About 4 years ago I received a friend request from a guy named Bruce. I didn’t know him, but he’s active in the gay community here in Bakersfield, which is how I believe he found me on Facebook since I am somewhat active on Facebook. He told me that he owned a metaphysical shop, and I’m sure he told me the name, but I didn’t remember.

Earlier this year in April I was walking on H St. to the post office, which is right at the corner of Brundage and H. I noticed this shop called The Enchanted Cottage, which I have literally walked or driven (as a passenger, I don’t drive) past a thousand times in the 17 years we’ve lived here. When I came home, it occurred to me that this might be the place Bruce told me about, so I got on Facebook and sent him a message asking him and he said “yes, this is the shop that my partner Stan and I own.” I walked there again to say hi and to see what the place was about, since I have literally been curious since he sent me that friend request. Yes, I’ve been looking for this shop for 4 years, and it was 2 blocks from my house this entire time.

I became curious because I saw a Facebook event for a Zen Mindfulness Meditation class, and so when I went over there, I asked them about it and he said it was that night. In fact, it’s every Wednesday night from 5:30 to 6:30 p. m. I’ve attended their weekly meditation ever since.

The Zen Mindfulness Meditation class by Tracy is a full hour and she does 3 different meditation styles. Half of the hour is a guided meditation and if you’re new, she’ll explain what she does and answer questions before she begins, otherwise she’ll get right to it. She is very gentle and mindful of everyone’s feelings and she is a very good teacher. The 2nd part is a walking meditation. We walk outside when the weather doesn’t try to melt our skin, so when it’s too hot outside, we walk in the classroom, and I’m sure when the weather turns cold we will walk inside. The final part of the meditation which can be from 10-15 minutes is usually a silent meditation. At the end we take refuge in The Three Jewels which are the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha.

You might see people meditate on a round pillow, that is called a Zafu. They actually started selling those at the Enchanted Cottage a month or so ago and I put one on layaway and bought it with sales from my Etsy shop. I was lucky that I didn’t have to have it on layaway for too long.

When I bought my Zafu, I brought a blanket for the ground, because people who sit on a Zafu cushion to Meditate also have something called a Zabuton, which is a larger square pillow that you place under the Zafu. I paid $100 for the Zafu, I couldn’t afford to buy the Zabuton from a company. Unfortunately, a month after I bought the Zafu, it began to snag and some red thread started to come apart, which is not good. I don’t blame the Enchanted Cottage for it, but I let them know it was happening so they could complain to the people they bought it from. I didn’t ask for a refund or exchange, instead I removed the cover and we went to Beverly’s for some fabric so I could make a Zabuton and so I could make a cover for the Zafu. I actually tried to repair the Zafu, but failed miserably. I will try again another time.

Not too long after that I decided I wanted to change the fabric, because I mainly just wanted the option to change it like you would change a pillowcase on your pillow, so this is the way it looks now.

And yes, the bottom of the Zafu covers have elastic all the way around the bottom so it’s like a fitted sheet.

The meditation is $5 per week, and I usually set aside $20 a month for entertainment, and I figured this is a good use of that money. Why do I attend a weekly class when I can do it at home for free? Why do people go to church every Sunday when they can pray at home for free?

I am an Indigo, and one of the things I was told to do as an Indigo is meditate. I also get to get out of the house and say hi to people and I get to form friendships and I am learning more about myself as not only an Indigo, but also my psychic abilities. Yes, I am a psychic medium. My third eye is open, but I have no connection with my spirit guide, so I’m not a very good psychic medium, but that’s why I’m going to the Enchanted Cottage, to learn and connect. One of the things I need to do to help myself with this aspect of my life is to meditate. So that’s why I go there. Another reason is I have panic attacks, and this helps me. In fact, my doctor suggested meditation as opposed to medication, so this is basically doctor prescribed. Take 2 quartz and call me in the morning.