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Mala Meditations with a Camera – what you need to know

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Mantra meditation (Japa) is a simple, ancient tool to ground you in the present moment. When your mind is racing, repeating a mantra – silently or aloud – can bring you a sense of focus. I recently wrote a blog post on how to create a mantra to deepen your photography practice. You can find it here. Mala beads are beautiful tasseled necklaces that often used in mantra meditation. In this post, I’ll share the benefits of using a mala and how to use them to strengthen your mindful photography practice.

Traditional malas can be worn on the wrist or around the neck and are made of 108 counting beads plus one guru (also referred to as meru or mountain) bead strung together. A tassel is connected to the end of the guru bead to complete the mala. The guru bead is typically larger than the counting beads and serves as a starting and ending point for counting repetitions of the mantra. If you aren’t fond of mantras, you can also count breaths, prayers or intentions during your meditation.

How to Use a Mala:

  • Mala beads hang loosely in your hands and are held between the thumb and ring or middle finger.
  • Pull one bead at a time towards you as you repeat your mantra. Move from bead to bead, reciting your mantra, until you reach the guru bead.
  • Remember, don’t count the guru bead. You can either end your meditation or skip the guru bead and continue counting beads.

Mala beads can be worn around the neck or wrist, so they can effortlessly be carried along with you whenever you go out to shoot. You can remove the mala, place it in your hand, and engage in a walking mala meditation with your camera. This practice helps you replace any lingering negative thoughts with positive ones through your mantra. You can also sync your footsteps or your breath with the movement of each counting bead to slow down, control your respiration and ground yourself in the present moment. Simple repetition of your mantra and the movement of beads helps you focus your thoughts and be present.  

I’m excited to share my personal mala practice with you because it’s a simple way to add something new to the way you bring mindfulness into your photography and your life. I purchased the Lotus Seed Full Mala necklace from Japa Mala Beads and I love it! They have an extensive collection of beautiful malas and each one is hand strung by a yogi. The folks at Japa Mala Beads were even kind enough to share a discount code so you can get a savings when you purchase your own mala! Enter zenbehindthelens at checkout to save 10%!

Mindful photography is a practice that takes meditation off the cushion and into our everyday lives. Consider using a mala to bring your awareness to the present moment and experience it fully – one bead at a time.

  

you see what you are looking for

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I’ve got a funny little story to tell you. It’s a story about seeing what you look for and missing the obvious right in front of you.

A beautiful, dead flower captured my attention in an unlikely place

Last week my husband was making plans for our family weekend getaway when he realized his credit card had expired and he didn’t have a new one. Naturally he asked if I had received my new card in the mail. I had. He didn’t recall receiving his, so he called the credit card company to ensure it had been mailed. It had. The envelope must have come in the mail, so he figured it had gotten mixed up with some other mail and was stashed somewhere in the house – a drawer, his nightstand, his desk or my BIG bag of junk mail that I save to burn every couple of months. He tore the house up and down looking for the envelope that contained his updated credit card. And of course he sucked me into his madness and had me checking potential spots (and my big burn bag) where the envelope could be hiding. And these shenanigans went on for two days… Finally, I gave him my card to make the reservations and end the frenzy. He took my card, looked at it, and went upstairs. Shortly he returned with a grin on his face and his updated card in his hand faced towards me. I say nothing because the puzzled look on my face said it all. Once he saw my card and realized what it looked like, he remembered seeing his card under some papers in his desk drawer. For two days he had been looking for an envelope from the bank with his card inside. He wasn’t looking for his credit card at all! And so he looked right past it as he rambled in search of an envelope.

A dirty wagon full of garden waste

This is a great example of what not to do as a photographer. When you have a preconceived image in your mind, that’s what will hold your focus – clouding your vision from countless other intriguing or inspiring shots. Even if you have a defined subject, say a beautiful bride, you can still keep your mind open and your eyes attuned to the possibility of what you can capture. The first photo in this post of a dying, golden Zinnia bloom was hiding in plain sight in my dirty wagon of garden waste. It caught my eye as I walked past it. So my advice – don’t miss a moment or a subject because it doesn’t look the way you envisioned. Take your camera with you everywhere, be present, and let the subject and the shot connect with your heart.

shoot with love and awareness

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Learning to shoot with my heart and not my head has totally transformed my experience with photography. When I was laser focused on tools and techniques, I struggled to find my style and spent most of my time frustrated. Once I silenced the critic in my head and gave the power to my heart, my awareness expanded, and I began to connect with a beautiful, freeing practice that allowed my creativity to flourish. Shooting from a place of love breathed new life into my art and gave my ideas space to grow.

