Clean and Serene
Stilling the Mind
I was about 21 years young when I
gave my heart to my Lord as my personal Savior. At
age 25 I memorized the following verse:
“When a (woman’s) ways please the Lord, He makes even (her) enemies
to be at peace with (her).” Proverbs
16:17
When I was 33 years young my husband left me and I
began a season of deep sorrow and reflection – This
is when I came to Somersville, CT. At that time
I memorized the following verses:
“I am assured and know that [God being
a partner in (my) labor] all things work together and are
[fitting into a plan] for good to and for
those who love God and are called according to [His]
design and purpose.” Romans
8:28
“So (I) take comfort and am encouraged and confidently and boldly
say ‘The Lord is my Helper’ I will not
be seized with alarm [I will not fear or dread or be
terrified]. What can man do to me?” Hebrews
13:6
I began my practice of the Luxury
Body Treatment and Bath at A Victorian Sentiment in 1989. Many of
my written materials include a version of the following
verse:
“Do not forget or neglect or refuse
to extend hospitality to strangers [in the brotherhood-being
friendly, cordial, and gracious, sharing the comforts
of your home and doing your part generously], for
through it some have entertained angels without knowing
it.” Hebrews
13:2
From my vantage point, one way I have learned to Still ‘my’ Mind
is via the power of the Holy Spirit through the word
of God.
You may have heard, “Can any good thing come
from Nazareth?” John 1:46 or “Can any
Good thing come from Somersville?” Seventeen
long years later – I can say “yes” – AVictorian
Sentiment B&B and Your Destiny Spa continues to
be refined and enjoyed by folks from all over the world. Why? To ‘Still
the Mind.’ How? In the Last 35 years in
the U.S.A some people have recognized the need to
reflect on their complicated or stress-filled lives.
One
way you can begin is in the Bath:
Be Comfortable
The Buoyancy you experience in the bath makes it an
ideal place to free your mind from your body. You’ll
find that the shedding of gravity that occurs in water
makes the process of clearing consciousness simpler. It’s
as though the body’s weightlessness inspires
the mind. Furthermore, the accompanying freedom
from clothes and interruptions promotes the concentration
necessary for effective meditation.
Avoid Distraction
Close your eyes and lie as still as you can in your
bath. Let your body float.
Breathe
As you soak in the tub, experience the cleansing agent
of the air, and gently inhale to the count of 3. Then
exhale to the count of 4. Pause and repeat. Give
yourself time between breaths. Notice that
you do not need to gulp at the air; there is plenty. Repeat
for about 5 minutes. Next time, inhale to
the count of 4 and exhale to the count of 6. After
practice, you will find that counting becomes unnecessary;
you will enter the rhythm of this calm breathing
as soon as you begin to meditate.
Chant
I found singing or saying or listening to the words
of “Amazing Grace” or a verse from God’s
word is an effective way to clear my mind. It
creates a satisfying result that powerfully acts on
my consciousness. “The Lord is my shepherd
[to feed, guide, and shield me], I shall not lack. He
makes me lie down in [fresh, tender] green pastures;
He leads me beside the still and restful waters.” Proverbs
23:1-2.
Maybe the Lord is leading you to the ‘still and restful
waters’ of A Victorian Sentiment? We will
delight in your presence!
Our next article will be about the Rituals of Meditation. Until
then, Godspeed!
Love,
LLL
xo |
