So what really happens when we sit on our cushion? A deeper sense of relaxation, calmness, less stress and anxiety, better sleep habits. In truth things change but no one really knows how or why. Science and the Spiritual traditions, both East and West, help us piece together ideas, theory's and philosophy’s that may or may not fit into our worldview at any one time.
" I Have Tried and I Just Can't Do It".
One of the main challenges to anybody starting mediation or any new skill is the experience " I have tried and I just can't do it". This in fact may be good news, a first hurdle, a necessary hurdle. We can look to the study of mythology as a tool for understanding.
Take the story of the birth of the Child of Light or the Christ Child. Similar stories are shared across Native American traditions and in Judaism, among others. The awakened one is born to a mother and father and is immediately in danger from an Evil King Herod. So, what do the loving parents do? Retreat to Egypt and raise the child in safety until the threat has died away and disappeared. This retreat, a worthwhile endeavour in order to pursue truth and love.
Our call to begin meditation or a new skill is like an awakening from within to pursue something worthwhile. Immediately there is the voice inside that says, " I cannot do it, its too hard, too sore, I am not good enough". So, what do you do? Take yourself to “Egypt” and slowly and reassuringly begin to raise up that part of yourself with small achievable steps. Slow and daily practice. Each awareness of breath desensitising the threat of Herod that lives inside.
What the Scientists Say:
Patterns found in the scientific world echo similar evidence. Pain science and neuroplasticity now offer a strategic and rational plan to change the brains wiring to desensitise us from the experience of pain and anxiety. Set small achievable goals with mind body practices and reassure yourself through your breath that everything is going to be okay.
Nutrigenomics is the medical term for how a lifestyle choice that we make i.e. eating certain food or exercising effects the expression of our genes. For example, exercise upregulates or increases the expression of the superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD 2) gene. This gene supports antioxidants within our cells mitochondria. This is one of the reasons we feel so good and fresh after exercise. At a cellular level we are detoxifying. Similarly, meditation has an effect of decreasing the expression of the nuclear factor Kappa B gene. A well researched gene associated with inflammation and is very much overactive in chronic stress and autoimmune diseases among others.
What About the Giant Fears and Emotions:
90 minutes north of Belfast in the north east corner of Ireland lies the World heritage site of the Giants Causeway. This unique rock formation of 40,000 interlocking basalt columns, was created as a result of an ancient Volcanic eruption.
In ancient Celtic mythology the story goes that the Causeway was created by two giants. Fionn mac Cumhaill a great Irish hero lived with his wife Oonagh in Co. Antrim. One day there was a loud banging on Fionn’s door from a messenger declaring that a Giant from Scotland, Benandonner wanted to challenge him to a dual to determine the strongest giant in all the Isles. Fionn happily accepted the offer and immediately began to build a bridge across the sea between Ireland and Scotland in preparation for the fight.
The day before the fight Oonagh came rushing to Fionn, she had overheard at the local market that Benandonner was a much bigger giant. In fear of her husband’s safety she screamed and cried that he would call off the fight. Fionn sat in silence for hours eventually directing a plan. Oonagh was to knit a set of childs pajamas for Fionn. The day of the fight Benandonner crossed the causeway and banged down Fionns door. Oonagh stood in the kitchen, inviting the giant inside.
“Do come in but please be quite my baby is sleeping, Fionn has just popped out and will be back in any minute… would you like a cup of tea?” Says she.
Surprised Benandonner accepted the invitation but as soon as the giant sat in a chair it broke beneath him waking the baby. With a ghastly wale that almost shook the house down, the waking child’s scream shocked the giant.
“Oh do excuse me” Says Oonagh as she threw the child a leg of lamb to settle the noise. With apprehension Benandonner approached the child and on witnessing the size of the baby said to himself,
“if Fionns child is this size for what size must he be?” and not realizing it was Fionn himself dressed in the clothing of a baby, he ran with humility down the road across the Causeway pulling up all the pillars along the way.
So if we look at our fears as the giants inside of us. We may grasp something.
What we understand is that these emotions are feelings within our body that have been highly sensitised mainly for good reason from past experiences. Through our practice we are realising there is a deeper knowingness within, a Higher Self. This Self with great spaciousness is witnessing all these giants and now has the capacity to make another choice. A choice to access the Child like nature inside sending the giant across the ocean pulling up the path behind.
Maybe it is time to rewrite your own narrative. Connect into your deepest Self, Giants and King Herods welcome to sit next to you as you breathe into the depth of your Being.
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