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Garden Meditation

Audio July 13, 2020
A large plant covered in drooping bright flowers sits in the foreground of a painting. In the background, two people are standing and talking with each other in the garden.
To my mind, a picture should be something pleasant, cheerful, and pretty, yes pretty! There are too many unpleasant things in life as it is without creating still more of them.
Pierre-Auguste Renoir

Enjoy this guided meditation paired with Pierre-Auguste Renoir’s The Garden in the Rue Cortot, Montmartre. Follow along with the audio or text below.

Step-By-Step Meditation

  1. Take a few moments to scan the painting. Begin with the flowers in the foreground. Move slowly towards the trees and figures in the background.
  2. Notice how the different shades of green in the garden seem to fade seamlessly into one another, while the vibrant colors of the flowers emerge.
  3. Notice how you feel when you see each of these colorful flowers. In what ways do the colors affect you? What is your overall feeling when you view this painting?
  4. Now, close your eyes and begin to imagine your own meditation garden. Take in the tranquility and beauty of nature around you.
  5. What colors do you see? How do the flowers smell? Are you walking or sitting in the garden?
  6. Imagine this place of pure serenity that you can return to whenever you wish.