I am usually humming or singing the whole day. I think I do it as well to ground myself - I had never thought about it that way. Somehow if I can sing, I know I can make it through the day. Thank you Phyllis!
I find myself humming a lot lately. I don't know if being happy makes me hum, or humming makes me happy, but it feels good. I know I'm in a Happy space when I'm humming. Blessings to Resmaa Menaken for the Humming Meditation reminder!
Another lovely offering Phyllis. In the past two years I have been attending workshops and retreats on compassion, kindness and mindfulness, I have been reading and journaling, meditating. This quote from "The Most Important Thing" truly puts words to the reason for my journey:
"I am making a home inside myself
where grace blooms in grand and glorious
abundance, a shelter of kindness that grows
all the truest things."
I want to spend the final third of my life being kinder, more thoughtful, more grateful, more helpful, useful and peaceful.
I have a little humming story to share. Humming is part of the meditation experience that I teach at the sanctuary. In the Sound Garden, there are various chimes, a gong and a water feature and a circle of teak "mushroom" stools beneath a shade tree on which to sit. Guests are invited to close their eyes and cast their sense of hearing as far into the sky as they can, listening to what is present or absent. Then they are guided to listen to the treetops and surrounding area (chimes, birdsong, water trickling). Third, they are asked to hear the rise and fall of the gong's tone. Finally, we listen to the sounds of ourselves by doing what is called the "Bee Breath" three times. Inhaling deeply through the nose, then exhaling very slowly while humming aloud. Humming activates the vegas (sp?) nerve which, in turn, stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system which can lower blood pressure, aid in digestion, and decrease your heart rate. It's good for you!
I have done this with 30 highschoolers (fits of giggles), old folks, little kids. Everyone is smiling by the end. It's a great practice. Even if you're not a natural hummer, maybe give it a try!
This almost made me cry: "I want to spend the final third of my life being kinder, more thoughtful, more grateful, more helpful, useful and peaceful."
This is a goal for me, too. It's hard, sometimes, as I tend to get angry about "worldly conditions" and stuff like that. Bringing it back to the breath always helps! Thanks for your lovely story about bee breath!
Karen, I also get triggered by the state of world, which is why meditation and mindfulness are so essential to, like you said, bring it back to the breath. When we do this, we improve ourselves and as 1 of some 7.5 billion parts of this thing called humanity, we improve it, just a little bit too. Thanks for your comment. Bless you.
Oh…I think I will need to do some humming today. Thank you for this, dear Phyllis. And thank you 🙏 so much for sharing my poem today. I am deeply honored and grateful. Blessings and love to you, dear woman.
First, how awful for another human to be filled with such anxiety due to racial fear, as the author calls it, "a traumatic retention." Our poor world is so full of ignorance and the way we treat each other is usually baseless when it comes down to the bottom line of what we all, as humans, want and need.
Second, I LOVE bee breath! My yoga teacher has us do this and I need to remember to do it at home. In Sanskrit, "bhramari pranayama, also known as Humming Bee Breath, is a yogic breathing practice that involves humming a sound like a bumblebee."
Keep humming and sending positive, loving vibes into the universe?
Oh boy does this mirror my daily do…I sing more than hum, actually, frequently , every day.
It calms me, I enjoy singing & it’s very good for our vagus nerve as well.
With things being what they are in our current world, I am singing more than ever 🎶
I thought I heard some singing from your direction!
Lol 😉🎶
I am usually humming or singing the whole day. I think I do it as well to ground myself - I had never thought about it that way. Somehow if I can sing, I know I can make it through the day. Thank you Phyllis!
Thank your vagus nerve! And your impulse to hum/sing!
I find myself humming a lot lately. I don't know if being happy makes me hum, or humming makes me happy, but it feels good. I know I'm in a Happy space when I'm humming. Blessings to Resmaa Menaken for the Humming Meditation reminder!
I think I hear an alto in you . . . ?
Another lovely offering Phyllis. In the past two years I have been attending workshops and retreats on compassion, kindness and mindfulness, I have been reading and journaling, meditating. This quote from "The Most Important Thing" truly puts words to the reason for my journey:
"I am making a home inside myself
where grace blooms in grand and glorious
abundance, a shelter of kindness that grows
all the truest things."
I want to spend the final third of my life being kinder, more thoughtful, more grateful, more helpful, useful and peaceful.
I have a little humming story to share. Humming is part of the meditation experience that I teach at the sanctuary. In the Sound Garden, there are various chimes, a gong and a water feature and a circle of teak "mushroom" stools beneath a shade tree on which to sit. Guests are invited to close their eyes and cast their sense of hearing as far into the sky as they can, listening to what is present or absent. Then they are guided to listen to the treetops and surrounding area (chimes, birdsong, water trickling). Third, they are asked to hear the rise and fall of the gong's tone. Finally, we listen to the sounds of ourselves by doing what is called the "Bee Breath" three times. Inhaling deeply through the nose, then exhaling very slowly while humming aloud. Humming activates the vegas (sp?) nerve which, in turn, stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system which can lower blood pressure, aid in digestion, and decrease your heart rate. It's good for you!
I have done this with 30 highschoolers (fits of giggles), old folks, little kids. Everyone is smiling by the end. It's a great practice. Even if you're not a natural hummer, maybe give it a try!
Thank you, Phyllis.
This almost made me cry: "I want to spend the final third of my life being kinder, more thoughtful, more grateful, more helpful, useful and peaceful."
This is a goal for me, too. It's hard, sometimes, as I tend to get angry about "worldly conditions" and stuff like that. Bringing it back to the breath always helps! Thanks for your lovely story about bee breath!
Karen, I also get triggered by the state of world, which is why meditation and mindfulness are so essential to, like you said, bring it back to the breath. When we do this, we improve ourselves and as 1 of some 7.5 billion parts of this thing called humanity, we improve it, just a little bit too. Thanks for your comment. Bless you.
THANK YOU, Jenny. I'm gonna restack your humming story . . .
Oh…I think I will need to do some humming today. Thank you for this, dear Phyllis. And thank you 🙏 so much for sharing my poem today. I am deeply honored and grateful. Blessings and love to you, dear woman.
Loved your poem, Julia - and your other work! Thank you for sharing your light!!
Dear Karen, thank you so, so much. This really means a lot. Love and blessings to you. ✨
One of my hopes for 2025, Julia, is to invite you to do an event on The Raft. Give it some thought, please?
I would be delighted and honored, dear Phyllis! How lovely that would be.
Let’s do! Talk to you after I get settled in MD.
First, how awful for another human to be filled with such anxiety due to racial fear, as the author calls it, "a traumatic retention." Our poor world is so full of ignorance and the way we treat each other is usually baseless when it comes down to the bottom line of what we all, as humans, want and need.
Second, I LOVE bee breath! My yoga teacher has us do this and I need to remember to do it at home. In Sanskrit, "bhramari pranayama, also known as Humming Bee Breath, is a yogic breathing practice that involves humming a sound like a bumblebee."
Keep humming and sending positive, loving vibes into the universe?
BZZZZZZZZZ