What Counts as Meditation?
Meditation and self-reflection practices come in all shapes and sizes. Sometimes, meditating can conjure up images of sitting in uncomfortable positions for uncomfortably long periods of time, with an uncomfortable amount of silence. We don’t often have time for that when we’re raising little ones! But really, to meditate is just:
- To engage in contemplation or reflection
- To engage in mental exercise…for the purpose of reaching a heightened level of spiritual awareness
(Merriam-Webster)
Think of all of the possibilities! A reflective practice can easily be something that you tailor to fit your needs. It doesn’t have to look or sound or feel just one way. After my daughter was born, I needed something that was easily accessible. My spirit needed some nourishment, but I didn’t have the time or focus to sit for long (or short) periods of time to meditate. Besides, it wasn’t what my soul was asking for anyway. It wanted something different.
I was introduced to oracle cards by our doula during my first pregnancy, and I totally gave her the side eye the first time she pulled them out. I wasn’t fully owing my “woo” side then, and I really had no idea what they were, how to use them, or how they fit into my life. But before long, I fell in love with the simple magic of picking the “right” card every time and reading the message it had for me. Using them as inspiration for some meditative time has been one of the most accessible ways to remain connected to my spirituality during times of stress or even just busy-ness. During times of great joy, I also reach for the decks. They have a wonderful grounding quality about them.
Oracle Decks in Action
When my second child was an infant, I had a nightly ritual. I would get cozy in some pajama pants, make sure I had on a nursing-friendly shirt (because of course she would require a snack before bed), and pop my daughter into our well-loved gray Ergo. In my darkened bedroom, we would start to shhh, sway, and rock. I would find my way over to my dresser, which had belonged to my grandmother, and let my hands find the deck of cards.
Feeling my feet planted firmly on the ground, I would “shuffle” the deck (yeah, I still haven’t mastered that beautiful arching card trick) and hold it to my daughter’s back, as close to my heart as I could get. Breathing deeply, I would ask for guidance, either generally or around something specific. Often, my questions had to do with my role as a mother. Our family’s flow, with adding a second little to the mix, was going through a time of great transition.
What I would get, without fail, was always exactly what I needed. Sometimes the card was so clearly linked to a present-day challenge or question that it might as well have smacked me in the face. Sometimes the message wouldn’t be clear to me right away, and I would leave the card on the dresser for a few days to let the message sink in. And unsurprisingly, it always did. Something that continues to amaze me is when a I draw a particular card time and time again. Clearly, it’s begging for attention to a certain theme in my life.
As my daughter got older, I shifted away from the nighttime card meditation. I don’t remember exactly when things changed, or why. The cards haven’t gone anywhere though, and I now have three beloved decks. Each feels right to use at different times. I’m so grateful for the roots of all of the varying messages from different cultures and traditions reflected in the cards and their accompanying guidebooks, and how easily the messages are translated into present-day life. It’s beautiful.
I Want to Try!
This is the very first deck I ever owned, which is the one our doula used with me:
These next two are ones that I love for different reasons, but the Native Spirit deck has briefer accompanying text and the Kuan Yin deck has more involved exercises that go along with each card. This Kuan Yin deck is a bit different from the one I have, but I have heard that it is equally beautiful- the one I have was SUPER expensive right now for some reason.
Explore. There are countless deck options and there is something out there for everyone! If you have a bit of extra time, you can even do multi-card spreads, which are SO fun to do especially around the beginning of a new year.
As always, tell me what you think and what you choose to try! What works? What doesn’t? Is there something that lights up that gorgeous spirit of yours?
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Emily Souder is a self-care and authenticity coach, mama, and writer in Maryland. She helps moms and mom entrepreneurs who are feeling lost in the demands of motherhood and out of touch with themselves achieve clarity, focus, and empowerment using intuition-informed guidance and skill building. She is married to her best friend (so cheesy, but so true!), has two littles (ages 1 and 4), and is on her own path of rocking her authenticity. Find her on MotherHustle, Instagram and Facebook.
