A New Year – 365 Days to Practice Meditation

How I became a meditator

I will never forget the moment when I heard the voice of my friend Julie chanting a Sanskrit text from the ancient Bhagavad Gita. It was early morning and I was just coming down the stairs to our living room. Julie, my friend from Australia, was visiting my daughter and myself in our home in Germany.

I felt happy. Such a feeling of sweet happiness that was not known to me before – it came from very deep within.

Julie’s voice was calm and focused on the words of the chant. I did not understand any meaning but the sound of it did something to my heart. There was a sudden opening. Although the language of Julie’s song seemed so foreign – I thought this is the most beautiful song I have ever heard. And strangely enough it was something I thought I have known before from ancient times. I felt an overwhelming sense of coming home in my own heart. It was that moment that my life took a leap into something new. Although, I was not aware of it’s huge consequences then.

That was 1992.

My friend Julie, who was at that time working in a leadership position of the Australian Embassy in Bonn, Germany, was the first person I met in my life who was both deeply spiritual and super successful in her work.

My meditation routine

I thought I could try out what she is doing. If just listening to her chanting made me so happy, how much more could be there at stake for me. So I established my daily meditation routine and created a beautiful space in my home that was only used for my chanting and meditation sessions. I also tried to meditate daily so that my mind was already looking forward to it. Usually it was in the early mornings.

Fast-forward 26 years. Today, meditation is a well-known stress reducer. But for many, including my self, it is more. It is a sacred science beyond conventional science, something I continue to be fascinated by as the unfolding of the journey continues. It is like looking into the magical and fine fabric of human existence.

As we move ahead on the path we understand that meditation in itself is a quantum leap as we move our awareness or focus from the mind to the heart. It is a huge step into the unknown if we decide to go for it.

The Indian scriptures say that through meditation our inner awareness expands and our understanding of the inner and outer world become steadily deeper. Ultimately, meditation makes us aware of our own true nature.

In my case, meditation is my preferred thing to do in life. It is never ever boring. And it is also most of the time so blissful!

It actually does shape my daily experience of life.

My daily schedule is one hour every day. Wherever I am, at home or traveling, I practice yoga, mediation, chanting. It is never boring. Through my meditation practice, every day appears in a different color… some days more fresh, others more calm, shining or just very indrawn.

Calming the monkey mind

Over the years, I learned to observe my mind. I can feel exactly what happens when my busy monkey mind – even in the early morning hours – clings to every thought that pops up in my head for dear life. I notice it and feel that my whole being becomes tense. My muscles clinch, my face tightens and my being feels more like a machine then a human being.

As on any journey, I can come across heavy feelings, sadness, anger and loneliness.

With practice, I learned to see mixed emotions as a beautiful opportunity to move beyond by remembering the sweet light in my heart. Giving my inner havoc a big warm hug. Stick out the pain and focus on the deep inner stillness beyond the turmoil in my mind and emotions. This stillness is so incredibly soothing and healing. Every day my meditation practice is different. Sometimes I feel the sweet and subtle movements of my inner heart. A sweetness that is beyond anything I can find in the outside world. And there is always something magical to look forward to.

Then there can be a shift. I remember to focus on my breathing and that leads me directly to my inner world. Here I find the peace, the warmth, the nurturing. And some days, I hear a very subtle murmur of my soul. It moves through my heart. And it shows me that some inner power is alive in me. It is sweet, it is warm and it is joyful. I feel clear, focused and full of life and endless power. These are my favorite moments, when I FEEL a real sense of sweetness in my heart.

From doing to being

Even as a vey busy entrepreneur and world traveller, I have more and more moments when I move out of the state of „doing“ into the state of „being“. Just letting the energy flow through me. I surrender to a deeper source inside of me, which is not a passive state.

I also gained a deeper understanding of the word wellbeing and why healing is so much more: It is actually a sacred act.

It is a journey to come to understand that there is a benevolent entity that is beyond our mind and that is actually us. A sweet paradox: Seeing one grace filled mass of energy playing out different roles in existence – nature, humans, the animal kingdom. With this understanding, we can move beyond the pettiness of thoughts of having or not having or of being someone or no one. The only thing that matters – it is said – is the goodness that springs from our deep core and is shared with those around us. This is the miracle…we are what we are looking for…what we seek, is actually in our hearts.

Creating the HEALING SUMMIT

It was my personal healing journey that led me to create Healing Hotels of the World – a global hospitality brand focused on healing. Because I found that healing is an option and that life is a blessed event.

It has always been my dream to gather people together for a higher purpose.

That desire to support change in the business world from inside out, has brought forth the annual global event: HEALING SUMMIT.

At this most innovative conference, groups of thoughtful, deeply committed humans will convene to discuss, learn and debate. Together they will initiate “quantum leaps” by the innovative and effective new ways they run governments, businesses, schools, churches, hospitals, and other institutions. This will initiate profound changes that reshape the welfare and progress of humanity.

Happy New Year 2019