Yoga and Other Mind Calming Practices
As I begin a new decade of life, I find tranquility is more important than ever. I'm dedicating an hour each day to yoga returning to a mindful practice using...you'll never guess.
As Alfred Hitchcock said, “There is no terror in the bang, only in the anticipation of it.”
It’s probably no secret that my favorite books are the ones that keep me riveted to the page. I love dark thrillers that put you into the mind of the killer and suspenseful stories that make you keep turning pages. Since I read at night, a book has to keep me awake. It has to make me edgy, and jumpy. It must make me nervous for the protagonist. And above all, it has to make me want to keep reading because I must find out what’s coming.
And If I’m going to be totally honest, I’ll admit I’m a caffeine addict too. I used to drink 3 big cups of dark roast- the stronger the better- each morning. I loved the jolt of energy it gave me and the benefit of accelerated thinking.
So it’s no surprise that when I write, I want to draw out the suspense and disquiet to their fullest extents. After all, if I’m not biting my nails to find out what’s going to happen next, how can my reader be expected to care?
Well, a few years ago, I was sitting at my writing desk, pounding out a hair-raising scene after drinking my daily dose of super charged coffee, and I felt an uncomfortable pounding in my chest. This wasn’t the type of pulse-pounding drama that I was searching for. Not at all. It turned out to be a little heart palpitation, but it was an awakening moment for sure.
First, I cut out the coffee. I started doing yoga every day, and…no way was I going to stop writing thrillers!
To date, I have four books and three short stories published. My latest shorty, The First Punch, will be available later this month in Provoked, a new Blackbird Writers’ Anthology. And I’m addicted to—I mean devoted to—writing.
Due to my nature, (pretty high strung) and due to a moderate level of stress in my life (what can I say, I’m a high achiever), this fall I’ve ramped up the calming practices in my life. I continue to do yoga at home. YouTube is a fantastic resource for videos. Two of my favorites are Charlie Follows, and Kassandra. Charlie has enlightened me with her longer savasana and meditations. And Kassandra leads wonderful Yin Yoga practices.
I’m also reviving another practice that over the years has gotten away from me. Since I’m writing about the paranormal, and it has always made me curious, I’m doing a little, shall we call it, research. I recently attended a webinar put on by the NorCal Sisters in Crime, The Gift That Keeps On Giving: Adding Paranormal Elements To Your Writing, with Dänna Wilberg (moderator), Linda Schooler, Linda Potter & Erin Burrell. This was a fantastic class for any writer who wants to dive into this territory. They discussed how to add paranormal elements to your writing by developing your intuition.
It may surprise people who know me, but for many years, I practiced wicca and card reading. I’ll be the first to admit that over the last decade, I haven’t been too in touch with my intuitive self. But the funny thing is, I’m drawn to it like a kid to a candy store. I’ve always been sensitive—I’ve seen ghosts and they’ve talked to me. I even helped one move on. Years ago, I started doing readings with the Reflections deck. I liked the simplicity and colorful swirl artwork. and they’re easy to use. I bought the deck decades ago and now I’m unable to find them online.
Back then, I also purchased the Alistair Crowley Tarot deck. Though I liked the idea of Tarot, I never got into doing readings with this deck because I didn’t like the artwork on the cards. It seemed difficult to learn the major and minor arcana, and the book that came with the deck was big (aka, not portable).
Tarot really intrigues me. Also the act of pulling a card—letting your subconscious find the right one for you—is a meditative act. I find it very relaxing and reflective. Last week I bought a new deck. I’m drawing one card a day and doing readings 2-3 times a week. I’m learning the cards, and learning about intuition in a way that feels comfortable and natural to me.
In case you’re curious, the Urban Crow deck is lots of fun. The artwork is beautifully dark, and it uses modern terminology.
My favorite spread is one that came with the Reflections deck. The center care is your present state of mind. 2 to the left are the immediate and long term past, two to the right are the immediate and long term future. One above is your emotions- how do you feel? One care below is what you’re grounded in. I’ll explain more about this spread in a future post.
For now, these relaxing practices (yoga and card reading) feel nurturing and restorative. It makes me wonder if it’s possible to develop a strong intuition, or if that just comes naturally for some gifted folks. Either way, I’ll use what I learn in my Daphne Ann Post Books, the paranormal thriller.
On October 26th and 27th, look for my latest short story at Blackbirdwriters.com. It will give you an idea who Mark Walters is, and he plays a big part in the paranormal thriller, FOREWARNED. (coming in 2025)
I do yoga nearly every day. It helps me to focus and feel empowered with greater flexibility. I love it!
All so interesting, and I can't wait to read about your character in FOREWARNED!