Attuning To The Heart
by Jaspen Amodeo
Meditation. What is “Meditation”? In all my years as a Spiritual seeker, I’ve heard many
answers to this question. From, “Focus on your breath,
remain equanimous” to “Steadfastly and with devotion
repeat Ram, Ram, Hari Ram as your heart sings to Krishna”,
to “See from your Third Eye, open to the Sacred Presence
that lies within”, and even to “Sit in undisturbed
silence and contemplate the universal vastness of your belly-button
lint”! Though some radical and all different, I must admit
that there are many ways to the peace and centering that we all
hope to find.
I remember my first class on
sitting. It was very simple. Very pure. Five of us sat in a circle
and were asked to consider the most basic possibility of their
being the idea of Spirit in our lives. It didn’t matter
what religion we might have come from. It didn’t matter
our experience of things supernatural or divine. What mattered
most was the degree of our willingness to open to the possibility
of a benevolent presence that was continuously awaiting our invitation
to help bring about our creativity and joy. It was from that
point, that first lesson, where I began to form a solid and working
foundation towards my own Spiritual unfolding.
Now, years later, I have realized
a way to share what has worked for me, in hopes of guiding others
to finding a way of their own. In taking ideas from those first
lessons, to exercises from Barry and Joyce Vissell’s “Living
From The Heart” work, and from several traditions in between,
I have come to a practice that I call “Attuning To The
Heart”. It is a personal sitting that draws Spirit closer
within, as well as drawing ones Self closer to the divine.
“Attuning To The Heart” is
the process of coming to one’s own path of Spiritual connection.
In a sense, it can be thought of as a “Best Of” spiritual
path ensemble, coming together in the most personal ways. Often
I’ve heard lamentations that one’s relationship to
the divine isn’t as close or alive on a personal level
as many would like it to be. Indeed, sometimes blindly following
a particular discipline might even become a distraction. By “Attuning
To The Heart”, we are asked to stop, slow down, and take
reflection on what we are doing in our lives, on our paths, and
what we desire. Though the goal is to become grounded in a unique
and thriving practice of self growth, this approach is geared
towards affecting each of us immediately and on a daily basis.
The time we set aside is practical and intentional, and opens
a space in our lives for a certain sweetness, comfort, and receptivity
to take place. It is a time we give to ourselves for nurturing,
reflection and expression which brings us to awareness of our
deepest needs. It opens us to receiving the comfort, healing,
and inspirations that might otherwise get lost among the often
hectic routine of our days.
So, now after coming to this
place on my path, is my life perfect? No. The dishes pile up,
bills cry my name, people call for all sorts of attention. But
am I grounded? Yes. For the most part. Even in times of conflict
or adversity, I have come to be able to ride life’s waves
with a certain degree of grace. I am still growing, still learning,
and eager to share with a circle of friends who I joyfully welcome
along the way.
Jaspen Amodeo has a Master’s
Degree in Counseling Psychology, and will be hosting a six week “Attuning
To The Heart” meditation series this fall. You may reach
her at 530-274-7629.
