See ‘The Magic Is In You’ for an introduction to this series of posts, which aim to inspire us to connect with the magic of ourselves and the world around us.
This post is about the magic of climbing mountains, ascending to the high point of a city in a cable car, gazing out across the horizon from a plane, or taking in an expansive view from the top of a hill or tower.
Whenever I am exploring somewhere, getting up high is a priority. Rising above the tangled web of streets or new terrain that I have been wandering makes me feel at home in the world. When I stare down at the tiny buildings and see the shape of the land from a distance, I feel as though I belong here, in this strange and beautiful place.
Kathmandu, Nepal
I have attempted to capture the essence of this wonderful natural high in the meditation below.
Elevation Meditation
Find a high place where you can look out across the horizon and down at the land below. This could be a bridge, church tower, small hill, top floor apartment, mountain, hot air balloon, rooftop or helicopter, depending on the options that are available to you! Make sure you are safe and comfortable.
The purpose of this meditation is to bring a sense of elevation to your mind and body. Set your intention to allow the physical sense of elevation and perspective you get from being up high to permeate your entire being.
View from the Baiyoke Sky Hotel, Bangkok
Breathe in the vast open space in front of you. Observe the tiny objects (buildings, trees, people, cars, rivers) that exist in your landscape. Feel the sense of calm that comes over you as you rise up above everything. See how the land becomes a patchwork of colours and shapes beneath you. It is easier to accept everything as it is from a distance, without getting caught up in the details.
Goreme, Turkey
Imagine that you can float over the whole scene before you. Feel the sense of freedom that brings. It’s amazing to see how such a vast region can shrink down to fit into our field of vision.
Soak up the colours and contours of the world you see. Let the beautiful patterns leave an imprint on your heart. Notice how structures you may perceive to be ‘ugly’ from the ground become just another piece of the puzzle, slotting into the shapes around them, forming part of the whole. We need to make judgements in order to navigate life, but we must also know how to step back into this more peaceful place where we simply allow everything to be.
Ljubljana, Slovenia
Begin to merge with the landscape and the boundless space that contains it. Breathe in the entire scene and allow it to become a part of you. Feel how you can hold this mighty vision, and infinitely many more, within you. The majestic picture you observe is just one tiny fragment of the universe inside your mind.
After you have finished absorbing all of the elevated good vibes, take some time to acknowledge any inspiring aspects of your experience that you would like to bring back with you. Write a few words or take some photos as a reminder. These could be things you felt, such as spaciousness or empowerment, or a particular image that will evoke these emotions. It can be really wonderful to recall an elevating experience when we’re in more mundane, busy or stressful environments.
Hot air ballooning in Cappadocia, Turkey
Remember the feeling of elevation, so that you can use it in the future to rise above worries for a broader view of a situation. We can view all of our thoughts from this elevated perspective if we choose to, watching them peacefully from a distance.
Thank you for reading and participating. I hope that you get the chance to enjoy many beautiful views and float up on a cloud to a heavenly place of peace and wonder! Please share your uplifting experiences with me in the comments below. ♡
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