Safari: March 29 - April 4

Did you know safari actually means “long journey?” Here are some important lessons I’m learning while on safari in Botswana:

• Always stay inside the vehicle.

• Keep quiet to avoid stressing animals.

• Listen to your guide at all times.

This is also pretty good advice for being mindful, especially if you:

• Consider your body to be your life’s vehicle.

• Realize you too are a member of the animal kingdom

• Remember you are your own best guide.

Practice

Let’s go on a meditation safari. Apply sunscreen, bring some water, and grab your binoculars. In other words, be prepared for a journey. Leave behind anything that is going to get in the way like yesterday’s woes or tomorrow’s worries. Take your seat and buckle up. Remember to remain in the body at all times.

Sit still and explore the untamed territory of your mind. Be curious. Anything can happen at any time. Look up from your everyday concerns. You might spot a giraffe or something equally wondrous. Be patient and see what appears. Even if the lions of your fears come roaring, they won’t hurt you if you remain centered and calm. Open your ears. Open all of your senses. Feel your connection to all beings everywhere. We all share this amazing home.

Experience being fully present. Let go of everything. Listen deeply. The quieter you get the more you can hear. Trust your inner wisdom. Allow it to guide you to new vistas. Just maybe you’ll discover something you’ve never seen before. How has today’s mindful journey changed you? Use the camera of your memory to capture a photo. Carry it with you throughout the day.