Interstellar Drive Meditation

Note: I thought it might be cool to introduce a common meditation practice to this setting, as I myself have recently become a practitioner of meditation and yoga for both mental and physical health. I am by no means an expert practitioner, so a lot of the below is certainly not perfect and not meant to be used as real instructions.

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Use of Interstellar Drive Meditation

The practice of meditation is not uncommon across the Delta Space, as the stress of living there can be quite severe.
Methods that encourage calm, relaxation, and even spiritual and mental healing are encouraged.
Interstellar Drive Meditation is one of these practices, allowing spacefarers to find deep relaxation and calm in the often lonely and stressful void of space during long interstellar space trips, where long-distance jumps aren't as accessible.
Interstellar Drive Meditation does not differ much from regular meditation and shares most of its steps. However, this style uses the ship itself as a tool for guidance, specifically the hum of the ship's interstellar drive engine to assist in the practice.

A mechanic practicing his meditation

Its rhythmic vibrations and sound help guide practitioners into a trance-like state that helps them find calm, tranquillity, and release from mental exhaustion.

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Practice

Interstellar Drive Meditation is, at its core, a simple practice — sit near a ship's interstellar drive engine, close your eyes, and breathe. However, if a practitioner wishes to get the most out of the meditation practice, the following should be considered:

Stage 1: Preparation

Locate your engine room: This is simple, as most Interstellar Drive Meditation practitioners do so on their own ships. If on a foreign ship, ask for the location of and permission to use the engine room for meditation purposes.

Set your intentions: Create a clear goal in your mind about what you wish to attain during this practice, whether it be relaxation, emotional release, or spiritual connection. This will help guide you during the practice.

Get comfortable: Locate a reasonably comfortable spot near the drive. Ensure the area is safe, and sit or lie down in a comfortable position, preferably on a mat. If sitting, use a small pillow under your tailbone to keep your posture upright. When ready, close your eyes.

Stage 2: Begin Breathwork

Deep breathing: Once your eyes are closed, start taking slow, deep breaths. Inhale deeply through your nose, usually to a count of four but you can adjust accordingly based on lung capacity, hold for a short time, and then release the breath steadily and slowly until all air has left your lungs. Do this a few times until the process becomes comfortable.

Stage 3: Engaging Your Senses

Hearing: Begin to focus on the hum of the engine, identifying its unique rhythm and how it resonates with you and the surrounding room. Acknowledge each sound, the creak of metal, the humming fan, the buzzing motor. Let them pass through you, and then let them go.

Smell: Take notice of the scents in the air as you breathe deeply. The oil of the engines, the smell of ozone coming from its capacitors, and the smell of hot metal and spent gunpowder leaking in through the engine from the void of space.

Touch: Anchor your physical self to the ground, allowing your fingers to spread out and your body to sink. Focus on all the physical sensations you may be feeling. The brush of your clothing on your skin, the cool metal floor beneath you and your fingertips. If you notice any points of tension, try to breathe towards those locations and free yourself of them.

Sight (with your eyes closed): With your eyes closed, take a moment to notice any light filtering through your eyelids, especially that of the engine near you, the darkness, or any patterns that may be forming. If your mind begins to wander and imagine things, acknowledge them and then let them pass without attachment.

Stage 4: Integrate All Your Senses

Combining your senses: After individually addressing each of your senses, do your best to acknowledge them as a harmonious whole. Bring each together to form a peaceful place in your mind where you feel the most comfortable.

Stage 5: Return to Focused Breath

Deep breathing: At this stage, your breath will likely have become automatic. Take your time to refocus on it, taking several deep, refreshing breaths, feeling your chest and abdomen rise and fall. Follow the initial steps indicated in Stage 2.

Stage 6: Gradual Return

Slow transition: Begin to bring your awareness back to the present moment. Recognize that the whir of the engine is present, and bring yourself back by focusing on that sound and how it drives you forward in space. Wiggle your fingers and toes, stretch gently, and when you're ready, slowly open your eyes.

Stage 7: Reflect

Take a moment: Spend a few moments reflecting on the experience. Notice how you feel now compared to when you started. Carry this sense of calm and awareness with you as you go about your day.

Summary

Interstellar Drive Meditation is a meditative practice where individuals sit near the hum of a ship's interstellar drive engine, using its rhythmic vibrations to enter a trance-like state that soothes the mind and fosters a sense of cosmic tranquillity.

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Table of Contents

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Inner Fire Practice

A less common variant of this practice focuses on igniting an inner fire within oneself in order to cultivate spiritual awakening and enhanced physical and mental well-being.
This practice includes a more rigours routine that guides the practitioner through a series of alternative deep and rapid breathwork that pushes the body to raise its own temperature. The practice is less popular as many find its process much more taxing both physically and emotionally. Though those that do manage to master its process swear by it and suggest it can lead to a significant boost in personal and spiritual growth.

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