Week 18 Writing Prompt: Walking Meditation

And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom. – Anais Nin

I’m not a great meditator. I admit it! In fact, I’m terrible at it! However, I’ve sort of based part of my magical career on it. My first published work was about not being a great meditator in NewWitch magazine. (Voltaire totes beat me out for the cover shot.) I’m not exactly quiet about my thoughts on the matter of meditation.

I don’t know. (Try not to throw things at me because this is not a popular opinion.) I sort of think if I wanted to be a full Buddhist. I’d be a full Buddhist, not a hearth witch. I actually don’t have any Buddhism in my practice and I’ve been just fine without it for the last fifteen years.

But, I will say that meditation has its uses. It’s just that I can usually do it in very small doses or when I’m doing something to occupy my hamster-mind. That’s why I’m such a proponent of Japa/mala based practice.

It also works for me when I’m spinning or driving. That whole “just empty your mind” thing doesn’t work for me. I’ve done it on very rare occasions. It’s nice but it hasn’t changed my life. I feel guilty about even typing that admission. I know, the answer is: Try harder. But, frankly, I have too much to do to start a serious meditation practice.

Do I think you need to know how to quiet your mind and focus to do magic? Yes! Do I think a serious meditation practice is the only way to get there? No. I’ve seen too many people do magic successfully without a meditation practice to think that it’s a pre-requisite.

But…

But…

I was driving one of my mentors crazy about this topic. (I get all punk ass three-year-old with a constant stream of: “But why? But why?” if I focus on this topic.) She mentioned that she knew someone who took a moment in her cube every morning to empty her brain of the old crap so she had room to let new crap in. That made sense to me!

So that’s what I am going to do. Why don’t you try it. too? Take a walk in the woods. Take some good deep breaths in. Empty your brain of old crap to let new crap in. Take a journal. Take a mala. Take your dog…whatever! Just let yourself be still for a little while. You’re changing so much so fast. You need it.

Cheers!

Deborah

Deborah Castellano

Deborah Castellano's book Glamour Magic: The Witchcraft Revolution to Get What You Want is available for purchase through Amazon, Llewellyn and Barnes and Noble.
Her frequently updated catalogue of published work is available on Author Central.

She writes about Glamour Magic here at Charmed, I'm Sure. Her podcast appearances are available here.

Her craft shop, The Mermaid & The Crow specializes in old-world style workshop from 100% local, sustainable sources featuring tempting small batch ritual oils and hand-spun hand-dyed yarn in luxe fibers and more!

In a previous life, Deborah founded the first Neo-Victorian/Steampunk convention, SalonCon which received rave reviews from con-goers and interviews from the New York Times and MTV.

She resides in New Jersey with her husband, Jow and their cat, Max II. She has a terrible reality television habit she can't shake and likes St. Germain liquor, record players and typewriters.  

Social:
Twitter
Facebook
Instagram
Tumblr