In my last post, I guided you through a simple flower mindfulness practice to guide you through your sense experience. If you enjoyed that, and are looking to deepen the practice a bit further, read on for a follow up exercise...
Step 2: Reflect on presence
- Is there a particular flower that you recognize? From where do you recognize it? What do you recall?
- Observe your emotional reaction to those observations; do you find yourself gravitating to some flowers over others?
- If the memory has pleasant aspects, can you observe those pleasant feelings? If the memory has unpleasant aspects, can you hold and observe those emotions? Sit with the awareness of those feelings.
- Do other thoughts come forth as you look at the flowers? Are memories triggered? Can you identify any recurring automatic thought patterns within the observed thoughts?
- Imagine the many individuals involved in creating this arrangement, from the farmers to the florists to the delivery people. Go further back; while the farmer grew the flowers, s/he had to buy the seeds from someone else. How far back can you go?
- When you think of the people or person who sent the flowers to you - what would you like to say to them about their act?
