Circle Craft: Teaching Preparation Meditation

by Selena Fox

It is an hour before class. Earlier in the day I have created the outline of what I plan to say and do in the class on spirituality that I will be teaching. I have assembled and packed up my teaching materials to take to class. I have communicated with my assistants who are already in the classroom doing set-up and preparing to greet the students as they arrive. I have taken a shower and gotten dressed. Now, I go about preparing for spiritual teaching in another way. I do a meditation.

Doing a teaching preparation meditation prior to teaching others serves several purposes. First of all, it provides a time of rest following other preparations. It also serves as a transition and a means for shifting into the role of teacher as well as focusing thoughts on the class topic. Meditation also can be a helpful way of setting aside any personal daily life concerns that could intrude upon and inhibit teaching and communication with others. In addition, meditation can aid the process of developing rapport with students as individuals and as a group. But most importantly, meditation is a means for attuning to the Divine and having this sacred connection guide the teaching process.

Here is an example of one form of teaching preparation meditation that I have developed over the years and have used in my own work. Do this meditation after you have completed your other preparations and shortly before you will begin teaching. If you have not yet developed a reliable internal timing sense, set a watch or some other kind of timer with a gentle, rather than jarring, beep. It is important that you have a way to bring closure to your meditation in sufficient time to return to waking consciousness and go to class without feeling rushed.

Do this meditation in a private place where you are alone and distractions are minimal. If possible, dim the lights in the place. If you wish, kindle candles and incense as meditation aids. Have a journal or notepad and pen nearby.

Begin your meditation by sitting in a comfortable chair. Sit with both feet on the floor, your back comfortably erect, and your hands resting on your thighs. Close your eyes. Do deep, slow, relaxed breathing. As you inhale, experience serenity flowing through you. As you exhale, dispel stress, tension, daily concerns, and other unhelpful energy.

Continue your process of centering yourself with breathing for several minutes. Silently repeat a word or phrase to aid your process, such as "relaxed and centered." Once you have achieved centeredness, be with this for several moments. Just be. Experience the renewal that happens as you do this.

When you are ready, call to the Divine. Call the Divine by the sacred name(s) you know Her, Him, Them, or It by. Silently repeat the sacred name(s) as you attune to the Divine. If you have associated sacred symbols, envision these as you repeat the name(s). Now begin experiencing yourself radiating Divine white light. Be with this for a time, and then ask the Divine to be with you and in you to guide your teaching work. After doing this, be quiet for several minutes. Pay attention to any guidance you receive. Remaining in the meditative state, jot down words or phrases to help remind you of this guidance. Give thanks.

Now imagine yourself going to class and teaching. Intuitively sense yourself glowing with radiant Divine light. Envision rays of that light flowing from you to each of the students. Since the purpose of this part of the meditation is to facilitate the development of spiritual rapport, it is not necessary to picture the faces and shapes of specific students. Instead, focus on connecting with students in more general and symbolic ways.

Next, envision students each glowing with Divine light. Envision rays of light flowing from each of them to you. Now envision rays of light also flowing between and among the students. Envision a sacred network of spiritual connections and resonance. Also imagine a great glow around the entire class and envision it growing in brilliance as spiritual energy continues to pulse along the rays of light in the network. With this imagery in mind, meditate for several moments on spiritual rapport emerging and facilitating teaching and learning in class.

After doing this, move to the final part of the meditation. Imagine yourself teaching your students. Go through the sequence of instructional activities you have outlined for the class. Use imagery to try out your plan. As you do this, ideas for revising your teaching plan may come to you. Note them down. If you want, envision a modified sequence of instruction that incorporates one or more of the ideas that have come to you. Then select the form that now seems best to you and envision the selected teaching plan several times. Repeatedly imagining yourself putting your teaching plan into action not only can help you remember and internalize it, but also can facilitate your performance as a teacher.

End your teacher preparation meditation in the way that you began. Sit quietly and just "be" for several minutes. Now take some deep breaths with the intention of returning to a waking state of consciousness. When you are ready, look over any notes you have made, and make any additional notes. If, as a result of guidance and ideas that have come to you in the meditation, you have decided to change your teaching plans for class in some way, remember to revise your outline accordingly. As you depart for class, carry with you not only the teaching materials you have packed, but also the spiritual support of this meditation.

Selena Fox is founder and high priestess of Circle Sanctuary. Her spiritual teaching work has spanned three decades. She facilitates rituals and presents workshops on speaking travels. She also teaches at Circle Sanctuary and teaches about the Circle Craft tradition at meetings of the monthly study group, Craftway Circle. Each year at the Pagan Spirit Gathering (www.circlesanctuary.org/psg), she presents a leadership intensive open to priestesses, priests, teachers, and leaders of a variety of Pagan traditions. Some of Selena's teaching materials are on-line at her home page as well as at the Circle Sanctuary website.