Mara - a meditative stance

[Adder]

Dianara, 12th brightening of Kalendryas
Autumn, Era XI


Leoryll smiled at her student and with a guesture, led her over to the far side of the room, sitting down at a table that was away from any of the others that were occupied. She waited until her student was comfortably seated before beginning.

We teach the introduction to meditation to all of our novices, as it will allow you to understand how to focus your mind. This has many applications here, primarily in relation to prayer, but also in your case to the study of arcana.

Before we begin, do you have any questions that you would like to raise? She smiled warmly at Mara and slightly raised her left eyebrow.

[Mara_Ll'thire]

ooc:sorry, I have been moving all weekend and just found an internet source until ours is back up.

IC: Mara softly breathed to allow her excitement to calm. She smiled at Leoryll and sat in her chair. It suprised her that she would be able to meditate in a room such as she was in. She had always imagined it to be in a room sitting on the floor, sort of like her home shrine to Diana. Then again, everything important to her was from that time in her life, she wouldn't have known how to do anything else important if it wasn't some how connected to what she was doing now, worshiping in a new way.

When she was asked if she had questions, Mara smiled confidentally and shook her head. Why worry now? She couldn't think of anything, she was just ready to begin. "I am ready to begin, I can't think of anything right now to ask you." She smiled and waited to be taught. Thoughts rushed at her of what it might feel like, it was hard to concentrate on what was at hand, finally she imagined a little person sweeping away the clutter and preparing her mind for work. When she looked up at Leoryll again, she was free of rushing thoughts and ready to learn.[/size]

[Adder]

Leoryll smiled at the younger woman. Meditation is a skill that will assist you in your studies here in many ways. She raised a hand and swept it around the room which still had a certain degree of activity though it was emptying quickly as people moved onto their tasks for the brightening, leaving most of the activity to come from the kitchen where various clanks and rattles indicated that it had switched from food preparation to clearing up.

Perhaps the most difficult thing with meditation is to understand what you need to do and to actually acheive the meditative state. Once you have learnt to do that, then it is a question of being able to acheive that state more quickly and in more difficult circumstances.

We should be able to acheive that here, and if we can then you will have passed a hurdle, but it may well be that we will have to retire to one of the private prayer rooms so that you are not distracted.

Leoryll shifted in her chair and leant her elbows on the table as she moved slightly forward.

To start, then we are looking for you to be able to concentrate your thoughts, calming the body and opening your mind to a new level of thought. We start by control of breathing and of your body, so sit back in your chair and straighten your back so that you are not slouching. When your body is comfortable, close your eyes and concentrate on your breathing. Think of nothing else, just feel and listen to the breath coming in and out. It is natural to breath deeply when you do this so you may find after a short while that your head is feeling a little light. If this happens slow your breathing until it goes away and if that doesn't help, just open your eyes and relax.

She waved her hand to indicate that Mara was to start.

[Mara_Ll'thire]

ooc: we get internet set up at my house on tuesday, so I will be able to devote more time then, sorry it has been so long, thank you for being patient with me.

ic: Mara listened and as she was told to do something, she imagined herself doing it. When Leoryll had stopped talking, Mara sat back in her chair, sitting up until her back was flat against the chair. She slowly closed her eyes and softened her face. Her thoughts slowly cleared and she listened to her breathing. She thought of herself breathing deeply in, then blowing out. The sound of the kitchen did start to interfere with her thoughts, but she tried to ignore them. Her mind wound up paying attention almost to a rhythm beat by every dish when the cook cleared then cleaned them. She started to wander on that beat and hear the sound of wooden instruments flow with it.

She opened her eyes with a start, "I need to go to a prayer room to do this, I just made a wonderfull melody with the cooks cleaning. I don't think that I will be able to begin meditating in this kind of atmosphere just yet." She looked softly down and thought how much of a disappointment it was not to be able to do this. She didn't realize that it was normal to be at such a beginner's level with never being trained before. She waited softly for Leoryll to show her the way to a prayer room where she might be able to concentrate better on meditating.

[Adder]

ooc: no problem and I hope that my delays havent put you off. Now all I need is for you not to use that colour because I can't read it on my laptop screen

Leoryll laughed softly at the comment. Don't be concerned, very few students are actually able to concentrate well enough here the first time, and I'll let you into a secret. She paused and controlled her laughter. I couldn't do it myself at first. We use this room as a test at the end of your introduction course to see if you have mastered what we have taught. If you can slip into the meditative trance in this room with its distractions then we judge that you are ready to move on.

She stood and led the way up the stairs and towards the main temple itself before taking one of a series of smaller rooms. Closing the door afterwards shut off any residue of sound from the corridor for the rooms were specifically designed to allow the people to say or cry whatever they wished to the gods without passers by hearing them.

Leoryll sat on one of the small stools that were placed around the edge of the small and sparsely furnished room and smiled at Mara. Now, try again.

[Mara_Ll'thire]

ooc:sorry won't do it again, actually, I can barely read it myself. I should have checked it.

ic: Mara smiled brightly at the thought of her teacher not being able to do it on the first time either. It made her feel a bit better and more confident of her second try. She listened as Leoryll explained that it was a test room. How very great it would have been to be able to try and pass such a test from the begining. Oh well, she was going to learn anyways, no pressure.

When she reached the smaller room, she followed in and took the seat closest to the door, turning her back to any distractions. When Leoryll had beckoned for her to try again, she slowly straightened her posture, closed her eyes, and began to breathe. She quieted her mind and thought of her breath, in, out, in, out. Slowly she felt as if she was being invited to lay down. Her body was so relaxed, she had no idea where she was or what was going on, only that she was breathing well, for she was supposed to concentrate on her breath. Her mind remained calm and still, there wasn't a noise in the small room and she was determined to do this. Slowly she felt like a cloud rising softly in her mind, the more she calmed it, the more open it seemed to get. Leoryll and every scanty piece of furniture left the room, it was just her, breathing. She felt like the whole world was gone and she was all that was left, her and Diana. She found peace in this, calming and comfort. Was she asleep or was she meditating, she did not know and did not care. It was like being in an open field where she was able to run with her mind. Nothing could bother her, it was the best feeling she had ever found, besides, if she was asleep, Leoryll, wherever she was, would wake her. So she sat or slept peacefully on in her chair.

[Mara_Ll'thire]

She floated in this medium for what seemed like forever, then a soft sound slowly brought her back to the tiny prayer room. Her mind was open and clear. She felt well rested and at one with all who were around her. When she opened her eyes, she saw Leoryll sitting across from her. Mara still wasn't sure if she had completed the excersize correctly, but she felt great. Well, she wasn't sure what to do next, so she sat softly thinking of what had happened. She looked out the window and it seemed that she hadn't been out for very long at all, of course, she wouldn't be allowed the whole day when there were things to do around the place. Well, it wasn't up to her now. She was in the hands of her greatest friend, Diana, now it was all up to her what she did.

"I don't know if I did it right, but I believe that I was at least at complete rest. I have never experienced something like that before." She sighed and waited for Leoryll to tell her what was next.