Restoring the Spirit

True silence is the rest of the mind;

it is to the spirit

what sleep is to the body,

nourishment and refreshment.

William Penn

Last night, I woke up feeling like I had slept for ten hours, but glancing at the clock by my bed, I realized I had only slept for a few hours.  Wide awake, I got up, slipped on my robe and found my way to my favorite chair.  I lit a candle and stared at the flickering light. I lost myself by mentally slipping into the flame.

Memories from the day and any thoughts for a new agenda simply slid away.   I felt only peace and calm as I tried to work with my breath, breathing in calm and then exhaling stress.  Slowly, I felt like I was suspended, just 'being' in the moment.

My physical self seemed to fall away and in my mind, I wandered in the silence.  Soothing colors gently surrounded me and I was caressed by all that might comfort me.  I seemed to be restored through the presence of endless love.  There was no sense of time and eventually, I found myself awake.  I was sitting in my chair with the candle still flickering.

I blew out the candle and wandered back to bed, knowing that I would sleep well.  I felt as though my spirit had been deeply connected with all there is and all there ever will be.   

There are no means that I have found to adequately describe this time and space.   Every day words like solitude or dream simply do not encompass the depth of such an experience.   Meditation or contemplation is known to be a wonderful place for training the mind to be still and to experience suspension of time.  I have found that any technique in stilling the mind can lead to an open passage way to restoring the spirit.