Meditation has been my Saving grace.
Especially as I continue to heal from what I write about in Just Write: the anxiety I have quietly carried for most of my life, amplified by postpartum hormones.
At one point, it became loud.
Loud enough that I knew I needed to reach for every tool available to me.
Meditation was one of them.
And it continues to be.
While I do have dedicated accouterments for my rituals and corners in my home where I sit to meditate, it has become incredibly important for me to keep the practice accessible.
If I need to, I will meditate in my bed.
In the shower.
On the toilet.
While holding my baby.
In the car.
Anywhere I can find a moment to take a few intentional breaths.
I invite you to do the same, sis.
Take time to breathe wherever and whenever it works for you.
That being said, there is something powerful about having a space you return to. Creating a dedicated space does a few subtle but important things.
It begins to hold energy.
Over time, your body and mind start to recognize it. You sit down, and something in you softens a little faster.
It also signals intention.
This is where I come to pause. To breathe. To come back to myself.
And the beauty of it is that it doesn’t have to be confined to just one place.
By incorporating small elements throughout your home, any space can become a meditation space. A corner of your bedroom. A spot on the floor in your living room. Even a quiet moment at your
kitchen table.
It’s less about where, and more about how you return.
If you do want to create your own space, think of it less as decorating and more as creating a sensory experience.
Let’s not make things complicated, because at its core, it’s about gently engaging your senses.
Sight
Introduce colors that feel grounding to you.
For me, that’s green. I almost always incorporate it into my space, usually through plants, but sometimes even through what I’m wearing.
A bouquet of flowers is another beautiful way to introduce color. Both plants and flowers bring a sense of life into a space, and that presence has a way of translating inward.
I also keep objects that carry meaning. In one space, I have a feather that reminds me to keep my heart light. In another, I have images of my ancestors, which keep me connected to something larger than myself.
A wooden beaded necklace or a book that inspires you can also live here. Small things that gently draw you inward.
Crystals, a piece of art, or a framed picture of your sweet abuelita can be a beautiful addition. They bring visual interest and a quiet sense of intention, especially if abuela reminds you of pillowy hugs and goodness like mine did.
Scent
Scent shifts everything.
Plants naturally bring in a subtle fragrance, but I also burn incense to set the tone. I love, love, love incense. My favorite scents are rose and patchouli. Lighting these immediately signals to my body that I’m stepping into something intentional.
Burning sage or palo santo can also create a sense of preparation. When I burn, I make sure to do it in a well-ventilated space. Don’t choke, sis, crack a window.
Touch
This is where you can bring in a sense of comfort or even sensuality.
A soft blanket. A supportive cushion. Something that allows your body to relax more easily. Your body is your first home.
Tend to it.
Draping yourself in something soft or luxurious can be part of the ritual. Go ahead, mama, put on that silky robe. You don’t need to wait for sexy time to feel sexy. Make your meditation an indulgent experience.
Opening a window to let in a gentle breeze, or taking a seat outside, can shift everything. The wind kissing your skin is a rendezvous with the elements, just like fire when you light a candle, or water when you tend to your plants. That natural circulation can gently wake your body, just enough to keep your attention.
Sound
I often play meditative music to guide me into the right mental space.
Sometimes it’s a soft, ambient sound. Other times, more traditional meditation music. Sometimes it’s a low-fi beat.
That’s how I make the practice my own. By honoring what feels good to me. I hope you do the same for you, because for you it might look like una bachatica, un merenguito, un Mañana será más bonito by Karol G. No judgement, just freedom to embody your practice the way of your choosing.
I also have a chime that I’ll play to signal that I’m about to begin. It’s a small cue, but over time it becomes something your body recognizes. Again, it can be a güira, whatever works.
Playing or listening to sound bowls is another beautiful way to settle in. But I might give the güira a try.
Taste
This one is subtle, but powerful.
A few drops of a food-grade essential oil on your tongue can stimulate your senses, open your nasal passages, and deepen your breath.
Peppermint is one of my favorites. I keep it stashed away with some of my other tools in my primary meditation spot, so it’s always there when I need it.
A handful of berries can be a yummy way to honor the journey inward and the return. A sweet welcome back, if you will.
None of this needs to be perfect.
None of it needs to look a certain way.
These are just tools.
Make it your own.
And remember, space is not a requirement.
It’s an offering.
Because at the end of the day, you don’t need a perfect corner to begin. You just need a moment.
A breath.
A willingness to return.
Again and again.
