The Mind Illuminated, the method is called.

I picked this up about a week ago. It's been very helpful for me in the meantime, especially in conjunction with my work after the War of Art, which I'll dive into more next week.

It's easy to dive into because it is both specific and simple. It's one of those things you can begin in 5 minutes, and take a lifetime to dive into with continuous returns, depending on your preference.

The focus, so far, is releasing tension. Not trying to visualize anything, or control anything, but simply to keep the body as aligned as possible along the vertical and horizontal planes, with back straight. To keep your focus on the sensations around a certain part of your body - they suggest starting with either the area around the nostrils, or the middle of your belly. Center your focus in this one section while keeping your mind open to everything else going on around you.

Part of the reason I've sunken into it like a well-worn glove is that it reminds me of the meditation work I did with Professor Brian O'Malley at the University of Michigan. During these sessions I experienced very powerful effects. This was the peak of my meditative powers, so to speak.

A few reasons this may be the case, analyzing characteristics of these sessions:

- A practice that demanded investment - our classes began at 6:00am which, after getting across town, meant what was then an ungodly wake up time. Naturally, my mind wanted to make the most of it so I wouldn't consider myself a fool for going through so much hassle. Thanks, cognitive dissonance!

- An external partner to consult with, to keep the habit rolling along, to share wisdom, to look up to and learn from

- A set tradition or ritual. Each session would follow the same framework. We would all meet, the 3 or 4 of us who were there that day. We would talk about how our week had gone, what had been going through our minds, what was weighing on us - it was like a group therapy at the same time. Then we would receive instruction on a form of meditation slightly more advanced than last week's, and we'd start sitting.

- A regular practice. Building the habit, doing it consistently - the key to great results in any endeavor ever known to the universe.

- Length of continuous practice. Both short term and long term. In the short term, practicing meditation for 20-30 minutes straight. There is no replacement for this, and this causes a huge effect compared to staying in the 5-10 minute area. In the long term - consistently keeping up this practice for months at a time. It was after 5-6 months in the practice that I had the one moment where I realized I had reached a different level in my every day. That may be a story for another post.

Maybe if I replicate these characteristics...