Rain Meditation

Rain tends to bring negativity, filling the sky’s with grey clouds, we feel cold, wet, and miserable. Have you considered the positivity?  Rain also brings life, music, and a fresh start.

Water symbolises refection and purity. Rain meditation is the perfect way to connect with the body as we are made up of at least 50% water. This meditation uses the beauty of water to help clear the mind, refresh and cleanse the body. Raindrop meditation will leave you feeling calm and peaceful. Ideally this meditation is done whilst it is raining.

Start by sitting somewhere comfortable and warm, where you can hear and watch the raindrops falling. Allow your breath to flow naturally. Close your eyes and listen to the rain. The sound of the raindrops falling, helps you to relax and brings you a calming energy. When you feel ready, open your eyes, and begin to watch the rain. How fast is the rain falling? Is the rain heavy or light? Watch the rain bounce off the ground. Watch the rain fall on leaves, plants and soil and then notice the water sinks, is absorbed, into the earth.

When you feel ready, close your eyes again. Feel free to lay down if this is more comfortable. Take some deeper inhalations and exhalations. Can you smell the rain? Let go and relax. Let your breath flow naturally again and visualise the rain falling on your skin. The raindrops feel cool and refreshing. As the raindrops fall, they wash away anything that no longer serves you, they wash away negativity and wash away anything your holding onto and no longer need. The raindrops sink into your skin cleansing your body. They bring light, love, and positivity from the universe. Leaving your body feeling cleansed and refreshed.

Lotus Flower Meditation

The Lotus flower symbolises purity of the heart and mind, as well as symbolising a spiritual awakening. The roots of a lotus are grounded into the mud (connecting it with the earth). The stem grows up through the water (symbolising growth/life experience) and becomes a beautiful bloom above the water, opening in the sunlight (symbolising awakening/enlightenment). This meditation will help you feel grounded, help you connect with your spirt, open your heart and mind to the universe, bringing you a sense of peace and tranquillity. Within this practice you have the option of taking a Chin Mudra, Mudra means to seal, and is an energetic and spiritual gesture that’s used to control the flow of energy within the body. Chin means to unite the supreme soul and individual Soul. If you find your mind begins to wonder, allow those thoughts to float pass, like a leaf floating downstream and bring the awareness back to your meditation practice.

Lotus meditation; Start by sitting in lotus or half lotus pose, if this is comfortable, use pillows to bring more comfort if needed. If the lotus is uncomfortable try to sit in the Easy pose (crossed legged). You will need to sit in an upright position and be able to sit in stillness for around 10 minutes. When you are ready, place your hands in Chin Mudra (connecting thumb and index finger), then close your eyes and bring your awareness to your body.  How are you feeling? Know it’s okay to feel scared or lost. Take a deep inhale and exhale with a sigh, let go of negativity and allow yourself to be in this moment. Do this as many times as you feel you need to. Now let the breath flow naturally and take a moment to connect with your natural inhalation and exhalation. Following your breathing pattern without controlling it. When you feel you are ready, being to visualise a lotus flower above you. What colour is your lotus flower? How many petals does your lotus flower have? Very slowly the lotus begins to travel down and through your body. As it moves down you feel the lotus flower blessing your body, stopping at any areas that may need a little more love or healing. Visualise the lotus flower rooting into the ground, the lotus becomes part of you and as you inhale you soak up all the energy you need to grow, as you exhale, see the flower begin to get bigger, spreading its petals wider and wider. Within this flower you feel peaceful and calm. Enjoy this moment. Take as long as you need before drawing that lotus flower back into your body. Know that you can bring your lotus flower back whenever you feel you need some inner peace.

Cake Meditation!

I absolutely love cake! However even if you are not a lover of cake, you can still practice this meditation, as all about the ingredients. Don’t worry if you’re unsure on how to make a cake as I will guide you. This meditation can bring creativity, help to relieve cravings, bring you a sense of contentment and positive energy.

Eating healthy is very important. I believe in maintaining a healthy body and a healthy mind, but I also believe in balance. My nan says “eat healthy, but remember to treat yourself every now and again”, these are wise words. At the bottom of this blog I will leave a cake recipe for those who would like to try baking a cake. Please bake responsibly! For those who have read ‘My journey’ blog you will know I have lots of experience in baking after chalet hosting for 2 years in the French Alps.

Begin this meditation sitting in a comfortable position, you may sit on a chair or pillow, lift and lengthen through your spine, relax your shoulders, take a moment to connect with your breath and body.  How are you feeling physically? Take a deep inhalation and exhale with a sigh, letting go of any tension and allow yourself to be in this moment. Repeat this until you feel ready allow the breath to flow naturally. Visualise the equipment you need to make a cake (bowl, spoon, baking paper and cake tin). First decided the type of cake you want to bake. Then start to make it, add the first ingredient, love, see love as a colour and substance, place love into the bowl. Add the next ingredient, health, again see health as a colour and substance, place it into the bowl. Continue the same process with the examples bellow or any ingredients you feel you would like in your cake;

  • Gratitude
  • Reflection
  • Joy
  • Peace

Then mix all these ingredients together and see the colours combine. Once you have finished mixing, cut your baking paper to the shape of your cake tin, place it at the bottom of the tin and begin to pour the cake mix in. Place your cake into the oven, notice the mouth-watering smell of your cake as it bakes. When it is ready, remove the cake from the oven and begin to decorate, this can be as colourful as you wish. Visualise the beautiful cake you have made. Start to slice your cake and put the slices aside for those you want to share it with. This can be people you love, family, friends, your local community or even a higher offering. Keep one slice for yourself.

