just happen to be that this is not your practice (at least, not at this time). Not to worry, because I have 10 more practices that might just be able to support you at time time! Know that, if this is the case for you, I am open to answering questions and offering suggestion about where to go. Do this by leaving a comment below, or emailing me directly at forestbodyhealing.com
A physical stillness practice may or may not serve you at this moment in time
The fact of the matter is, there are some people in this world who settle into complete stillness, close down their eyes, and move into a peaceful state of inner stillness. However, most of us modern human beings – us who have been programmed to go-go-go – we find that an invitation into physical stillness is not one that readily correlates to inner stillness. In fact, the path from physical stillness to inner stillness is one that often takes time, and during this time a steady devotion to the practice is a necessity.
In other words, if you are to embrace this practice of physical stillness as a gateway to inner stillness, then what you may do looks something like the following:
- Set a reasonable time to sit in physical stillness. Perhaps that is 5 minutes to begin with. For some, it could look like starting with 20 minutes.
- Dedicate yourself to a daily practice. Each day, find that quiet, comfortable seated position, press the timer, and do not move from it until the timer goes off.
- Until the timer goes off, your only task is to detach from everything that is arising and falling away. This includes sound in the room, thoughts in your mind sensation in your body, and all else.
- To do this, the practice is to become witness. Yes, thoughts and sensations will arise in your mind – this is inevitable! The practice is becoming non-attached to them. Do not get caught up in those thoughts and sounds. Do not react to them. Continue to sit in witness until the timer goes off.
- A second note, keep in mind that this is a practice, and it is not something to do in perfection. For example, every time your mind does get caught up in a stream of thoughts (it will happen, believe me), take advantage of the moment you realize what has happened, and return to the state of witness without being hard on yourself.
- Once the practice is complete, take some time to reflect:
- Was it easy or challenging to sit for the full duration?
- If it was too challenging, do you need to shorten the duration?
- If it was too uncomfortable in your body, to you need to modify your physical position?
- Were there disturbances during the practices that you can take action to stop (for example, someone entered the room because you didn’t tell them not to).
- Did you find that you moved into moments of inner peace, or deeper meditation?
- Did you find that you are ready to extend the duration of the practice?
- Was it easy or challenging to sit for the full duration?
Over time, you might set a goal to extend the length of time of the practice (for example, be able to move from 5 minutes of stillness to 30 minutes of stillness). Or, it may be the case that you only have 20 minutes, and you will make the most of those 20 minutes as often as you get them by staying devoted to the practice and going deeper and deeper in as you go.
Over time, you might embrace a deeper meditation practice (for example, making the practice fully about setting your mind as witness to your thoughts, or meditating on a mantra – really, the possibilities are endless).
One point of all of this is to say, make the practice your own. Feel free to make it a game for yourself, a fun little challenge, if you will!
However, if you do, please please please be gentle on yourself, and whatever you do, do NOT fall into the trap of making the practice look like something you think it should instead of being fully present for what it is.
If you would like to join a structured approach to the practice, I have just what you need! Check out my Stillness Speaks course, which I created specifically for those who want structured support through this practice.
If you would like personalized guidance, send me an email at forestbodyhealing@gmail.com, and we’ll set up a time to chat about what this looks like!
Physical Stillness vs. Inner Stillness
Before wrapping up, we need to speak to a common misconception regarding stillness and meditation, because although many people think all of this is the same thing, the truth is there are many different practices and experiences that we can tease apart here.
- Physical stillness is not the same thing as inner stillness. In fact, for most people, settling into physical stillness may actually stir up thoughts, feelings, emotions, and sensations. For many, it takes time and dedication to allow these waves to settle, and to allow inner stillness to set in. With this, it can take time for physical stillness to be a gateway that readily takes you into inner stillness.
- This can be accomplished in a single practice for some (meaning, one may sit in physical stillness, experience waves of thoughts/feelings/sensations arise, then stay dedicated to the practice and become witness to the settling of these waves)
- For others, it may take a commitment to a series of practices to at last experience the settling of these waves, and the inner stillness that comes as a result
- For others, a physical stillness practice may need to be accompanied by other practices so that inner stillness is ultimately reached. For example – taking a walk or doing yoga to get some movement in before settling into stillness (this is practice 2 that we will be doing next month, by the way),
- Physical stillness is not for everyone, because it can stir things up too intensely! I say this one with emphasis, because I personally went through it. For quite some time I tried to force myself to stay in physical stillness to my detriment! There was too much fiery energy within me, and it had to be healed/alchemized by other practices first! With time, I could then embrace a physical stillness practice. But it did take time and devotion to my own path, along with an ability to be creative.
- Physical stillness is but one of many practices that are on offer. I have said this many times before, and I will say it again! There are many ways to cultivate inner stillness, along with all those other spiritual qualities that you are seeking (presence, clarity, peace, etc.). If physical stillness is challenging, I invite you to stick with it. Chances are, time and devotion to practice will get you to where you want to be. If physical stillness is aggravating and producing negative results, then stop the practice. Try something different.
Over the next year, we as a community will be exploring 11 Embodiment Practices for Presence and Transformation.
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