For some time now, I've started every morning with the same routine. After showering, Lisa and I sit for 15 minutes. First, I set my Martin Jr. out in the living room by the couch where I will sit. I set my phone timer for 15 minutes, strike two Tibetian bowls, and tap start.
I do some variation of breath meditation for five minutes to center myself. Usually, I breathe in through the souls of my feet, up into my heart chakra. Next, I exhale out toward the ceiling through my crown chakra. On the next inhalation, I visualize the energy coming in from above. After a brief inspiratory hold, I focus exhalation down and out through the souls of my feet down.
I repeat this sequence of breaths and visualization for perhaps a few minutes. It usually doesn't take very long at all before I feel calm and centered. Next, I form some musical intention to begin my playing. Not so much a plan as a starting point. An example might be to think about a specific key, chord, or mode to start my playing. I'm not sure thinking is the correct word for this phase. It's more like waiting for a thought to come and noticing it.
After all these mornings, I can pretty well tell when I'm ready to begin. A glance at the timer almost always reveals that there are around 10 minutes left. Very mindful of my actions, I pick up my acoustic guitar. I begin my playing using whatever thought has swum into my consciousness. This morning it was the thought of a G minor chord using only two strings to start. I start with the open G and B strings. Letting the B string ring open, I explore different notes on the G string that are part of the G minor pentatonic scale. From there, I move through different string combinations associated with a G chord. Perhaps a simple progression like Gm, Cm, Dm, and variations.
I continue to play, allowing nothing more than my intent and intuition to guide me until my timer sounds. Then I sound the two Tibetian bowls and start breakfast. I have found that on many days, the things I discover become motifs or reusable parts in compositions I will do later in the day.
Do you have a daily meditation ritual?
Does it involve music in any way?
Do you prefer to sit in silence?
Nice how we all have a ritual, as do I. Daily for years. Not my blog so I will not write a book. Yes I have a daily meditation ritual, yes I sit in silence though, candles, all, music after most of the time,
ReplyDeleteGreat post Ed!
Thanks, Chris,
DeleteWhatever works is the right ritual for you. Some people go through a series of repeating rituals. Like a schedule. For me, a short ritual like mine leaves room for other rituals. Like practice, composing, listening etc...