Welcome to The Slow Newsletter, your weekly dose of dazzling, aha-moment-generating Vedic wisdom. The Slow is where we break down teachings on meditation and consciousness to inspire easy, abundant living—even in the most demanding times.

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💬 Quote of the Week

Friends who keep it real are the best, aren’t they? 😆

So let’s cut to it: there’s no shortcut or quick fix for the age-old challenge of fitting in that second meditation.

The honest truth? It’s exactly what Nike says: Just Do It™.

Make it the top priority, above every excuse, distraction, or “I’ll do it later.” And if this sounds a touch melodramatic, consider this…

Would you choose to power through the second half of your day at 2% brain power or a full 100%?

Skipping your second meditation lets the stresses of the day keep stacking up, draining your stability, creativity, and energy right when you need it most. It’s like trying to run on empty when you could be fully topped up for the rest of the day and night.

Choosing to prioritize that second meditation is choosing to tap into your full potential.

So do whatever it takes to get it in. And if you’re struggling to make it happen, just reply to this email, and I’ll send you five creative ideas to try this week.

📚 The Universe Is Not Your Sugar Daddy

Let’s have a little chat about manifestation culture. You know the type–vision boards, affirmations, treating the universe like some kind of cosmic ATM that dispenses desires if you just punch in the right code of positive thoughts.

Those manifestation workshops that tell you to “ask the Universe” for what you want are missing one crucial detail: You and “the Universe” are not two separate things. You are the Universe, and the Universe is you.

Vedic Meditation takes the concept of Universality beyond theory into direct experience: Each meditation dissolves the stress that creates the illusion of separation between you and Cosmic intelligence.

Through regular practice, your nervous system gets rewired to operate from this Universal perspective, transforming your desires from personal wish lists into Cosmic impulses flowing through you.

Teaching Vedic Meditation, I’ve seen students transform their relationship with desires and deserving. The shift happens when they stop treating the Universe like Santa Claus and start recognizing themselves as expressions of Universal intelligence.

One student went from tiptoeing around her desires (afraid to “jinx” them) to boldly declaring her intentions. The result? A New York Times publication – not through manifestation, but by allowing herself to be a conduit for Universal desire.

This isn’t about manifesting tricks. It’s about recognizing your deepest desires as cosmic intelligence expressed through you. You naturally align with this intelligence through regular practice, creating meaningful change with remarkable innocence and simplicity.

🛋️ Dear Susan: Can I Meditate In The Dark?

“It’s getting dark out super early! By the time I do my second sit, it’s pitch black. Is it okay to meditate in the dark?”
– SB

Daylight Savings Time, you sneaky schedule disruptor! Just when our bodies have finally settled into autumn’s rhythm, DST swoops in and throws our inner rhythm into a tumble. I had to laugh yesterday during my second meditation – there I was at 5:15 pm, suddenly sitting in cave-like darkness.

Quick answer: Keep a soft light on. Here’s why:

Dark rooms are essentially sleep’s best friend. And while there’s zero shame in the occasional meditation-turned-power-nap (it happens to all of us, and clearly, your body needed the rest!), sleep isn’t the goal inside a Vedic Meditation session.

Vedic Meditation is all about hitting that sweet spot of “restful alertness” – the fourth state of consciousness. Not asleep, but deeply restful.

Also, coming out of a pitch-black meditation can feel like sensory whiplash. I spent a whole year meditating in dark corners at my Wall Street firm, many afternoons emerging from my peaceful utility closet cocoon only to face an assault of fluorescent lights, blinking monitors, and trading floor chaos. Not exactly the graceful transition we’re aiming for.

If your only meditation spot is the modern equivalent of my utility closet days, don’t stress or skip your meditation. The practice still works beautifully (and I’ve got the utility closet chronicles to prove it!).

But if you’ve got options, let’s set ourselves up for success. A softly lit room will support you in your practice.