A Pocket of Peace
by Janice Lynne Lundy
A Pocket of Peace is an intentional pause. It is a sacred opportunity to stop, let go of any emotional or physical duress we may be experiencing, and remember the inner peace that abides within us. When life threatens to overwhelm, when stress, fear, or worry come to call, simply stop, take a breath, and practice this Pocket of Peace. Doing so will bring you home to your truest self - a woman who is naturally calm, clear, and wise.

Everyone needs an oasis in the desert of life.
Your personal oasis is waiting for you.
When you find it, drink deeply of its cooling waters.
Relax in the shade of its sheltering palms.
Be satisfied.
Be well.

~~~~~~~

Cocooning

There are times in our lives that may feel so difficult that none of our “peace tools” seem to bring relief. At times like these we may experience a deep and ancient pull to close ourselves off; sequester ourselves from the world and its stressors.

My friend Ann, a retired minister, was dealing with the declining health and sudden hospitalization of her husband. Doctors told her that he would not be able to return home and resume the life they had shared together. He would need to be moved to a nursing facility. This meant she would be alone for the first time in many years.

Pondering her feelings, gently allowing her grief to be felt, Ann wandered through the rooms of their house—remembering, noticing, touching things reminiscent of their life together. She opened a drawer in a dresser and discovered, to her surprise, a shawl that a friend had given her, still unused after many years. Listening to a tender voice from within, she wrapped the shawl around her shoulders and sat down in a favorite chair. The shawl became a “prayer shawl” and she found herself engaged in prayerful communion with the God of her heart.

As Ann sat in the quiet, her inner voice—the voice of her Sacred Self—could be heard, urging her to draw the shawl up over her head. She complied, and feeling very much like a Biblical woman of old, she allowed herself to sink into sensations of feeling protected and safe. The experience, she told me later, was remarkable. This simple act of covering herself enabled her to release pent up feelings. A sense of calm she had not felt in a very long time washed over her and inner peace was finally hers.

Creating a Cocoon of Safety    The act of cocooning oneself sends a powerful message to our body/mind that it is alright to relax and let go. Using a prayer shawl is an ideal prop for this. A scarf, blanket, or swatch of material will work too. Anything, in fact, that allows us to close out the world and enter into shelter, a safe and sacred center. I have a shawl I use for this purpose, as well as a traditional sari a friend brought from India. The shawl feels like cashmere, soft and warm. The sari is silky, spacious, and cool feeling. Each has a slightly different effect, but both serve me well when I am in need of insulation.

Fashion designer, Diane Von Furstenberg, has created her own version of a cocoon. In the middle of her New York City apartment is a meditation tent. A simple wood-framed structure ornamented with gauzy fabric, she enters into this cloister every morning for yoga and meditation. As she describes it, this sacred space invites her to focus and center, to retreat and step back from the world whenever she needs it.

Whatever method you choose to cloister yourself—fabric or structure, or simply crawling into bed and pulling the covers over your head—give yourself plenty of time to reap the benefits. Close your eyes, focus on your breath, and allow the protective “walls” of this sacrosanct enclosure to bring you home to a place of peace. Imagine yourself being tenderly swaddled in celestial fabric, your cocoon a divine abode where all is well.

Until next time …

May you be happy.
May you be well.
May you be safe.
May you be peaceful and at ease.

Love and Blessings,
Jan Lundy

, available in bookstores nationwide and at amazon.com To learn more about Jan, visit her website, www.awakenedliving.com, subscribe to her free newsletter, and receive a new 90-page, inspirational e-book,

©Janice Lynne Lundy, 2009
Learn more about Jan Lundy and "Pockets of Peace."

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October's Pocket of Peace
November's Pocket of Peace
December's Pocket of Peace
January's Pocket of Peace