Here are my thoughts on a heart-based flow:

ground yourself in the space

Grounding simply means taking time to center and orient yourself. When I first arrive in a space with my camera, I like to take a few deep, slow breaths to calm my mind and affirm where I am. It only takes a minute or two, and the meditative practice brings my full attention to the scene.

follow your instincts

Ever felt the impulse to pull out your camera and take a picture, but for whatever reason, you decided to ignore the urge? That was your instinct trying to tell you something. As often as possible, stop and answer the call. Some of my best photographic experiences have occurred when I followed my instinct.

let the subject find you

Silence your mind and open your heart. Walk mindfully, with camera in hand, fully attuned to your senses. What catches your eye? What do you smell? You’ll know when you have found your subject because you’ll feel drawn to it. Raise your camera and shoot from your heart, not your head. Ignore the rules. Don’t worry about what will get you the most likes. Connect with the subject that has found you and shoot.

peace and zen,

Tonya

How to write a mantra that helps you to be a better photographer

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mantra: noun.
a syllable, word or phrase that is purposefully repeated and used to express one’s personal beliefs or intentions

A mantra isn’t just for yogis or spiritual seekers. Anyone can find peace, joy and centeredness from repeating a mantra, especially photographers. Adding a personal mantra to your photography toolkit will change you the way you feel behind the lens and the way you see the world – two key factors in cultivating your unique style. In this step-by-step guide, I’ll share tips to help you capture the words that speak to your spirit and infuse your images with soul.

Most mantras are very simple and can be spoken, whispered, or repeated in the mind. The most meaningful mantra is one that you create for yourself. You don’t have to share it – so don’t worry about what anyone else thinks of the words you’ve chosen. The purpose of your mantra is to your focus your attention on the present moment and to bring awareness to the intention you have set for yourself. For example, “I am creative” can help you silence your inner critic and open your mind to shoot images that make your heart sing. So grab a pen and your journal and follow these simple tips for creating a personal mantra that’s authentically you.

What’s a word that aligns with your intention?
  • Be selective

Think about the life you want to live, the habits you want to embody and the type of images you want to share with the world. Brainstorm a few words that illustrate what you want to manifest. If you can’t think of any words, grab one of your favorite magazines and a sharpie and start searching. Flip through the pages, circling each word that stirs energy or interest within you when you see it written. Next, pare down your list to the top three words that move you the most. You will use them later to create a statement that affirms your intention.

  • Be meaningful

You know how hard it is to learn the lyrics of a song that you don’t really like? I am thinking of church hymns I was forced to learn as a child. I can’t remember the words to this day! But I can sing the words to songs I love without consciously thinking of the words. The lyrics just roll off my tongue. The words of your mantra should flow from your lips like the words of your favorite song. If you take the time to explore the purpose of your mantra and carefully choose words that have meaning to you, it will not be a struggle to remember or say them.

  • Be brief

When creating your mantra, let brevity be your guide. I suggest limiting your statement to six words or less. The words should flow off your tongue effortlessly in a single breath. Notice how you feel when you say your mantra. Does it feel uneasy or comfortable in your gut? Do you stumble over your words or do they flow from your mouth naturally? Say your mantra over and over to try it on for size. Is it a good fit or does it need tweaking? Assess what it needs and modify as needed until the words feel just right.

Remember, what you focus on grows. Write your mantra….

  • on a note card and slip it your camera bag
  • in your photography planner/journal
  • on a sticky note and post it on your computer monitor

Use your mantra as a mindfulness meditation to ground you in the present moment and bring your true vision into focus. Press the shutter and create something magical.

I would love to know if you have created a personal mantra. What was your creative process? Drop a comment below!

create a personal photography project you love

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If you are reading these words, your creative spirit must have some level of interest in a personal photography project. Like any project, a photography focused project is ultimately what you make it. But if approached with the right mindset – a photography project has the power to cultivate the person and photographer you want to be.

I’ve created several personal photography projects. Some I completed and some I did not. But that’s ok, because each one taught me important lessons that I can share with others who are contemplating a project, just starting the journey or have tried, failed and given up. Here’s my advice….

