/morsl/taxonomy/term/127/all en /morsl/article/meditation-spiritual-wellness/spirituality-long-winters-nap <p>In the first lines of the poem <i>The Night Before Christmas</i>, the narrator had just settled down for a long winter’s nap before being awoken by a visit from Santa Claus. For anyone feeling like 2024 has been a struggle, the sound of a long nap is deeply appealing, preferably with no interruptions! Yet too often, we talk ourselves out of this essential rest, and instead pile on more activities and commitments, plans and projects – far more than can really fit into whatever “free” time we have.</p> Fri, 20 Dec 2024 19:41:54 +0000 Carlene Gardner 2884 at /morsl /morsl/article/meditation-spiritual-wellness/neuroscience-prayer-and-journaling <p>What can we do to find relief when we feel anxious, threatened, or stuck in patterns of low moods or spiraling thoughts? Whether this is caused by unpleasant interactions on social media, the burdens of schoolwork, or worrying about the future, journaling and prayer can both help according to happiness researcher and expert Arthur Brooks. He shared his thoughts on a <a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/6ifnhTZLpllBAjQwK0SKvs?si=rtwYtU8hTHWq_YdioAAEmA&nd=1&dlsi=4d608c2581584245">recent podcast episode</a> (listen at 32:09 for thoughts on anxiety, journaling, and prayer).</p> Wed, 06 Nov 2024 21:05:27 +0000 Candice Wendt 2865 at /morsl /morsl/article/meditation-spiritual-wellness/akida <p>When I was little, I was an idealist, and my dream was world peace. Then I entered adolescence and became convinced, to my great dismay, that things had already gone so wrong in the world that my dream could never by anything more than simply a dream, and that in fact, our world was destined for ruin. I see things differently now, and my idea of the world has been informed by my experience of it; I’m no longer much of an idealist, nor am I a pessimist.</p> Wed, 06 Nov 2024 16:53:51 +0000 Erica Crawford 2864 at /morsl /morsl/article/ecospirituality-meditation-spiritual-wellness/labyrinth-walks <p>In <i>Waiting for God</i>, Simone Weil writes: “The beauty of the world is the mouth of a labyrinth,” referring to the mystical path that has been walked for centuries in contemplation. These ritual and symbolic pathways are found around the world in different cultures, but are perhaps best known in the Western world from their use during medieval times. In the last 30 years, there has been renewed interest in labyrinths as a contemplative practice accessible to all. A labyrinth is not a maze, but rather a single path, and there is no “right or wrong” way to walk a labyrinth.</p> Fri, 30 Aug 2024 17:52:23 +0000 Carlene Gardner 2792 at /morsl /morsl/article/meditation-queerness-and-faith-spiritual-wellness/imagination-spiritual-experience <p>In the film <em>All of Us Strangers</em>, main character Adam uses creative and personalized ways to initiate his own healing journey. Adam’s parents passed unexpectedly when he was eleven years old. Since then, he has struggled with intense feelings of being alone. Adam imagines and writes about what could happen if he could visit his parents in his childhood home as they were the year of their death, 1987. What would it be like if parents and son could reunite 36 years later, now that Adam is a professional writer in his late 40’s?</p> Fri, 30 Aug 2024 17:45:43 +0000 Candice Wendt 2791 at /morsl /morsl/article/interfaith-dialogue-meditation/what-sufism <p>Sufism is the broad term given to several related mystical schools, or movements within Islam. Although elements of mysticism have always been present in Islam to some degree or another Sufism became extremely prominent and well ordered starting in the 11th century. It is around this time that the formalized Sufi orders started to appear in something approaching the forms we see them in today.</p> Wed, 15 Nov 2023 19:43:47 +0000 MORSL 2643 at /morsl /morsl/article/radix/meditating-music <p>Perfect and pure meditation, I suppose, would require no noise at all, or at least a complete <em>tuning out</em> of the noise. But for those of use who need a little help centring ourselves, focussing, concentrating, or zoning out into a meditative-<em>like</em> state, sometimes music can help. And some music is better than others.</p> Wed, 01 Feb 2023 21:30:06 +0000 Krissy Keech 2476 at /morsl /morsl/article/spiritual-wellness/breathing-balance <p>Balance comes in many forms. We balance ourselves physically, on tight-ropes of in yoga poses; mentally, when we weigh the pros and cons of a situation, and emotionally, when we decide we need a hug or an hour to ourselves. But where do we look to balance ourselves spiritually?</p> <p>Some of us attend a synagogue, a temple, a mosque, or a church. Others play music or create art. And some of us meditate. </p> Fri, 11 Nov 2022 21:43:16 +0000 Sarah Mitchell 2388 at /morsl /morsl/article/spiritual-wellness/thoughts-meditation-and-prayer <p>Recently I've read various thoughts about meditation and prayer that have stuck with me. Journalist Johann Hari's book <i>Lost Connections</i> discusses the power of regular meditation to bring healing from anxiety and depression. It opens space for transcendent insight and new meanings and choices available to us. Meditative states allow us to shed the weight of our egos, including worrying about what others think, self-defensiveness, self-criticism, shame, etc.</p> Thu, 20 Oct 2022 20:28:18 +0000 Candice Wendt 2361 at /morsl