My Little Meditative Space
I have been playing around with my meditative space all week. Adding this, taking away that.
I was driving past Hobby Lobby yesterday and had no idea what their sales were this week, but stopped in. I found the little white lamp for 50% off. As were the elephants, etc.
I think this little lamp lends a bit of magic to the space.
What you see is just a hodge-podge of things that speak to me. The two strands hanging from the wall, one of birds and the other of elephants, I found at World Market for $6.99 and $7.99.
You know how much I love birds.
Of course house plants are in this space to purify the air and just be decorative. Plants are of nature, and I find spirituality in nature.
This space is ideally located in the middle of my living/dining space. I look beyond it to the French doors and patio. I can sit at the table in one of the red chairs and just relax and listen to the tinkling of chimes.
I can’t light candles or incense around Charlie, so the candles you see are the type you turn on and off.
What is so much fun about this style of decorating is that most anything goes. Anything that catches your fancy. Any color that speaks to you.
You know how I like to not have to move everything to dust. So these white trays are easier to deal with in that respect.
The same goes with the trays below the shelves on the cupboard.
I feel peaceful when I stare at these objects.
Right now it is raining, has been all night, and this little space is in wrapped in shadows. I’m glad I took photos yesterday.
The kitchen cabinets have looked the same for three years. And I kept trying to think how to change them up. But now I’m glad I didn’t.
The colorful place mats lend a global touch with the painted spoons. They fit right in.
I have found that the combination of greens and blues bring about such a restful look. I know when I gaze at these colors together, I immediately relax.
And the iridescent colors of these wind chimes are elemental and remind me of the earth.
The space just across from this cupboard already had the Buddha and plant, but now a salt lamp from Amazon.com has been added.
Seems I must have chipped off the very top when I was unwrapping it. It was quite heavy.
But I just set it back on top and actually like the look of it this way.
I’ve read that you should have salt lamps in every room. I have three. One in the kitchen, the one above and one in the bedroom among house plants.
This is such a fun way to decorate. I’m going to go through my supplies and see what bits and bobs I have to make crafts. I have lots of ribbon and beads and things I’ve accumulated over the years, and had no idea what to do with them.
I think I’ll try my hand at making a dream catcher or some other bit of decor just for fun.
I’m having lunch with my daughter today. We’re meeting up at 11:30.
I’ve been communicating with my older daughter through Facebook and Messenger for a few months now and I asked if she’d like to join us.
She is in the midst of flipping another house, and wrote that she is meeting with contractors all day. But she asked if I’d let her know the next time we meet.
Going slow. Trying to gently patch the gaps of the past. I haven’t seen her face to face in 5 long years. And I so want to see her.
Maybe Lady Luck is looking my way.
And as they say, hope springs eternal.
Ivy has been on a tear all night. She has almost every one of her toys strewn across the floor.
She apparently took my wrist watch from where I keep it. I dug around until I located another watch and will have to take it to have batteries put in. I always like to have a wrist watch on when I go out. These that I have are over 20 years old and still going strong.
In the middle of the night Charlie wanted out. He’s back to wanting out every few hours even with the Trazadone and Melatonin just before bedtime. I picked him up to put him back on the bed and caught my right foot on a piece of furniture and down we both went.
So today I’m hobbling around a bit.
But I shall enjoy getting out. Maybe Ivy will have brought my watch out of whatever hidey-hole she must have it in by the time I get back.
I’d love to hear about your own relaxing space or nook or corner if you have one.
Your meditation space is beautiful Brenda!
Love your calm space Brenda. Lots of great stuff to catch your eye! The little lamp is the finishing touch-really like that.
Glad you are moving forward with your oldest daughter. I’m praying you will be able to get together very soon.
Take care
Just love seeing all your wonderful decorating ideas! You are such an inspiration. I am struggling to create a new style for myself as an empty nest down-sizer. I am trying to incorporate/copy the look you have little by little. I am thrilled with the news about your older daughter. Wishing all of you the very best!
I love your new Meditation area. We do not have a Hobby Lobby near by, sure sounds like a fun place to shop. You have a great eye for putting ever thing together. I want to buy a Salt Lamp, they are so pretty.
Hope you find your watch, I wonder where Ms. Ivy put it?? Love seeing pictures of Charlie and Ms. Ivy.
Hugs to everyone
That space is absolutely gorgeous! I love that lamp and elephants!
