Awareness of Thoughts and Moods

Experience and name our own thought patterns and moods.

We recognize and categorize our own thoughts, so we can be aware of what is happening inside and inquire. Are these stressful thoughts? If we can recognize an accept the emotions under them, the stress is released.

Suggested Pre Class Reading:

We Start by Gently Moving the Body to Release Held Stress
      1st- Move the hips and arms like sea weed
      2nd- Stretch and twist the spine
      3rd- Massage the hands and face

Next We Gather in Awareness with a Grounded Sitting Posture:
      1st- Feel the bodies sensations of heaviness in the hips, 'sitting like a mountain'
      2nd- Feel the bodies sensations of hardness in the spine, 'tall like a tree'
      3rd- Feel the bodies sensations of movement in the belly, 'soft as a feather'

Then We Guide the Mind:
      After 15-20 minutes of  gathering in the awareness back to the body "sitting like a mountain". If the thoughts in the mind are settling down and the emotions are starting to calm. Start to watch all your thoughts with interest and not trying to change them. Just allow them to come and go.

Next start to recognize and categorize the most frequent thoughts in your own way.
     By Time: Are they in the past, present or future?
     By Mood: Are they self conscious/anxious ("I should", "I am") or peaceful ("it's OK")?

For the last 1-2 minutes just let go of thinking, and rest in Loving Presence.

Lastly We Reflect on What was Experienced in the Meditation:
      The knowing of the deeper nature of our thoughts.
    
Discussion Points:
     The different types of thoughts.
     Watching our thoughts tells us a lot.
     Moods are harder to watch.
     How moods produce thoughts.
     How thoughts produce emotions.

Additional Materials on Thinking:

Summary:
The more often we can know the nature of our thoughts; the more we can learn about where we are in the present moment.