Traveling in an airplane can be a source of anxiety for many people. Two simple meditation techniques offer ways to relax during three of the most stressful times on an airplane: take-off, landing, and a crying child.
Airplane Take-Off and Landing Meditation
Taking off or touching down in an airplane can be stressful for many people. The anxiety about an accident or discomfort of motion sickness can be unpleasant. The following meditation invites the airline passenger to visualize himself or herself as connected to the ground during the take-off or landing experience to promote peace and relaxation during an airline flight:
- After the airline's safety demonstration, put on a pair of sleep glasses or other "do not disturb" sign.
- Begin to breathe deeply several times.
- Feel the breath going up and down the spine with the inhale, and out again with the exhale.
- While breathing deeply, imagine the breath going out of the body and down to the very center of the earth. Visualize it anchoring in the earth's core and connecting the body tightly to that core of molten metal.
- Sink the feet firmly into the floor of the plane to emphasize one's rootedness on solid ground. Continue to breathe deeply and focus on one's connection to the earth.
- As the plane begins to take off, continue to breathe and visualize the self firmly rooted and connected to the center of the earth.
- When the plane moves and lifts, pay no attention to the way the body is swaying. Instead, focus on the spine straight and strong connecting the body to the very center of the earth.
- If having trouble maintaining the connection, visualize a strong rod shooting out of the base of the spine and grounding the self all the way to the center of the earth. The plane may be moving, but the body is not.
- Continue to breathe deeply and visualize the body's connection to the center of the earth until the flight becomes smooth. Resume the meditation if turbulence occurs during the flight or to manage landing anxiety.
To practice for this meditation before actually sitting in an airplane, steps 4-7 may be tried in a chair or moving car or train. To concentrate on being firmly rooted into the ground, the Tree Meditation, where one sees the self as a tree with roots deep in the ground, may be beneficial as well.
Airplane Boundary Meditation
Airplane cabins can be cramped, particularly during long flights. A crying child or a pushy neighbor can easily violate one's personal space and increase anxiety. The following meditation is designed to maintain personal space during a flight and increase comfort during cramped and stressful conditions in an airplane seat.
- Note the irritant- a child crying or a neighbor's body or feet in one's personal space. Insert earplugs, a head phone, readjust the body, or other adjustment to maximize personal comfort during the meditation.
- Close the eyes and visualize a bubble of bright yellow light around the self. Where is the bubble? Where does the bubble need to be for maximum comfort?
- Begin to breathe deeply. Focus on adjusting the bubble to a comfortable thickness and distance. See the bright light at the edge of the bubble blocking out and pushing away the irritant outside the realm of one's personal space.
- Breathe deeply into the bubble for as long as desired, forcing light energy into areas of it that feel thin or pushed back.
- When ready, open the eyes. The irritant may have even stopped or moved.
Repeat this meditation as desired when physically uncomfortable during the flight. Note that no manner of meditation may move a neighbor as effectively as a polite, "excuse me, would you move your leg, please?"
Flying on an airplane can be stressful with landings, turbulence, and irritation passengers. With meditation, however, one has yet another tool besides the earplugs, magazine, and cocktail to enjoy the flight.
For another travel-themed meditation, Road Rage Meditation: How to Relax During Stressful Driving may be of interest.
Melissa Roberts - A trained hospital chaplain, Melissa is a freelance writer, teacher, retreat leader, and spiritual director.