Lots of positive responses to your new decor, Brenda! People who were upset when you described your plans would surely see that you aren’t doing this as a way of worship because you didn’t give credit to Buddha or crystals for your recent contact with your daughter — You brought up Lady Luck! That was funny. I’m glad you are enjoying yourself. You are an artist who uses objects to create moods and you are using new materials in a pleasing way.
I love your place. You do a wonderful job decorating. I have been working on de-cluttering the past few days. It’s hard to part with some things, but when you live in a small space after living in a large house, those decisions must be made. You seem t be able to pull it off with style. You rock !!!
Your posts about decorating are my favorites.
Your apartment and meditation corner all look so lovely, Brenda. You have such a way with displaying things that it all looks perfect. I’m glad you are giving yourself permission to change things in a way that makes you feel calm and peaceful.
I’m glad you are having some contact with your other daughter. Like you said, take it slow and things will evolve positively. It must feel like such a gift to have her back in your life, even at this beginning level. We never stop loving those we’ve given birth to, do we?
I need to get one or two –I almost said “lava lamps”, but I meant salt lamps! I am clearing out and re-organizing in my bedroom, preparing to paint and I want to put a salt lamp in there when I get it back together. And maybe one in the living room, too. I gave both my daughters a salt lamp for Christmas a couple years ago but never gave myself one. Time to do that!
Hope you find that watch that Miss Ivy absconded with. Never a dull moment living with that little scamp,
is there?
Hope your lunch with your daughter was pleasant. Take care and enjoy your weekend, Brenda.
Your apartment and meditation corner all look so lovely, Brenda. You have such a way with displaying things that it all looks perfect. I’m glad you are giving yourself permission to change things in a way that makes you feel calm and peaceful.
I’m glad you are having some contact with your other daughter. Like you said, take it slow and things will evolve positively. It must feel like such a gift to have her back in your life, even at this beginning level. We never stop loving those we’ve given birth to, do we?
I need to get one or two –I almost said “lava lamps”, but I meant salt lamps! I am clearing out and re-organizing in my bedroom, preparing to paint and I want to put a salt lamp in there when I get it back together. And maybe one in the living room, too. I gave both my daughters a salt lamp for Christmas a couple years ago but never gave myself one. Time to do that!
Hope you find that watch that Miss Ivy absconded with. Never a dull moment living with that little scamp,
is there?
Hope your lunch with your daughter was pleasant. Take care and enjoy your weekend, Brenda.
Your new little space looks great! I really like your new look. Such great news about your oldest daughter. It’d be so wonderful if you could actually see her again.
Nicely done (of course)
Good to hear that you and your older daughter are communicating…wishing you and your daughters a sweet reunion one day soon.
I am really enjoying the new additions to your house. You are inspiring me to add some more color to my blue and white scheme so I went to TJMax and purchased some new bath towels in a coral/orange color and also a lumbar pillow in light orange and white for the loveseat. I still love your green glass jar, but when I look around I cannot find anyplace to put one, so I quit looking for now LOL! I think I want to add back a little more boho/global look to my home as well.
Thank you for inviting me into your home. It is beautiful and comfortable and so pet friendly. You give me great ideas. Hope you and Charlie are feeling better and Ivy returns your watch. I look forward to all your emails. I feel like you are a good, creative and loving friend. Susan
So hope your visit goes well, Brenda…how well I understand!! Glad at least there has been some communication.
Brenda, I take trazadone for my restless legs and on the bottle it says to take with food, to avoid tummy issues. Perhaps you might consider that.
Okay, thanks.
Hello, I really enjoy your blog and I love your new space. I think I will try setting up a place for myself. After 48 years of marriage, I am adjusting to living alone and I need to find new ways to bring peace and contentment into my life. I have a son, no daughters, but I find that parenting adult children is often much harder than parenting children! I also have dogs that mean the world to me, a 16 year old dachshund and a 9 year old chihuahua. Your posts give me a lot of inspiration, and thank you for that!
I had tears in my eyes when you said you had communication with your oldest daughter. All mama’s want is to know their children are safe. No matter how old they become. I Will hope and pray we will see a picture soon of all of you together as it’s been a long time seeing them and us that have been with you for many years, remember them, so will be nice hearing what’s keeping them busy too. Sounds like all three of you enjoy making a home your castle. Love your meditative area with its colors and how you arranged it all.
