Introduction
I initially came across the expression “first thoughts” in Nathalie Goldberg’'s Writing Down the Bones, Freeing the Writer Within. In her book she counsels to keep writing even when you feel like stopping to read what you’'ve written. Allow the pen to continue across the page and don’t cross out anything. Goldberg’'s “first thoughts” or what other writers might refer to as “free writing,” helps you trust yourself and open to the creative process.
More precisely, what you are doing here is connecting to the ‘original mind’ or your true self as your ‘first thoughts’ come before you have a chance to censor yourself or rethink what you’'ve written. These thoughts are important information for you to deepen your awareness of who you are but also to trust in the process and not worry about the outcome.
In this lesson you will practice ‘first thoughts’ and begin with a meditation to help free your mind and prepare the ground for deep creativity. Meditation can help you give way to the mystery of existence by allowing you to encounter your core consciousness. In wisdom traditions we often hear of the space between thought as a window to God, our spirit or our truth.
This space is an area of infinite possibility but also of unbridled creativity and imagination.
In this first meditation you are going to practice saying a mantra, which will enable you to focus more easily. The word “mantra” is a Sanskrit word combining the words “man” which refers to “mind’ and “tra” which means “instrument.” This “instrument of the mind” is a tool, which yogis used to go from a place of scattered thought to a place of stillness.
Before you begin the meditation make sure that you have a pen and paper or notebook beside you as you are going to begin the writing exercise shortly after.