Guided Meditation: Mindfulness of Sound (with Bells)

Today's episode of the podcast is a guided meditation on Mindfulness of Sound! In this practice, we will use the sense of hearing to connect to the present moment. During the recording, you will hear a few different meditation bells and singing bowls. This is not really a "sound bath" - rather, it's an experience of how you can use sounds in a Mindfulness Meditation practice, allowing hearing to become a meditative anchor. Practicing Mindfulness of Sound Teaches Us: Nothing is really a distraction in Mindfulness Meditation, because we can pay attention to all facets of our experience. Sounds are happening in the present moment (unlike most of our thoughts). So, we can use hearing to come back to the here and now. Sounds are impermanent - they have a beginning, middle, and end, and they are constantly changing. What else in our experience is like that? Mindfulness Meditation is not just the ability to focus on one thing. It also includes a more open, receptive style of awareness. You'll be guided to listen for the sharp beginning of the sound as the bell is struck, followed by the resonance as the bell rings, and then the fading away of sounds. We can direct our attention to specific sounds, and we can rest back into a more open awareness of the whole soundscape, and the silences between the sounds. You can do this meditation seated on the ground, or in a chair, or lying down. Any position that's kind and friendly to your body is good! -- P.S. For more of a sound healing approach, check out Episode 67, which is an interview with holistic vocal therapist, Heather Gross. The show notes and resources for that episode include a recorded sound bath. -- For more links and resources mentioned in this episode, find the show notes at movedtomeditate.yoga/podcast. And, you can sign up for your "Library Card" to access this month's FREE practices in the Moved To Meditate Class Library! Feel free to reach out through my website with your thoughts on this episode. You can also connect with me on Instagram at @addie_movedtomeditate (for mindfulness, movement, yoga, and pictures of Pacific Northwest nature and my adorable kitty, Mustache).