I’m happy for you regarding the tentative communication with your other daughter. It sounds like You are able to be patient and that’s a healthy approach. Do your two daughters stay in touch much on their own?
It looks like you’ve had a lot of fun with decorating in a zen or earthy boho style. At the previous post of your purchases I was wondering why that white statue with gold stripes had a flat head. Now I see that it is a candle holder! I get a kick out of it. I also like the strings of animals and the coppery face sculpture at the top. I’d never think to buy these things so my likes are being stretched quite a bit! Thanks for giving us some new ideas.
Brenda, I love this space! The blend of styles and color makes it so interesting and you are right about the lamp…it does add a little magic! Love and hugs!
Your lamp shade is magical as are all the other items. You’ve incorporated bronze, copper and other metal shades and it looks so peaceful and attractive. You must be attracting good vibrations.
Brenda, your new space is fabulous! I love all of the elephants and the color! What a beautiful place to look up at, it would make me smile to see this.
I am so happy that you are in communication with your daughter! This is wonderful news, I hope that you are able to see her soon.
Have a wonderful weekend, I hope you have a nice lunch with your daughter and that your foot is feeling better.
I’m loving your zen area Brenda! I esp love the elephant lamp and the elephant strand!
So happy that you’re other daughter wants to meet up with you and your communicating with each other!
My oldest granddaughter just came back a couple wks ago from Africa and brought me back an elephant figurine that a woman made! She brought one back for her Mom too bc she loves them too! I always make sure I only buy the elephants with there trunks up though. Lol.
Have a great weekend with Charlie and Ivy!
I love your meditative space – it is calming even via the computer screen -lol!
Sending good thoughts your way, have a peaceful week-end. It is – at last – cooler here today and with a gently rain. I do love soft grey days.
Mary
The space looks beautiful. You have such an eye for decorating. I absolutely love blue and green combo too! The chimes, elephants, and lamp are so pretty!
Where did you find that black and white llama? Adorable!
Hobby Lobby for half off.
I love that little llama too. 🙂
Just beautiful — peaceful and beautiful. I love your meditative space.
Great news regarding your older daughter — at least you are communicating and she appears receptive. I would think this positive step would be good for the soul.
I had oohed and aahed over your salt lamp to my daughter; she sent me one via Amazon. I LOVE it. Especially in the early morning hours before the sun is up — what a gorgeous glow — makes me smile just to look at it.
Take care and have a wonderful lunch date with your daughter.
It is good for the soul. I’ve waited so long for her to be receptive.
Very pretty. I hope that Ivy isn’t tempted by your bird and elephant strands.
Glad to hear that your eldest daughter has been in communication with you.
I actually don’t think she can jump up there. She’s pretty big now. But she could prove me wrong.
Brenda, did you know that elephants are known for their patience and being calm, except when their herd or their babies are threatened. Me thinks it’s not a coincidence that you chose elephants for part of your “zen” zone. An elephant with trunk raised is thought to bring good fortune to one’s home and showers positive energy into all surrounding beings and spaces. I love your new space, and the Hobby Lobby lamp you scored – the light patterns cast upon the wall are just the right touch – they are beautiful and serene, but also a little mysterious. It must be a very special space in the evening with the lamp turned on and the candles aglow. I have about a dozen battery-operated candles of varying sizes, not including all the battery-powered votives that I pull out and use in abundance during the holidays. All the battery-operated candles give great ambient serene lighting without the danger of flames.
Great arrangement! That lamp is magic. The bird and elephant strands are so darn cute. I like the little bit of color they add.
Love your meditation space. All great ideas. Live plants are great to purify the air inside. Happy Friday.
Have a great weekend.
xoxo
Kris
My daughter has that same lamp and loves the reflection it gives off through the little punched out designs on the shade. She also has the bird strand you have hanging on the wall. She called them chickens though! lol I think you are right. They do look more like birds!
I believe you are achieving the look you were going for, a peaceful, tranquil and cozy home.
I have that same string of colorful chickens, in the corner by my kitchen door. It’s a prosperity string, I got mine years ago at Gardener’s Supply.
“Hanging a Prosperity String in a doorway is believed to bring good fortune and bestow abundance upon the inhabitants of the home. Hens are a traditional symbol of good luck.”
I think of that often when they catch my eye!
Love your blog!! I look forward to reading it every morning. Also love your decorating & of course Charlie & Ivy.