A New Type Of Meditation

You arrive at a large, pleasant Spiritual Center. The large common room has chairs and yoga mats in a circle in the center. As you look around, you see Native American, African, Buddhist and other cultural decor.

There is a check-in foyer area where a $10.00 donation is collected for the event.

The director has an office as you walk in to the common area. There is a library, storage area, and a kids' room. A gift shop offers multi-cultural items. There are restrooms and a kitchenette down the hall.

You have just entered the Rainbow Spiritual Education Center.

This is a one of a kind place, with one of a kind events. You can see their website at www.rainbowspiritualeducationcenter.org.

As a multi-ethnic myself, sometimes it's hard to find a place that accepts and celebrates all parts of my heritage. This is one of those places.

I sell some of my jewelry and art in their gift shop, which is open during their events.

I also lead my Hot Stone Meditation there on the third Tuesdays of the month.

I have been asked, "What is Hot Stone Meditation?". So, here goes:

Most of you may know about Hot Stone Massage. I learned it from a friend of mine, who's a massage therapist. I was fascinated by the stone's ability to hold and release heat slowly. I remember seeing some Shoalin monks using hot stones for tests of endurance. I researched that a bit, but had no desire to burn myself or anyone else. I bought my own set of stones and a "how to" book. I started out giving family and a few friends the hot stone treatment. I couldn't give myself the treatment, but one day, while meditating, my mind wandering again, I thought about those little black stones that came in the set. They were used for putting between the toes or fingers. I got a few out, popped them in the microwave, and then went back to meditation with them in my palms. It worked like a charm! With the warm, smooth stones in my hand, my mind stayed so focused on them, I sat nearly a full 30 minutes before my mind wandered again. I told a friend of mine who was the massage therapist. She tried it, and suggested that I start doing it as a group meditation at the Germantown Healing House, where I was working at the time. It took off, but unfortunately, the Healing House closed due to the economy. Nearly two years later, I found another place interested in this form of meditation. So, I offer it there.

The experience is unique. As all of the participants are seated in chairs, or lotus style, I come in with a container of heated stones in water. I explain to the participants that hot stones have been used for over 5,000 years in healing rituals. Egypt, China and Greece used them just to name a few. Then, I ask them to come pick two stones to hold in their palms. Some people are choosey, some just pick the top two. All of the stones are basalt lava stones at a rather warm temperature. As the participants are reseated, I ask them if they can feel the stones radiating their heat. They all can of course. We dim the lights, and I start the music. The music is especially picked to complement the "script" of the meditation and is put on about the loudness of my voice. I give them a minute to relax. Then I start the meditative suggestions. Each minute brings a new suggestion designed to recharge, or relax a mind, body, spirit point. There are spiritual, psychological and physical suggestions, so it becomes a form of self-hypnosis as the music rises and falls with my suggestion, and if you are truly in the meditative state, it's magical. I feel so much better myself after the hour is over! Interestingly, about half way through, the stones start to cool, and give off a cool calming feeling, so it's like starting out walking on the hot sand, then into the cool ocean.

If you are interested in experiencing this for yourself, the next one is June 21st, 2011 at 7:00 pm. You can see the above website for more information.

I haven't been able to find anyone else who is doing anything like this, so I guess that I've invented a new type of meditation. It's part meditation, part self-hypnosis, and part affirmations, and I enjoy every minute of it! The stones are a true gift from Mother Earth, and really are a help to me, and maybe others, who haven't been able to meditate without worrying about the other thousand things they have to do today.

Until next time!

Love, Angelia