The wikiloops Zen Den

Do you have trouble finding inner peace, winding down, chillaxing?

Remember "Wind down week" last year? I think we need more of that, well at least I do !

Let's aim to reach the spirit of Zen in this thread.

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It's early days but I thought it might help if I threw some breadcrumbs out to tempt posters in.
Questions usually do it, so :-

1) Is there a song lyric that really sums up life for you?
2) What works best to calm you down, words of comfort, a hug or being left alone?
3) What situations might throw you into a panic?
4) Have you got a favorite place in your home where you can chill out?
5) Does stroking your pet bring your blood pressure down?
6) Is the garden a place of refuge for you?
7) Does keeping busy stop you over-thinking stuff?

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Here goes mine:

1) Is there a song lyric that really sums up life for you?
I guess "Almost cut my hair"

2) What works best to calm you down, words of comfort, a hug or being left alone?
When I do lose my rag (which does not happen a lot anyway), it is probably best to leave me alone

3) What situations might throw you into a panic?
I don't really panic, but I guess if something happened to a loved one I might panic? Don't know I tend to keep cool.

4) Have you got a favorite place in your home where you can chill out?
Ahhhh my red leather sofa, my ass is married to that one in the evenings. Inseparable :D

5) Does stroking your pet bring your blood pressure down?
I haven't had a dog for many years, but I used to and they certainly are the best! Once I retire I#m going to get one for sure.

6) Is the garden a place of refuge for you?
Nooo the garden is a place where I got to do chores and stuff :/ . No my place of refuge is my workshop in the cellar. I got all the power tools, grinders, lathe, they are my refuge.

7) Does keeping busy stop you over-thinking stuff? No, the wheels are always turning but I am used to it, does not really cause me anxiety.

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TeeGee, I think you must be the most well adjusted person I know, you have life in control and you can probably deal with anything it throws at you. I don't think The Zen Den can offer any more... unless, of course we install a red leather chair with ass shaped indentations for you in The Blue Iguana <3

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1.This life is only dream waiting to be seen like some theatrical scene
2.listening to ambient sounds like thunderstorms
3.Not being in control
4.Bathroom....lying in a hot bath with lots of bubbles
5.Absolutley...My two cats.
6.No...But driving to the nearest seafront is, starring out to sea.
7.Yes...When I'm not thinking...I contemplate my mortal life Comming to an end.

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1) Is there a song lyric that really sums up life for you?
Hello...is there anybody in there? Just nod if you can hear me...is there anyone home?

2) What works best to calm you down, words of comfort, a hug or being left alone?
Music, Mary Jane

3) What situations might throw you into a panic?
My kids doing destructive things

4) Have you got a favorite place in your home where you can chill out?
Jam room

5) Does stroking your pet bring your blood pressure down?
Playing with the dogs is fun, not sure I do it for blood pressure

6) Is the garden a place of refuge for you?
When I'm growing my 'special plants', it's definitely a place of calm and peace and wonder

7) Does keeping busy stop you over-thinking stuff?
I usually don't overthink things, it's not good to do that, or to keep that pressure on yourself by overthinking and occupying your mind with it

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I don't know about the adjusted part, but a red leather chair :o? Now you are talking <3 you won't be able to get me out of there. Make sure it's a one size fits all type ;)

[youtube]IUzNjJdBnxs?si=Az0betI7pORQJQ5Q[/youtube]

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Reading Nick's answers it seems Pot is one way to relax and eliminate stress. No doubt it is a mind changing drug that works for some, but I'm not recommending it as a healthy alternative to more natural remedies. In some cases it will bring about the very problems it's taken for. Not everyone needs or can take cannabis because it may bring on depression, anxiety or suicidal thoughts, so it's a bit of a 'pot luck' solution.
I know many musicians and artists believe it helps them achieve superior works... how much better to create by finding the part of your brain that you can switch on without help. We all have hidden depths that we don't realise we have, some are amazing, like pain control, super strength, intuition, the potential of a brain is vast and as yet unknown.
In the same way alcohol is the go to for chilling out, especially to the point of forgetting problems and even forgetting what you've done or where you've been, but the long term effects on the brain and body means it needs to be moderated. Just my thoughts of course :)

Pardon the lecture :)

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I did the whole Zen Den thing in my spare room, singing bowls, candles, crystals, stones, small fountain, floor cushions, inspirational posters, incense burner, Japanese ambient music, salt lamp, chimes and bells....... then the creative fun was over and using it for yoga and meditation seemed like too much effort and boring :( But that's the story of my life, it's that short attention span thing again!

