Meditation doesn't have to be about sitting cross-legged on the floor in perfect silence. I am a firm believer that as many people there are on earth, there are as many ways to meditate. One of those is meditating with music. 

Hospitals around the world are seeing the value of music therapy, and are implementing programs for patients. Whilst I was an in-patient at Sloan Kettering, I found the music therapy program incredibly helpful. I was very fortunate to have a wonderful music therapist who played the harp. When I was feeling too sick to even lift my head, my therapist would play her harp quietly. It always lifted my mood, and helped me to sleep deeply. 

Medical research has shown that listening to soft, classical music can reduce stress, lower blood pressure, relieve pain, and slow the heart rate. Meditating with music assists in creating a meditative state. It provides an outer point of focus, helping you stay in the present moment. It's also another way of measuring the length of your meditation without having to use an alarm or timer.

Below are some of my favorite pieces to meditate with. When I'm feeling particularly stressed or on days where I don’t “feel like” meditating, these pieces help me focus and meditate anyway. When I first started meditating, music also helped me meditate for longer periods of time. 

Meditation with Music
Select a piece of music. Press play. Sit or lie in a comfortable position. If you choose to lie down, have the intention to remain awake. Gently close your eyes. Breathe in. As you breathe out, allow your jaw and shoulders to soften. As you breathe engage your diaphragm. Gently push it out as you breathe in, and let it soften as you breathe out. Continue to breathe as you listen to the music. Be aware of your mind as it wanders. Notice any thoughts, memories, or feelings that arise. Acknowledge their presence, and return your focus to the music. When the music is complete, give yourself a moment to become aware of the sounds around you. Gently wriggle your fingers and toes. Roll your shoulders back. And gently open your eyes. 
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I would love to hear about your experiences meditating with music. Share your thoughts and favorite pieces in the comments! 

We want 

A solution

An answer

A pill

A medicine

A magical being

To make suffering end


In order 

To be 

Skinnier 

Healthier

More wealthy

Successful

Lovable 

Make life easier


If only we could wave a magic wand

Or stick to the diet

Or do the affirmations

Or follow the right guru 

Or read the right books 

Or do the exercises

Or make the bad people go away


We desire 

Quick fixes

Instant solutions 


We wanted to be better yesterday

Last year 

Ten years ago


And still we’re waiting.


Meditation 

Doesn’t make you better

It doesn’t provide 

The silver bullet

To curing life’s ills

It is not the be all and end all 

To achieving happiness


But it does take the edge off 

Allows for moments of clarity

Moments of peace 

Moments of stillness 


It is free

You don’t need any special skills

You don’t need to be any kind of person

You don’t need to believe in anything or anyone


Just pay attention

Without judgement 

And repeat. ​

We cannot deny the festive season is upon us. The fairy lights are up, every store is reminding us that Christmas is drawing ever closer, and the present buying and baking has begun. 

In Fort Collins, we’re in the middle of a delicious snow storm. It is seriouslycold outside. It wasn’t until I moved to London two years ago that I was able to appreciate the magic of snow. And it really is magical. The way the world turns into sparkling white, the way air smells crisp and fresh. You come across snow-people built into the footpath. Grown-ups are outplaying. It’s awesome. 

In London, snow brings an element of inconvenience too. The lack of regularly falling frozen precipitation means the infrastructure can’t really cope. Public transport becomes a nightmare as train lines are closed, and buses become overcrowded and slow. If you’re lucky, a snow day will be called, and you can skip school for the day or “work” from home. 

There is something to be said for a season that simultaneously demands stillness and quiet, and play and frivolity. After all, ‘tis the season...!  These kind of opposites are the heart of meditation. In meditation we’re actively doing nothing. It’s a fascinating contradiction. Yet the practise comes in finding the space in the contradiction. 

May you be able to find some stillness in the hectic pace leading up to the festive season. Hopefully, at least for most of my northern hemisphere readers, you'll have some snow to help you find it.