Wonder if I don’t like to meditate? And how can cannabis help?

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In our current weirdness that we call the COVID-19 event – the resounding answer to uncertainty, mood swings, and relationship bumps is:

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“Meditate!”

A glance at the media portrays countless people hotfooting it to meditation to find calm while the world spins out of control – ripping away all our familiar patterns that, in many cases, kept us sane. But, as supportive as meditation can be, many find it a tough row to hoe – as I explain in this week’s blog:

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Yes, of course, stress and tension are now dialed up BIG TIME – as if they weren’t before. But now with COVID-19, it’s over the top. And many are struggling because the framework of their lives – of all our lives – has been dismantled to the point of where nothing is like it used to be.

So how do you surf these waves of uncertainty. What do we need when we’re struggling. We do need something to hold onto. And that highly recommended “something” is usually meditation, right?

I couldn’t be more in agreement. It’s tough to put what I do in a nice, neat package. But my work includes guiding and teaching an esoteric form of meditation. AND I hear from a lot of people about their view of meditation – and the most commonly held sentiment, especially among driven professionals, is that despite knowing all the benefits, they can’t get themselves to slow down and sit for quiet mindfulness meditation or even guided meditation where the narrative takes you somewhere calm and peaceful, like walking in the woods.

People get itchy and twitchy in trying to settle down – and it makes sense. We’re surrounded with endless sources of distraction and action … emails, texts, social media posts, news and more news. And go go go. And then we’re supposed to come out of that “distraction storm” in order to sit down, shut-up and go inward? Hmmm. How can that be reasonable? I believe it’s not for a lot of us. I’d love to hear how you feel about that. In order to find Inner peace, we need to go inward but if we have a hard time going inward, how can we find Inner peace. In other words, if meditation can take us there, but we can’t get ourselves to meditate, then we’re kinda stuck.

Well, this is where cannabis comes in. If you know my work, you know that the thoughtful use of cannabis is a component of what I teach, which also includes ancient, kundalini-like meditation practices. Many share with me that the combination offers a super level of intensity that breaks through the busyness of the mind and then we can move stuck energy and off-load nagging stress and fear. Meditation is really working for you then.

And, so many people I find, go about their meditation as one more thing to do on their To Do list. But in my practice, I find that when people add the judicious use of cannabis, it can fuel their will and desire to create a regular meditation practice – one that they look forward to it.

This is because, in Western Science, we know that cannabis can relax the fight or flight response (as in anxiety), which greatly enhances the ability to focus and be present during, well in my experience, our active meditation. Research using CBD in studies clearly suggest an anti-anxiety effect and reduces social anxiety in people who suffer with that disorder. So when a person feels this internal openness and spaciousness, it’s easier to be present and go inward.

AND, at the same time, cannabis enhances the process of neuroplasticity – the ability of the brain to form and reorganize synaptic connections, developing new patterns of thought and behavior. This can be very profound when you pair it with our active meditation that includes movement, sound and powerful breath work. And from the Eastern Yogic perspective – that spiritual perspective, cannabis is a gentle boundary-dissolving plant medicine. It’s said to amplify intentional focus so that you can work with what’s coming up for you and also strengthen your intuition – that voice of your Soul.

I call this that intersection of where science and Soul come together. Western science is endorsing what the ancient wise ones have been espousing for thousands of years.

Where do you stand on meditation? What’s been your experience? Have you been able to make it a regular go-to in your life or is it a challenge to follow-though on a daily basis? Drop down to the comments section and let me know – let us all know. I’m Becca Williams and I want you to lead your most magnificent life – and I want help you do that.

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7 thoughts on “Wonder if I don’t like to meditate? And how can cannabis help?”

  1. Last week’s meditation was great because it was not easy for me, it would take some practice to get the breathing right along with the eye lock. This would be super to do in the morning.

    Reply
    • Yes! The ones that present a challenge for us are often the ones that we most need! “This is so hard.” “God, when will it be over?” “I can barely do this” … like powering through lifting weights, we’re challenging our nervous system to break through the blocks. AND gets easier and easier:)

      Reply
  2. For far too long we’ve been laboring under lingering stigmas left-over from the misinformed marginalization of cannabis. What’s really opened it up for us is the legalization of Hemp/CBD oil – that is the sale of components that are “NON-psychoactive” … it’s made folks who have been wary warm-up to the idea of using cannabis. This is a “halo effect” that is moving all approaches to cannabis into the mainstream. What a blessing!

    Reply
  3. Hi Becca,

    Hope you’re loving Florida!! I started meditating in 1998 and constantly struggled with staying on the cushion past 5-10 minutes. I have meditated off and on ever since but never more than 20-30 minutes. One thing that has helped me with meditation is not be “anal” about it. I’ll take days, weeks and even months off at a time. Then the urge will come back and I will derive awesome benefits from it. It’s definitely not anything magical for me. It simply dovetails in with various reading and my never-ending goal of living in the present moment. Meditation for me is a tool I can pull out of the box when needed and not a source guilt when I miss or take time off from it.
    Miss you here in Denver,
    Randy

    Reply
    • I agree – lose the Guilt! In fact it’s one of the troubling emotions that I guide in order to release. It’s stunning how many people suffer through carrying around a shitload of old Guilt programming (i.e. ME back in the day). Having said that, I admire your tenacity in gathering tools that work for you. That’s what it’s all about … finding portals that resonant because suffering ain’t no way to live!

      I too appreciated our in-person Denver gatherings and being with intrepid fellow explorers like yourself! Yet, we adapt to our circumstances and continue ONLINE to bring together intrepid consciousness explorers 🙂

      Reply
  4. Becca I’ve been following you since a month ago, and your awareness and lightfulness about meditation and cannabis vibrated with me! I love using cannabis responsibly and I also love adding it to my meditation practices. You are the only person in youtube with whom I can sit down and meditate while feeling the magic from our Mother Earth’s gift. Thank you for your work!!! 😊👍

    Reply
    • Thank you for your kind words:) You hit the nail on the head: key phrase: “using cannabis responsibly” … working with cannabis to support higher consciousness, like being a vegan or vegetarian, is a thinking person’s pursuit. I think you may enjoy our Adulting Adventure – it’s my gift to our awakening community. Here’s where you can go for more information and to register.: https://emotionallibe1.wpengine.com/weeklysesh/

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