Meditation has been a huge part of my life since 2008, when I met a woman named "Lily" (name has been changed) who worked at Tampa General Hospital when I was an intern for the summer.
I'll admit, I thought meditation wasn't for me. I wasn't one to handle being in silence for long periods of time, and I felt that my running thoughts would just interfere anyway. When I met Lily, I was actually a participant in her meditation class that was held on Wednesdays during lunch hour. I was originally to be her assistant as part of the wellness program I was creating at the time called Healing Notes, a music-influenced stress management program. I walked in the classroom, where there were other employees who grabbed floor mats and got into position. I followed suit, and from that point I listened to Lily's voice. Right away she had instrumental music playing that reminded me of being in East Asia as she spoke about going into the mountains and taking in the view. While we laid down, had our eyes closed, and relaxed, Lily passed out a card to each of us saying that it was a gift or lesson that we were to know. Not too long after that, the session was over and I couldn't believe it. I felt relaxed and at ease.
Lily and I talked after class and she proceeded to tell me about her spiritual experiences with meditation, discussing about chakras, crystals, and Angel cards. Those were the cards that she placed next to us while we were listening to her guided imagery. I listened, but I was skeptical. Skeptical because I thought the use of Angel cards and chakras were deviating from my faith, but looking back on it now it was really from not having the knowledge of those areas and how they affect the human body. Nevertheless, I enjoyed her talking to me about areas surrounding the meditation class.
A week later, I came to "work" to my internship supervisor telling me that Lily was leaving TGH to take on other pursuits. This meant that I was taking over the meditation classes for the summer. I was terrified. I went to Lily's meditation class and was a participant for the last time, after which Lily was teaching and showing me about the pendulum and clearing the room of negative energy. She gave me her Angel cards and an envelope of information about the different chakras and Archangels. I felt a little more confident in continuing the class after Lily's departure.
I was put to the test the following Wednesday, when I had to teach the class on my own. I came to the room thirty minutes early, cleared the room by motioning my hand to form a cross all around the room, and had my music selection ready. Some of the regular employees came and went into their relaxed positions, I instructed them to relax and use deep breathing, and I just started taking them on an adventure. I used the Angel cards and passed a card to each employee, tying it in with the guided imagery I was using. When class was over, I received compliments of my guided imagery, with one employee asking if I used a guided imagery script. I said no, that I just made it up on the fly. Although I was nervous when giving the guided imagery, I pulled an Angel card for myself at the end of class, with it saying "There is nothing to worry about." It was then I felt more comfortable knowing that I was going to do a great job.
My internship and wellness program only lasted three months, but it cemented my future career goals and my spiritual growth through meditation. I could only thank Lily for changing my mindset on the subject. Sadly I have not heard from or seen Lily since 2010, and sometimes now I wish I could talk to her and ask questions about meditation. I strive to carry on what she taught me into personal practice, and through teaching it to others.