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incense can be nice, or a nice smelling candle...sometimes aromatherapy can be relaxing. i think LittleWing posted in the shoutbox a bit ago about a "sound bath"...i've tried that, like an 8-10hr "sound bath" youtube video while you sleep.

water seems to work 'magic' at times. whether it's just ambient sound and water running nearby, or actual water running over your body.

nature has it's own way of balancing ourselves. some say the pine smell and fresh air of the forest, that alpha-pinene high from a forest walk, or 'forest bathing' as some may call it.

anything natural to help relax and live pain/stress free :)

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Close your eyes. Take a deep breath and exhale slowly...

[youtube]2M5qSQvgbQE?si=kvfgUr4ZBIXLEOEg[/youtube]

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For Nick- Wear headphones, put video on full screen and watch the pretty girl.
You have to wear headphones to get the effect.

[youtube]zltEvQK03Hs[/youtube]

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I've tried sound baths and quite honestly they only work for me until a sound comes along that I dislike, then all the relaxation is gone. These things are very subjective and I suggest you 'run your own sound bath' find what works for you. You can chose from a range of sounds, drums, bells, gongs, a didgeridoo or running water.

When I ran health and well-being classes, they always ended with a wind down which involved muscle relaxation, soft sounds and calming words. The results varied - I had one lady who cried, another fell asleep and some would fidget... but the majority came up to thank me - it's easier to be guided than to do it by yourself.

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Sound baths ARE subjective. Everyone IS different but as it was explained to me , the loudness should be enough to be comfortable but the frequency should vibrate your body.
No different then ancient chants etc...

The sound should resonate the tissue.

If youre tuning it out , its not going to do anything. Crappy speakers, attention issues all factor into whether it will work or not.



In Hindu you have Shiva who is the mother goddess and she has many forms. One such form is Sharaba

Sharaba IS Shiva so therefore he is not a demon but he eats demons.
Evil trembles before Sharaba.

The chant is to evoke Sharaba as a vibrational energy is quite fun. If you notice there is a rhythm despite the hard pronunciations and then you suddenly get to scream "FAT!".


If you look up the Sharaba chant and do it exactly 108 times (Hindu dictates you chant exactly 108 times), you actually feel it. "FAT" while fun to just suddenly scream , is the word that removes all negativity and the vibration of it elevates negative thoughts and feelings.

TYhe word "FAT", when said very forcibly vibrates the body. So does "Ohm", "Amen", etc...

This chant once you get into it is really fun and you cant help but shake off any negativity.



[youtube]8enhQQgg3tk[/youtube]

I want a Sharaba plush toy.
He eats demons but is gentle as a pussy cat to those who honor Shiva.
[img]https://www.templepurohit.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Sharabha-Shiva-Avtar-Who-Liberated-Lord-Narasimha-1.jpg[/img]

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I was interested until you said I had to do it 108 times, that number seems arbitrary. I can hear how shouting "Fat" can remove negativity because it just made me laugh and laughing is known to uplift us.... but I can think of other F words that are said many times by many people and also offer a release :)

Thanks LW

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Calming sound

My grown up son and I live on a steel boat and we like it when it's raining hard and the wind is blowing the boat about. Mainly it's the sound of hard rain hitting the boat that we enjoy, it can be very loud!
We both sleep well when it rains hard. Is rain close to brown noise I wonder.

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Hey Zedders, I used to live in the UK and I lived in buses etc for many years. Theres a great FB page for folk living this way. Have you seen it? Great photos everyday of cool homes. UK travelers and nomads I think it's called.

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i have a new favorite youtube channel <3

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1) Is there a song lyric that really sums up life for you?
I've always enjoyed Roger Waters' take on it - one example being 3/4 from OBC


2) What works best to calm you down, words of comfort, a hug or being left alone?
Solitude. I guess I'm in the "know yourself first / count back from 1000" camp.
3) What situations might throw you into a panic?
Loss of memory/mental capacity
4) Have you got a favorite place in your home where you can chill out?
Kitchen, full of things I love, full of things I can create to relax and where I am at parties
5) Does stroking your pet bring your blood pressure down?
Sadly no because he's a cat and I'm allergic and sneezing takes the BP up. But his love and wisdom is invaluable.
6) Is the garden a place of refuge for you?
Not usually because I'm re-wilding and it's technically not my business but watching the bees gather pollen from the daisies gives me enormous joy.
7) Does keeping busy stop you over-thinking stuff?
Over-thinking stuff is what I do. I just have to make peace with that.

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Like Zedders and Tu I enjoy being outside, close to nature, especially in a tent or caravan with the sound of rain.

bassMonkey, I think we are kindred spirits in many ways the only way we differ, I stay out of the kitchen :)

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