Treating Pain with Meditation written by Jay Wence
There are many kinds of pain: physical, mental, and emotional. Acute or chronic pain can make it difficult to go about life. Meditation is one way to treat pain. After years of supporting clients, I learned that pain, suffering and trauma is held in the body. While our minds might suffer holding a neural message that we hurt, our awareness( spirit, soul, or consciousness) does not suffer. Our awareness is clear like space, full of boundless love and compassion.
One way to work with our awareness is with“ form” meditation. Pick one of five senses, sight for instance. Light a candle, sit holding your spine as straight and comfortably as you can. Place your awareness on watching the candle’ s flame with awareness that you’ re watching the flame. You may become distracted, think a thought, follow it down a rabbit hole of your mind. Don’ t despair, when you notice you’ re distracted, go back to watching the flame. Your awareness calls you back. Then pay attention to your pain. Don’ t get distracted by internal stories about your suffering, just be present and experience your pain. Be aware of where your pain resides. In the mind or body? Watch if the pain is constant, or if it comes and goes. Does the act of paying attention change it? With practice, you can become familiar with this awareness, then apply it to your daily life.
Jay Wence is a LMT and energy worker at Spirit Body Medicine • spirit-bodymedicine. com Photo by Concious Ink
WINTER 2017 || BEND HEALTH GUIDE || 19