Clearing a Space is an exercise in awareness of what’s going on inside of you and creating some space between you and anything that may distract you. This can help you to take a moment to relax before you begin to explore a specific thought, idea, or task.
Exercise Instructions:
Ensure that you are sitting in a comfortable position with no distractions. Take a couple of deep relaxing breaths.
Welcome yourself warmly, like you would welcome a good friend who you want to listen to in an open way.
Ie: Welcome [insert name]. It’s good to be with you today.
You can close your eyes, or not, and observe your breathing. Notice how you simply breathe in and out, without changing the pattern.
Allow your attention come down into your body. Be aware of your physical self. Perhaps first the outer area of your body, like your feet and legs, your arms and hands, and then sense the contact of your body with whatever you’re sitting on. Now bring awareness into the middle part of your body, sensing your throat, and your chest, and your belly. Let your awareness rest in this whole middle area of your body.
Ask yourself the question: “What is controlling my attention right now?” or “How do I feel right now?” or “How is my life going? What are the main things for me right now?” or you could start with: “What is keeping me from feeling an open inner space at this time?”
Notice everything that comes to your mind and what you observe in your body. Don’t go into anything right now. Recognize whatever comes up as it arises. When a thought comes, do not go into it. Just say “Yes, that’s there. I can feel that, there.”
You can write on a piece of paper some key words. Acknowledge everything just the way it is. Write down a few words on the topics that come to your attention. Take all the time you need, and continue as soon as it feels right for you to continue.
Allow yourself the opportunity to put each of these things aside. You can make that movement in reality by placing the paper you wrote on, at a distance. Continue this process until you have acknowledged and written down all the various things, and found a place for them. The ‘right place‘ to put something aside may be at a small or a large distance from yourself, depending on what your feelings tell you to do. Do not hesitate to change things until you feel that it is ‘right’.
Observe how you feel inside after putting all the papers aside. Feel whether you now have an open inner space.
You may also write down a key word or a phrase or an image to capture the experience of ‘having inner space’. Give yourself a moment to enjoy this experience of ‘being detached from concerns’ and to relax.
Are you now ready to focus your attention on a new task? If this is not the case, take your time to acknowledge whatever else you need.