Mind Morphing & Letting Go & Tuning In
Materials:
Timer, paper, pencil, quiet environment
Prepare your sketching materials in a quiet and comfortable space. Place your paper in front of you, and as you begin, envision a blank canvas awaiting your creative exploration. With your pencil, start by drawing a large square toward the center of the paper. This square represents the vast expanse of the universe, encapsulating everything you can conceive of and even those aspects beyond your current imagination.
Inside this square, allow your thoughts to manifest as you visualize a tapestry of circles. Draw this first circle, large and anywhere within the square, symbolizing the most compelling thoughts in your conscious awareness. As you move around inside the square, sketch six or more circles of various sizes. Some circles can be larger, others smaller—these variations mirror the range and complexity of your thoughts.
With a sense of curiosity and mindfulness, extend your sketching to fill the remaining open space within the square. Take a full two minutes to add more circles, weaving them in between the existing ones. Try to fill in all the open spaces within the large circle. Each circle becomes a window, like a different color or shade into a specific category of your thoughts. These categories can be as diverse as relationships, personal philosophy, body image, daily routines, work-related matters, or societal concerns, etc.
What you are looking for is filtering through your mind to find repetitive thoughts. What do you notice when you enter a room? Or see another person? Or cars. streetlights or open spaces as you drive? What is the default thinking of your mind that becomes your point of view for comparison to everything and everyone else? What are the thoughts that keep returning to your mind day after day? Emotions, moods, body sensations, sounds, sights, activities?
Now, as you observe your intricate sketch, focus on categorizing your thoughts according to these or similar themes. Use your pencil to gently jot down keywords or symbols within the circles, symbolizing the essence of each category. Allow your intuition to guide you as you decide which categories stand out as the most significant or dominant in your current mental landscape.
Select several of the larger circles to represent the categories that resonate most with you. Jot down a word or two within each of these circles naming that category.
As you reflect upon your sketch, begin to address the questions that have been presented throughout this exercise. Let your sketch be a visual anchor, guiding your contemplation and introspection. As you contemplate the questions* below and explore the layers of your thoughts, add notes, symbols, or additional details to your sketch. Allow your creativity to flow as your sketch becomes a visual representation of your inner world.
Embrace any emotions that arise during this process, recognizing that your sketch serves as a channel for deeper self-awareness as it stretches open pathways from your subconscious into intuitive thoughts or conscious awareness. It may evoke a mix of feelings—comfort and discomfort alike. Remember, this exercise aims to allow those emotions to rise to the surface, creating space for understanding and growth.
*Which of the thoughts in your mind is you?
When you change your mind do you change with it?
Are you inside or outside of your mind?
Where does your mind live?
How many thoughts make up a mood?
How big is your mind?
When you change your mind who changes it?
As you approach the conclusion of your sketching meditation, take a moment to observe the intricate tapestry you’ve created. Just as awareness is always available, ready to guide you, your sketching serves as a tangible reminder of the journey you’ve embarked upon.
With a final deep breath, slowly shift your focus back to the present moment. Your sketch stands as a testament to your introspection, a visual representation of your thoughts and emotions. As you bring your meditation to a close, hold onto the insights gained from this exercise, knowing that your creative spirit and mindful exploration have been woven into the lines and circles on your paper.
Sketching circles bloom
Thoughts in patterns minds cocoon
Awareness flies in soon
Spiritual Gravity 