sensory elements in every box.
The unique seasonal theme of each Meditation Box not only provides a gentle and mindful focus for our meditation practices, but also offers a the guiding light for the crafting of a mindfully curated box: directing the selection of our feature book and each product and experience.
1. Feature Book
Inside each seasonal Meditation Box is a mindfully selected Feature Book that aligns with our theme. Books are chosen from a wide range of contemporary, traditional, and new authors .. the hope is that they continue to inspire and nourish our interest, learning and practice. Three of our Feature Books:
’SOUL-CENTRED: Transform your Life in 8-weeks With Meditation’ by Sarah McLean from our Foundation Box providing all that you need to start building a personal meditation practice. *This Box is always available for next day shipping.
‘FALLING AWAKE’ by Jon Kabat-Zinn from the Spring ‘Senses’ Box (Sep 2022) which focused on the five primary senses in meditation. A very special book and wonderful guide to the magic of the sensory world and how the sense can inform our Mindfulness practice.
‘MINDFULNESS FOR A MORE CREATIVE LIFE’ by Dr Danny Penman from our Summer ‘Creativity’ Box offering practices to awaken and heighten creativity and innovative thought.
Then, it is time to consider what products and experiences will further expand your understanding and experience of meditation and mindfulness; also in alignment with the seasonal theme. I have two key requirements when considering what items to include in each box:
*Each item should have a sensory and expansive element .. connecting with your sense of touch, sight, hearing, smell and/or taste.
*With a focus on products that are unique, handmade, and from small artisan Australian suppliers and creators.
2. Sensory elements
Each of our primary senses provides us with a filter for seeing and experiencing the world around us. Each of our senses also offers a mindfulness gateway to start our meditation practice. Each product in The Meditation Box is chosen to spark curiosity around a specific sense (sometimes multiple) and expand our understanding and practice. For example:
Touch: Bringing conscious awareness to your sense of touch can be incredibly grounding in meditation. Two common types of touch found in traditional meditation would include the use of mala beads, and the holding of a hand mudra. Many Buddhist and Hindu practices include the movement, touching and holding of a string of 108 beads (mala), along with the holding or resting of hands in a posture known as a mudra; both provide a somatic anchor for our attention in meditation. The exploration of touch begins with the arrival of your box, through to the unwrapping and engagement with the practice associated with each item.
Sight: Along with delighting your sense of sight, each item in the box is also chosen as a visual reminder of your intention to meditate. In some meditation traditions the instruction is to have the eyes closed in meditation, and for others, to maintain a ‘capped’ or half-eyes open posture. Having experience with both forms of meditation offers the greatest flexibility for meditating anywhere you choose or wish to. One of my meditation teachers would often say, “Still eyes, still mind” as it is believed that our eyes and breathing patterns, can directly influence our mental and emotional state.
Hearing: Listening is a beautiful doorway to meditation and ancient and profound practice that widens our awareness and acceptance of all sounds (and distractions and disturbances). As our mind focuses on the soundscape of the world around us, including the neighbour mowing their lawn or the beauty of morning bird calls, our mind will follow and focus on sound and quieten the thinking mind. In many meditation traditions mantra music or chanting practice can also support a deep meditative state, and bells have long been used at shrines and in rituals to call our attention inward.
Smell: Scents are particularly powerful in evoking certain moods or feelings because when we inhale, chemicals stimulate areas of the brain that house emotions and memories. The sense of smell has the power to draw our awareness inward and in meditation, the use of certain meditative scents in candles, incense sticks or essential oils can quickly soothe mind, body, heart and spirit.
Taste: Taste is not often an element found in formal seated meditation, however at any time you can shift your attention to observe any lingering taste sensations in the mouth, and come into the present moment. One of the most delightful and powerful Mindfulness practice for embracing our sense of taste, would be Mindful Eating which cultivates our ability to pay attention to the practice of eating, as well as the delight of savouring all life experiences.
3. Australian
Our intention is to source beautiful and unique products for each box, primarily handmade or from small Australian brand creatives; in alignment with the theme. Being able to support other small Australian businesses, and provide subscribers with an introduction to such unique products and services .. is incredibly satisfying. A description of each product and an introduction to the creator, along with how to incorporate them in our seasonal practice, in included in our Box Guide (inside each box).
The value of each box is $200+
The Winter ‘Retreat’ Box
We have now announced our feature book for The Winter ‘Retreat’ Box … Practice You by Elena Brower, and in another week, I shall share another product chosen for this box .. perhaps the delicious ceremonial item to awaken your sense of taste while on retreat, or the sacred cleansing and clearing scent product to prepare your retreat space?
Stay tuned!
The Winter 'Retreat' Meditation Box ships on 6th June 2023 - FURTHER DETAILS HERE
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