Now take your first bite and notice the flavours in your mouth. Once you have finished, you feel content as all the ingredients in the cake bless your body, mind and spirt. 

Cake Recipes

Victoria Sponge cake recipe;

  • 200g unsalted butter, softened, plus extra for greasing and 50g for icing
  • 200g caster sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 4 medium eggs
  • 200g self-raising flour
  • About 5 tbsp raspberry jam
  • 80g Icing sugar
  1. Heat oven to 190C/170C fan/gas 5. Grease two sandwich tins. Cut out 2 circles of baking paper and place inside the tins.
  2. Place 200g softened unsalted butter, 200g caster sugar and 1 tsp vanilla extract into a bowl and beat well to a creamy consistency.
  3. Slowly beat in 4 medium eggs, one by one, then fold in 200g self-raising flour and mix well. Top tip- crack eggs in a separate glass or bowl to avoid egg she in the cake.
  4. Divide the mix between the cake tins, place into the oven and bake for about 20 mins until risen and golden brown. The cakes should spring back when gently pushed in the middle. Top tip- don’t open the oven until 20 mins has passed, this way the cake won’t sink.
  5. When ready, remove from the oven and allow to cool for 10 mins in the tin, before turning out onto a cooling rack.
  6. Make the butter icing, beat the 50g softened butter until smooth and creamy, then gradually beat in 80g sifted icing sugar and a drop of vanilla extract.
  7. Once the cake is cool, spread about 5tbsp of raspberry jam onto one cake and buttercream on the inside of the other cake.
  8. Now put them together and sieve a sprinkle of icing sugar on the top.

Victoria sponge cake is classic! Put some fresh strawberries on the side or in the middle to make it really special.

Apple and cinnamon cake;

  • 175g butter or margarine, softened, plus 50g icing
  • 175g dark soft brown sugar
  • 3 eggs
  • 175g self-raising flour
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon, plus 1 teaspoon for icing
  • 2 tablespoons milk
  • 1 large cooking apple or two small dessert apples (if you don’t have dessert apples it works with any apple)
  • 80g Icing sugar
  1. Pre-heat your oven to 180C. Grease two 18cm (7inch) cake tins. Cut out 2 circles of baking paper and place inside the tins.
  2. Put the butter and sugar into a large mixing bowl and beat until pale and fluffy.
  3. Add the eggs one at a time. Thoroughly mix in each egg before adding in the next one.
  4. Sieve the flour and the cinnamon and carefully add to the mix. Mix until all the flour is incorporated – don’t over mix at this stage!
  5. Add the 2 tablespoons of milk and stir in gently.
  6. Peel and core your apple. Cut half of the apple into 8 – 10 slices. Chop the other half into small pieces (roughly half centimetre cubes).
  7. Put the small pieces of apple into the cake mixture and stir gently to combine.
  8. Tip the cake batter into your greased and lined tin and gently smooth the top with the back of a wooden spoon. Arrange your apple slices on top and sprinkle a tablespoon of brown sugar as evenly as possible over the top of the cake.
  9. Bake in your pre-heated oven for 25 minutes. Check if the cake is done by inserting a skewer (or the handle of a teaspoon) into the centre of the cake. If it comes out clean, the cake is done. If the skewer is covered in cake batter cook for a further 5 minutes and check again.
  10. When the cake is done, allow it to cool for 10 minutes in the tin, then turn out onto a wire cooling rack.
  11. Make the butter icing, beat the 50g softened butter until smooth and creamy, then gradually beat in 80g sifted icing sugar and cinnamon.
  12. Once the cake is cool, spread the buttercream one of the slices, then sandwich the cakes together.

Blueberry muffins;

  • 100g butter
  • 100g caster sugar
  • 2 large eggs, beaten
  • 300g self-raising flour
  • 1tsp vanilla extract
  • 140ml milk
  • 1tsp baking powder
  • 150g fresh or dried blueberries
  • Line a muffin tray with paper muffin cases.
  • Cream the butter and sugar until fluffy then add in the eggs, one at a time.
  • Add the flour and baking powder to make a thick batter, then stir in the vanilla extract and milk.
  • Carefully add the blueberries (be careful not to over stir) and spoon the mixture into the muffin cases. Bake for 15-20 mins at 180C, gas 4.
  • Leave the blueberry muffins to cool in the tray for 10 mins before turning out.