“Notice and work with images that open up possibilities for you in the moment, and that invite fuller participation in your life!”
Dear Integral Meditators,
This weeks article focuses upon conscious use of your imagination, and offers practical ways for you to start to work with what you notice going on there!This Saturday 16th May I’ll be facilitating a spacial two hour Mindful Envisioning – A meditation, visualization & imagining masterclass, as well as the monthly Beginners meditation workshop. All are welcome!
In the spirit of mindful imagining,
Toby
PS: If you missed this weeks article and recording: On mindful visualization & envisioning (And tree meditation recording)
What are you imagining right now?
If you stop and notice your mind, you will start to see that with the inner conversation and feelings there are images. Our mind is continually producing images, pictures and scenarios in a number of ways:
- About what it remembers of the past. When we think of the past, we assume that we are thinking about what actually happened. Actually, every time we bring to mind a past scenario, we are re-creating it in our imagination. Sometimes that re-creation might bear some resemblance to what happened, at other times it be completely different.
- About what it thinks may happen in the future. Often, we are very good about visualizing and imagining what could go wrong in our life, or what might not turn out right. This is particularly the case when there is a lot of uncertainty
- We embellish things we like or dislike about our present moment experience
- Around what we believe is possible for us in life, and around what we deserve/do not deserve
- If you have a creative imagination, you will notice that it is capable of producing entire worlds and characters!
To be mindful around your imagination means to be aware of this process of imagining, and notice whether, for you, this process is helping you to create a better experience or a worse one. Your imagination is capable of creating heaven or hell, of influencing your energy levels substantially, and opening or closing doors regarding what is possible in your life. Possible ways of working with your imagination include:
- If you notice that your imagination is working in a negative manner, then simply hold the recognition of that, without buying into the image and narrative. Perhaps try and understand why it is that you are prone to imagining things in this manner?
- If you are going to think abut the past, or a past event, deliberately pick out and recreate images that identify good memories, and frame the experience in a way that is enjoyable and positive for you
- When you are imagining the future, why not deliberately imagine the best-case scenario, or a future that would be deeply fulfilling and where it all works out well? Its just as possible, and you’ll feel more energised about it than if you always create images around the worst-case scenario!
- Notice the images and ideas that you are creating about what is happening to you right now. Be suspicious of the ones that are sabotaging your ability to enter fully into and enjoy the moment. Work with images that open up possibilities for you in the moment, and that invite fuller participation in your life!
Sundays 6-6.50pm – Qi gong energy body activation meditation (Livestream)These are Qi gong meditation sessions to activate and enhance the flow of ‘qi’ or subtle energy in your body. We will then be using this flow for:
- Enhancing physical health and healing
- Increased emotional wellbeing and mental balance
- Access to deeper, more dynamic meditation states to transform and regenerate your body, mind and soul…Full details of session
Saturday 16th May 10.30am-12noon – ONLINE Get your meditation practice started now – The shortest & most time effective meditation course ever This is a truly practical and super short (90min) workshop that teaches you:
- What meditation is and how it works
- How to start your own effective daily meditation practice with just a five minute a day commitment
- Provides you not only with the workshop but also with support materials; MP3 meditation recordings (1×15 minute and 3x 5 minute), short articles and diagrams to help you keep meditating after the workshop.
Saturday 31st May, 2-5.30pm – Wabi-Sabi mindfulness – The art of creative leadership and self-leadership, A Livestream workshop
In a sentence: Learn how to work creatively with uncertainty, imperfection and life’s inherent messiness to realize your leadership and self-leadership potential. Manage stress and anxiety better using mindfulness in combination with the practical philosophy of Wabi-Sabi.
Full details of the workshop
Online Integral Meditation & Mindfulness classesBuild focus, beat stress, cultivate wellbeing!
Each session involves simple practices that you can apply to make a real difference to your wellbeing and effectiveness in life…full details of classes
All upcoming classes and workshops for at IMA:
Ongoing on Wednesday’s, 7.30-8.30pm – Wednesday Meditation for stress transformation and positive energy with Toby (Bukit Timah)
Ongoing on Tuesday evenings, 7.30-8.30pm – Tuesday Meditation for stress transformation and positive energy with Toby (East Coast)
Ongoing Sundays 6-6.50pm – Qi gong energy body activation meditation (Livestream)
Tues 5th & Weds May 6th, 7.30-8.30pm – Online Full Moon Meditation & Manifestation Session
Thursday 7th May, 6.30-7.30pm – Online Wesak Meditation on Compassion
Saturday 16th May, 4-6pm – Mindful Envisioning – A meditation, visualization & imagining masterclass
Saturday 16th May 10.30am-12noon – ONLINE Get your meditation practice started now – The shortest & most time effective meditation course ever
Sat 23rd 6-7pm, Tues 26th 7.30-8.30pm, Weds 27th 7.30-8.3pm May – Monthly new moon, new beginnings visualization and envisioning sessions
Saturday 31st May, 2-5.30pm – Wabi-Sabi mindfulness – The art of creative leadership and self-leadership, A Livestream workshop
Integral Meditation AsiaOnline Courses * 1:1 Coaching * Books * Live Workshops * Corporate Mindfulness Training *Life-Coaching * Meditation Technology