Author Topic: Meditation Postures (Read 1434 times)

Amphibian · « **on:** March 04, 2014, 12:34:28 pm »

Now that the weather's been warming up a little bit, I'm trying to relocate some of my meditation sessions outside, specifically under the branches of the Venerable Sycamore tree in my backyard. However, I'm running into a minor problem; the ground under the tree is (perhaps obviously) not actually all that level; the root structure and assorted soil accumulations mean that the trunk is standing at the top of a mound. The meditation postures I'm familiar with all assume a level surface to place my body on, and in order to get that I'd need to place myself out of physical contact range of the trunk.

Has anybody else run into this sort of...awkward positioning in an outdoor setting? What did you do to resolve the problem?

dragonfaerie · « **Reply #1 on:** March 04, 2014, 02:57:43 pm »

Quote from: Amphibian;141552

Has anybody else run into this sort of...awkward positioning in an outdoor setting? What did you do to resolve the problem?

I usually sit on something if I'm going to be on the ground for a while, especially if it's been damp. So some cushions or blankets might resolve the issue, unless the ground is really steep. While this does mean you're not sitting directly on the ground, it sounds like you're either going to have to choose to be against the tree or against the ground, but not both.

Karen

Amphibian · « **Reply #2 on:** March 04, 2014, 03:40:29 pm »

Quote from: dragonfaerie;141573

I usually sit on something if I'm going to be on the ground for a while, especially if it's been damp. So some cushions or blankets might resolve the issue, unless the ground is really steep. While this does mean you're not sitting directly on the ground, it sounds like you're either going to have to choose to be against the tree or against the ground, but not both.

Karen

"Really steep" is a fairly accurate descriptor, especially for the two feet or so directly next to the tree. I'm not entirely sure what sort of growth and/or erosion patterns got it that way, but it's pretty much a 1:1 slope for that section.

While I certainly can lay out a blanket on the first level bit, that puts the trunk just out of physical contact range, and...I'm not sure whether I'm imagining this or not (not a whole lot of experience with energy-related stuff, yet), but it definitely feels like there's a...resonance...with the tree that I only get through touch.

dragonfaerie · « **Reply #3 on:** March 06, 2014, 03:26:31 pm »

Quote from: Amphibian;141579

"Really steep" is a fairly accurate descriptor, especially for the two feet or so directly next to the tree. I'm not entirely sure what sort of growth and/or erosion patterns got it that way, but it's pretty much a 1:1 slope for that section.

Well, it is your tree... leveling out the ground might be an undertaking, but some raised garden bed supplies (wood planking and brackets) or large stones and several bags of loose wood mulch to build up the slope would be easy (and not damaging to the tree, though not completely cheap). Or you could perhaps level a small bit and install a low bench.

Karen