Creating Your Zen Space

Are you going crazy right now? If it's not some ridiculously tight deadline, then it's your spouse or partner being high maintenance and demanding all of your time. Or maybe your car needs repairs or the oven just broke and you planned a lavish dinner party. I'm just reading about these things will make you cross-eyed if not downright homicidal.

And that is why a place of Zen is an absolute must, no matter how big or small your living space is. It doesn't matter what religion you are either, as this is about creating a small space that is solely your own. Now before you click away from this article, I will have tips for those of you who have NO indoor space whatsoever.

You may be asking yourself, why create a Zen place? What good will this do me? We all need some time to ourselves to reflect on something simple, whether it's the snowflakes falling, the waves lapping on the edges of a beach, the birds in the trees, anything that is far removed from our hectic lives. Meditation and contemplation of nature or God or Buddha (or whatever your preference) is a fantastic way to maintain your sanity. Meditation of simple, natural things is also very healing because you are letting your mind and body relax, even if its just for 10 or 15 minutes. A great place to start is Beginner Meditation for Type-A Personalities.

Items needed

• A zafu and zabuton or cushion you are comfortable sitting cross-legged on
• An MP3 player
• Headphones
• Large tote bag (if you're not able to create your Zen center in a permanent location)
• A quiet, safe place indoors or outdoors

Optional items

• Zen rock garden
• Lavendar-vanilla scented candle
• A Bamboo plant or two or ten (I love my bamboo plants...can you tell?)
• Himalayan salt rock lamp

Step 1
Find 10-15 minutes at least every two days. Ideally, you'll want to incorporate this meditation practice into your daily routine, like taking a shower or eating, but to start off with, every two days should do it.

Step 2
If you're creating your space in your residence, then mark the space as YOURS, which means no kids, no spouse, no one but you. It doesn't have to be a large space, but you may want to position yourself where you have a view. I live in a tiny one-bedroom apartment w/ my pack rat husband and 65 lb dog, and two mighty curious cats. But I have created a space next to one of the windows as "MINE", which means no clutter. If you're creating a Zen space outdoors on public property, say a park or a forest, then you obviously can't claim it as yours, but you can pick a nice spot where you will be safe and left alone by others. A beach early in the morning is PERFECT for this!

Step 3
Place the cushion so you'll be facing as nice a view as possible, then if you're using the optional items, place the candle in front of you and the rock garden to the right. You can also place the bamboo plants in a circle around you so you're surrounded by their beauty. If you're indoors, I also highly recommend the use of a Himalayan salt lamp. They emit a beautiful peachy-orange glow, load the air with positive energy, and create an overall cozy ambience.

Step 4
Seat yourself comfortably and look upon your peaceful little space. Try not to look beyond it, as it will distract you from your intentions (hence I recommend a space with a view). Then begin your meditation.

Step 5
Enjoy yourself. This is your time! Once your meditation is complete, you will notice a calm and lightness about yourself that will make it easier to face the challenges of the outside world. And there's a reason why the Zen masters refer to meditation as practice as opposed to achieving perfection...meditation takes practice.

How do you create inner peace in a world gone crazy? I'd love to hear your thoughts!