I love deer and love that your videos captured their family goofiness. We need goofy all day long. I'm with you on the inability to meditate (even when I do yoga I am 5 seconds in and completely over the pose I'm supposed to be holding for 60 seconds). We recently adopted another dog and Marley calls him the Humble Ponderer because he sits and just stares out at the yard. So I found the way to meditate: I watch Ray do it.
As someone who has tried to meditate, but gets panic attacks every single time, it’s so reassuring whenever I see someone else who has a negative reaction. People-at-large are so sure it’s always always a positive!
YES! The assumption that panic is just the “uncomfortable feeling you’re supposed to work through.” Like, no, dude, I know the difference between discomfort/mild anxiety and panic and I promise you, there is no mental health benefit to routinely forcing myself into the latter.
Katie, thank you for this wonderful glimpse into you world. And you are meditating, just not a popularized version.
I have a friend who leans his head back with closed eyes, making his thumb and fingers touch, going 'ommmmm' to supposedly mimic me when I'm meditating. I always ask him what the fuck he is doing; that's not me!
I will confess, my urge is to help you do it. But that's exactly wrong.
I wouldn't worry about not seeming to meditate. I've had no luck with it either (maybe ADHD?). And no less than Richard Dawkins (under the tutelage of no less than Sam Harris) couldn't do it either.
I have a hunch that I (and perhaps you too) sometimes meditate without realizing it or it doesn't look like what meditation is supposed to look like. Seems like another of those "greater than / less than" things some folks use to prove they're better than me. "They that know the Tao know it not. They that know it not, know it."
As others here have said, your deer meditation seems like meditation to me. I suppose that's what you meant to express.
Loved this, video was great, especially the cat chase scene. No one was hurt! There is no such thing as 'real' meditation. OR, know that you are really meditating when you pay close attention to those critters. I meditate by watching bees do their thing on my lavender bushes. Try it, try watching honey bees for 5 minutes, or more. It's wonderful! (But I have to admit I cannot watch a buck scrape its antlers against my young trees, breaking off branches and scoring the bark. I just cannot.) I saw a tv show last evening with a scene where the hero says that you can't walk near deer without scattering them, but you can ride a horse right through a herd & they don't care.
2. I honestly believe that meditation as advertised in our culture right now is exclusionary and also not that helpful for many people (including single moms, of which I am one). And I have done ten-hour sits (before I had my kid). I think you’re doing great.
Walking meditation (aka walks in nature or in places surrounded by trees) has always worked much better for me than traditional meditation. Deer are frequent visitors at my childhood home, and they always bring me a sense of calm when I see them on the hill (less so when they’re crossing the road at night while I’m driving though). Thanks for sharing.
When I cannot sit meditation, i lean on informal practice- attention on seeing, on hearing, on gentle movement, on breath awareness- if gardening (or currently clearing it out) i listen to the sounds, focus on the textures or temperatures on my hands.
I feel the same about deer and ground hogs- there is one living under our stairs, who has dug a few holes in the ground, I love it when it sits out to catch some sun, so cute... I just watch him/her and imagine im in hobbit land. Sweet post
I love deer and love that your videos captured their family goofiness. We need goofy all day long. I'm with you on the inability to meditate (even when I do yoga I am 5 seconds in and completely over the pose I'm supposed to be holding for 60 seconds). We recently adopted another dog and Marley calls him the Humble Ponderer because he sits and just stares out at the yard. So I found the way to meditate: I watch Ray do it.
I love everything about this. And I’m going to need some pics of Ray!!!
I will DM a few :) :)
👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Your piece provided a calmness my morning was missing, wisdom (as always), and wonderful videos. Thank you for everything that you do.
Thank you! ❤️
This is profound & honestly, it is a work of literary art.
That’s extremely kind, thank you!
As someone who has tried to meditate, but gets panic attacks every single time, it’s so reassuring whenever I see someone else who has a negative reaction. People-at-large are so sure it’s always always a positive!
YES! The assumption that panic is just the “uncomfortable feeling you’re supposed to work through.” Like, no, dude, I know the difference between discomfort/mild anxiety and panic and I promise you, there is no mental health benefit to routinely forcing myself into the latter.
Katie, thank you for this wonderful glimpse into you world. And you are meditating, just not a popularized version.
I have a friend who leans his head back with closed eyes, making his thumb and fingers touch, going 'ommmmm' to supposedly mimic me when I'm meditating. I always ask him what the fuck he is doing; that's not me!
I will confess, my urge is to help you do it. But that's exactly wrong.
You have found your way. Thanks for sharing.
Good afternoon, Katie!
I wouldn't worry about not seeming to meditate. I've had no luck with it either (maybe ADHD?). And no less than Richard Dawkins (under the tutelage of no less than Sam Harris) couldn't do it either.
I have a hunch that I (and perhaps you too) sometimes meditate without realizing it or it doesn't look like what meditation is supposed to look like. Seems like another of those "greater than / less than" things some folks use to prove they're better than me. "They that know the Tao know it not. They that know it not, know it."
As others here have said, your deer meditation seems like meditation to me. I suppose that's what you meant to express.
Tim
Yes it is, Tim, thank you!
Loved this, video was great, especially the cat chase scene. No one was hurt! There is no such thing as 'real' meditation. OR, know that you are really meditating when you pay close attention to those critters. I meditate by watching bees do their thing on my lavender bushes. Try it, try watching honey bees for 5 minutes, or more. It's wonderful! (But I have to admit I cannot watch a buck scrape its antlers against my young trees, breaking off branches and scoring the bark. I just cannot.) I saw a tv show last evening with a scene where the hero says that you can't walk near deer without scattering them, but you can ride a horse right through a herd & they don't care.
Untamed!
1. This sounds like meditation to me
2. I honestly believe that meditation as advertised in our culture right now is exclusionary and also not that helpful for many people (including single moms, of which I am one). And I have done ten-hour sits (before I had my kid). I think you’re doing great.
<3 <3 <3 (and so are you!)
Walking meditation (aka walks in nature or in places surrounded by trees) has always worked much better for me than traditional meditation. Deer are frequent visitors at my childhood home, and they always bring me a sense of calm when I see them on the hill (less so when they’re crossing the road at night while I’m driving though). Thanks for sharing.
❤️❤️
Love this! I can't meditate either! Sadly I don't have deer in my garden but I do find mindfulness every day in nature :)
❤️🌺☀️
When I cannot sit meditation, i lean on informal practice- attention on seeing, on hearing, on gentle movement, on breath awareness- if gardening (or currently clearing it out) i listen to the sounds, focus on the textures or temperatures on my hands.
I feel the same about deer and ground hogs- there is one living under our stairs, who has dug a few holes in the ground, I love it when it sits out to catch some sun, so cute... I just watch him/her and imagine im in hobbit land. Sweet post