Create a project with personal purpose

You must have ‘skin in the game’. In other words, the photography project you choose should have personal relevance to you. With no meaningful connection, your interest is likely to wane shortly after you start. I see lots of photography projects and challenges on social media, like capturing the light in your home, photographing a stranger, or shooting the same subject at varying times of the day/year. These projects seem cool, but I don’t have a personal connection to any of them, so the odds of me finishing once I start is slim to none. Once the excitement and social media comradery wore off, so would my commitment to the project. On the flip side, it is easier to committee to a project you are vested in. Whether it is tied to a cause you believe in, an injustice you want to bring awareness to, or a change you want to make in your own life – giving a specific purpose to your project will foster greater meaning and a deeper connection between you and it.

Choose the right path for your project

There is no one set way to do a photography project. You can do a daily project (p365), a weekly project (p52) or any duration in between. If you have a busy or demanding life, then it may be tough to commit to a successful p365 project. Or perhaps you get bored easily, so the idea of working on the same project day in and day for a year may not be appealing. That’s why it’s so important to understand yourself and critically evaluate your lifestyle to create a personal project that will challenge you to grow but that doesn’t set you up to fail. Another important factor to consider is what you want to shoot. Are you interested in portraits, street scenes, wildlife, flowers or landscapes? Not sure? Scroll through your images from the last year and see if you notice a theme. If a subject feels right, go for it. However, if you want to step outside the box and explore something new, consider creating a project to delve into a technique or genre you want to learn more about, such as black and white or night photography.

Cultivate a passion within your project

Cultivate a photography project that resonates with some aspect of your being. If you connect with your project on a deeper level, the time you devote to it will feel joyful and not like drudgery. The more meaning the project has for you, the more easily you will commit to it. My current photography project, The Chora Project (#thechoraproject) was born out of my desire to create more space in my day to pause and to breath. Chora is an ancient Greek word meaning space or interval. My days are busy and if I don’t intentionally create space between tasks, I feel anxious and overwhelmed. When I am behind the lens, I give my full attention to the present moment. I’m not thinking about work, making dinner or anything else. When my mind wanders away (and it always does), I bring my thoughts back to the feeling of the camera in my hand. My personal photography practice helps me slow down, stress less, and create a lifestyle that is focused on peace, wellbeing and an appreciation for life. When I don’t practice mindfulness, my life speeds by without me noticing the beauty within its small and important details. Each photo I shoot for #thechoraproject moves me closer to my “why”.

Remember this is a ‘personal’ photography project. You get to set every parameter of the project. Always shoot for yourself first, focus on the journey and create a project you love!

Have you done a photography project? Tell me about it in the comments section!

zen behind the lens – a meditative practice

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I often ponder what I should do with my photography. Should I sell prints, make greeting cards, or shoot freelance? With all the time, money and energy I invest into photography, shooting just for myself sometimes doesn’t seem like enough. But the truth is, it is enough. I am enough. No one and nothing is more worthy of the peace and light that grows from my love of nature photography than me. So instead of worrying about what to do with my photography, I am going to be with my photography. Let me explain.

Copyright: Tonya Peele – plantandshoot.com

Photography creates a way to slow down when the world around me is spiraling at warp speed. I wake up already behind on the things I need and want to get done for the day. Yesterday’s emails are already old news. Fresh produce picked for yesterday’s dinner is still on the counter. Worry about tomorrow is dancing in my head today. It’s overwhelming.

One of my goals for this year is to become more zen. To be able to tap into a mindful moment during the day, as often as needed, to keep calm and grounded so I can respond to life proactively instead of reactively. One of my favorite quotes by Dr. Maya Angelou is “When people show you who they are, believe them.” By embracing photography through the lens of mindfulness and self-care, I am consciously creating the person I want to be. Shooting each day and connecting with nature, if only for ten minutes, changes the way I think, the way I see, and the way I show up in the world. I created zen behind the lens™ as a personal photography project to help me cultivate habits of stillness, peace and awareness. What started as a simple project has now transformed into a daily photography practice that is both creative and meditative. zen behind the lens™ has resonated with lots of women and I want to inspire many more, so I am expanding it into a #100dayproject, creative women’s workshop and book series.

Large Milkweed Bug — Copyright: Tonya Peele – plantandshoot.com

If my photography practice inspires other women to believe they are more than enough, to believe they can cultivate peace by being and not doing and to believe their creative passions are a important form of self-care – then I have let this little light of mine shine beyond my own lens.

In ways has photography (or other creative pursuit) helped you learn to be present with yourself and your environment? Leave a comment below!