Donut's Meditation Exercise V2.0

[Donut]

Hello all,

   I was watching a fruit fly clean dust off of my computer screen today when I realized; I have another meditation exercise to share!
   This one comes from before I knew what meditation was. I was experiencing medication-induced paranoia from my new prescription ("The lamps are watching me and they don't approve." type paranoia), and was desperate to alleviate the stress of it.
   I have this written in my notepad as a "visualization exercise", really it's a form of meditation, and developing it was the springboard into my exploration of spirituality.

   This practice will not be universally effective. This will be more effective the more times you have mowed a lawn.

Donut's Meditation Exercise V2.0:

Step 1: Assume the position.

   Sit in any way that is comfortable. There are a few tips here if sitting is not comfortable:
 https://www.astralpulse.com/forums/welcome-to-spiritual-evolution!/donut-s-meditation-exercise-v1-0/msg379145/#msg379145

Step 2: Mow a lawn.

   Before you hop on your riding mower, or rent equipment and invade the nearest grassy park, please note that step 2 is not to be taken literally.
   Mowing a lawn has an interesting combination of factors. It is not generally intellectually demanding, but it does require steady attention (avoid obstacles, keep in line with your mowing pattern, etc). Additionally, it stimulates many senses. Let's build our meditation.

Step 2.1: Visualize the lawn.

   "I can't visualize." you may be thinking. That's okay, do this instead. Do you remember the most grassy area you've ever seen? Take a minute to compare memories if one does not immediately stand out.
   Have you thought of one? Excellent, the way that you are remembering it is all that is required, no need to strain yourself. "Visualize" is used loosely here.
   Anyway, visualize your lawn, Mom's lawn, or any lawn you are familiar with. Where are the obstacles? What sorts of trees will you need to avoid? Does anything need to be moved or cleaned up before we mow?

Step 2.2: Commence mowerly actions.

   Whether you're mounting your trusty steed of a riding mower, grabbing the ol' faithful push mower, or begrudgingly pulling out Grandpa's engineless (and dull) human-powered gear driven mower, now is the time to visualize the equpment you will mow with.
   Remember what it is like to sit on (or stand behind) your mower, and how you operate the equipment. Now visualize the drive (or walk) of this equipment on the lawn you selected from step 2.1. Mow your visualized lawn at the same speed and pattern as you would in physicality.

   Smell the grass clippings. Are they a fresh, lively scent? Was this a dry season, offering a more dusty smell? Does it tickle your nose, or is the smell a gentle one?
   Smell the equipment. Can you smell the mower as it runs? (NOTE: it is not recommended to intentionally smell any emissions from equipment outside of visualization exercises) Is this a rich, sharp scent?

   Feel the terrain. Does the surface of the lawn rock the mower gently as you drive over it? Does it tilt the handle in your grasp as you push your mower along?
   Feel the air, is there a gentle breeze? Is it a hot and sunny day, or is it cool and cloudy?

   Hear your mower. Is this a low, droning hum? Does it change as you mow different areas, are some patches more work for your mower than others? How does this affect the sound?

   See now your progress so far. How many rows have you mowed? Have you lined up the outside edge of your mower with the outermost edge of the current patch you are mowing?
   Are you avoiding the obstacles you noted before? Do you have any to avoid soon?
   Has the mower cut cleanly, or are there some spots that will need a second go-over?

   Combine all of these senses and observations, and continue to mow the lawn.



   And that's about it! This is effective for me because it involves a lot of senses, is simple to visualize, and is a strong memory for me.
   Mowing a lawn requires steady attention if the job is to be done well, so it is a good task to emulate in a visualization exercise.
   When I developed this exercise, it brought me out of a panic attack and into the most blissful state I had experienced so far. Since then, meditation is a daily practice for me.
   I hope someone finds this useful, this exact excercise won't be effective for everyone, but you can certainly tailor one for yourself that involves as many of your senses as possible, but not too much intellectual resource.

Yours,

-Donut