Welcome to your Presence Meditation + Writing Exercise. Let’s find some space in this time of crisis to establish a practice of presence- space for awareness, allowance, and acceptance. Let us guide you through a Meditation and Writing exercise in which you get to explore exactly where you are, to find presence in that, and to do so with kindness and compassion. So set aside 40 minutes for this Meditation and Writing. Give yourself this time and space to fully be with yourself, to recognize everything living inside you, to release resistance, and see what reveals itself.

Why meditation is important:

Where does artistry start? It starts inside of you. You are unique to the universe and the expression of your unique emotional experience is what acting and expressing your artistic voice are all about. But before you can express that fully, you have to have a clear sense of who you are, of how you’re unique, and of why this matters to you. When you know yourself, when you walk into an audition room, on set or on stage, or into a meeting, with true self-knowing, you become like a rooted tree. Yes the winds of the business will blow and you’ll sway one way or the other, but you’ll remain rooted. “Bad feedback” won’t wreck you. You’ll be excited about the possibility of booking but you won’t obsess over it. But deep self-knowing and artistic power is obstructed by the many ways that fear causes us to get in our own way. We have to let go of the things that prevent us from truly seeing ourselves and from being ourselves. Meditation helps that release.

All you need today is a quiet, private, comfortable place, a device with which to listen, and headphones, (preferably ones that help keep out any distractions and help focus you inward.)

Why Writing is important:

Writing is an essential part of an actor’s life, whether you call yourself a writer or not. It’s an amazing form of creative expression that only requires you (and a pen and paper). It’s a form of meditation. It can clarify your thoughts, allow for the kind of deep-self reflection and processing that leads to finding your personal, creative, and professional power. And when structured in certain ways, can lead to writing scripts and scenes that offer an actor creative and financial opportunity.

For your writing today, you’ll need a journal and pen. No keyboards or iPad typing here. Find a place where you can write undisturbed, in or around your designated meditation spot.

This devoted time you put aside for yourself will connect you to your heart, to your full presence with wherever you are, and to your inner wisdom. So let’s get started.

To begin, identify a quiet place, a place where you feel comfortable sitting for about 40 minutes. It’s helpful to write right after the guided and silent meditation if you can allow the time to move from one to the other, so have a writing journal and pen/pencil beside you, ready to write. Have a timer ready (your phone is fine if it’s turned off otherwise). For your meditation, you might want to sit on a pillow or soft carpet with some back support if needed. Make sure you’re wearing clothes that are easy, comfortable, non restrictive. Headphones with which to listen are also suggested. Otherwise phones off. All distractions put away.

Now that you’re settled in your space, let’s begin. Press PLAY! Adjust the volume of your device to your comfort level.