Author: Adele Satori

I am a life long artist dedicated to inviting curiosity and enhancing life experience using my creative gifts while walking with others on our creative journeys. I'm a 500-hour Authorized Teacher of Instinctive Meditation®. Meditation and creative practices flow together so well!
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The Vibration of Music

Adele Satori
Image shows close up of Reverie lap harp I use in my sound experience offerings

I woke up this morning thinking about the vibration of sound. Literally. Eyes opened. Vibration of sound.

I went spontaneously into meditation around the vibration of sound, specifically music.
The memories of laying on the living room floor during our Sunday family listening sessions, the vibrations from the speakers flowing into my ears, and my body through the floor.

I can’t remember the first time our family went to an orchestral concert (I was so lucky we did this!), but suddenly I was transported to the dusty balcony of Northrop Auditorium, sitting on a scritchy burgundy velvet seat, sensing the pre-concert excitement. I don’t remember it then, but this morning I had the distinct memory of feeling the vibrations of the music on my body. I lay there in my bed this morning for a few minutes, reliving that kidhood memory from so long ago.

And later, as an oboe player, from 6th grade to early adulthood. Sitting in a band or orchestra. The vibration of the reed, the pulsation of the sounds around me, becoming one with the flow of music.

Once watching a beloved person share their music on stage, I could see the pulsing vibrations of the music expand over the audience.

How many times music was my solace, my companion, my healer. I hadn’t really thought of it until today how much a component the vibration has been in all this.

In Sanskrit, the word spanda has definitions of vibration, movement, puslation, the Universal Pulsation (and more. I’m learning Sanskrit is interesting in this way). Everything around us is in vibration, appearing as objects, light, sound, subtle energy sensations. A continual dance of expansion and contraction.

The Sanskrit word tantra, contains definitions of “the wire or string of a lute”, and also “strings of the heart” (thank you Lorin Roche, PhD for introducing me to Sanskrit!).

Maybe this is why I enjoy so much incorporating the Reverie harp and monochord in my current musical explorations and offerings. Sometimes I like to lay on the floor, with the Reverie harp on my belly, languidly plucking the strings, and being carried away on the vibrations, much like that little girl, laying on the floor, enraptured by the vibration of sound.

creative practice, instinctive meditation, meditation, poetry, spirituality, writing

Just So

Adele Satori
Image shows a rippling sunlit pool of water surrounded by rocks and ferns.

I started as expected.
The Way
it is done.
Eyes closed.
Hands folded just so.
Then I felt my bones
pressing into the stone seat.
A blade of grass
Tickled my foot.

My eyes opened.
I watched bees gather
at the waters edge
to share a drink
and talk of sweetest flowers.

Two butterflies dared each other
on invisible currents.

Bird landed,
flitted
and chirped.

A rock leaned over to talk
to a tree.

Tree curve echoed
the curve of the creek.

And I knew.

It is every bit as much a prayer,
being part of things as they unfold,
As to sit.
As expected.
The Way
it is done.
Eyes closed.
Hands folded just so.

~AMS 16 Aug 17

inspiration, instinctive meditation, journaling, meditation

Rocks in My Pocket

Adele Satori
Image shows rocks in a pants pocket.

The other day I was talking with a friend, and they mentioned another friend who was holding on to ways of being that were no longer serving them and weighing them down. I gently told my friend that some of what they were dealing with was beyond the scope of friendship (i.e. a good time to bring in a mental health professional), and at times the best we can do is be a witness to someone else’s journey. And then I said:

“It’s like they have a bunch of rocks in their pocket! It’s like they’ve collected all these rocks of experience and habits over the years, put them in their pocket, and won’t get rid of them.”

We went on to talk about how sometimes it’s so challenging to release habits and ways of thinking that really aren’t doing us any good. Rocks in a pocket is a good analogy. Some are pretty and nice to take out to look at now and then, some get annoying and poke us, and others bunch together and take up space we could use for something else, weighing us down and slowing our journey.

I suggested it could be an interesting exercise to go out on a walk, collect rocks, or find some near a lakeshore or creek edge. Hold each rock, name what it represents, say what you’re making room for, and send the rock sailing into the water (being mindful of any nearby living things). Water is so purifying, and it would be satisfying to watch the ripples as the water settled back into calm.

My friend said it could be cool to do it on a hike and throw rocks into a canyon, to which I replied… you’d want to be sure no one was down below so you don’t bonk someone on the head with your troubles (i.e. transfer your burdens on to someone else).

If you’re not able to get somewhere to empty your pocket of rocks, I suppose you could write things on paper and burn them (be safe!), or as an acquaintance did years ago, put on some goggles and smash garage sale dishes in your basement, naming what each item represented. That person ended up making mosaics with all the broken bits! Some cities have rage rooms, where for a fee you can go smash stuff.

But there’s nothing quite so satisfying as flinging a rock with all your might, and watching it disappear into the water.

daring, Joy, risk

Honour Your Inner Dog

Adele Satori
Image shows freshly watered grass, with a house in the background.

I nearly honoured my inner dog on my walk yesterday morning. It was towards the end of my walk, and I was getting hot. I walked past this freshly watered patch of lush grass sparkling in the sun and thought… Oh man.. if I was a dog, I’d lay down and wriggle all around, and do that funny sneeze snort dogs do when they’re overcome what seems to be doggy joy.

I dunno why I didn’t. There wasn’t anyone else around that I could see.

creative practice, inspiration, instinctive meditation, meditation, mindfulness, Personal Development, Personal growth

If You Think Meditation is Hard…..

Adele Satori
Image shows purple artichoke flower in front of tree that has deep red leaves.

I can’t clear my mind.
Focusing on my breath is boring.
I can’t sit still.
Sitting cross-legged on the floor is too uncomfortable.
I’m worried that it’s against my religious affiliation.

These are all things I’ve heard recently from people about meditation. Thing is, you simply might have not found the right meditation practice for YOU.

I specialize in the practice of Instinctive Meditation®. This practice holds that meditation is an innate instinct in all of us, just like eating or sleeping. The relaxation response is just as natural as the stress response. Our modern lives often call on us to push aside relaxing and regenerating, which can result in a number of things such as stress, poor sleep, boredom, etc.

Meditation can be as simple as gazing out across the horizon at the beach, merging with your favourite music while dancing, looking at a piece of art, journaling, cooking, taking a nap.. and so many other things. You’ve probably been meditation already, and just didn’t know it!

Potential benefits of meditation can include entering a state of relaxed awareness more easily, decreased stress, enhanced communication skills, better sleep, easier access to your creativity, and a richer engagement with life in general.

I would love to meet with you and help craft a practice that is right for you, and support you on your meditation journey.

Right now you can experience one on one meditation coaching for free via Zoom as part of my practicum for my advanced meditation teacher certification. Send me a message, and let’s get started!

I also need two of these participants willing to be recorded on Zoom. One person once, and one person twice. The recordings will only be used internally as part of my completion portfolio, and you’ll need to sign a waiver.

Can’t wait to play in the land of meditation with you!