Getty Villa Visualization with A Zen Mind Podcast (Bonus)

Download the PDF

Announcer: This is a Getty podcast.

[Theme music begins]

Lilit Sadoyan:  Hi, I’m Lilit Sadoyan, host of OMMM, Our Museum Mindfulness Meditation podcast. While our first season has concluded, we have some exciting extras to share with you, including collaborations with other podcasts. This episode is one of those collaborations. I recently spoke with Jo Rose of A Zen Mind podcast. Her work focuses on making meditation accessible and practical, with an emphasis on nervous system regulation, presence, and meaningful living.

In this episode, I interview Jo at the Getty Center about why she’s drawn to museums, and then she leads a visualization meditation based on her visit to the Getty Villa, which is a museum that houses our antiquities collection, with a building and grounds inspired by an ancient Roman villa. Perched above the Pacific coast, it is a beautiful place to take a deep breath and meditate. If you like this episode, you can watch Jo interview me, plus many more of her meditations, on her website, A Zen Mind Global dot com. You can also find A Zen Mind on YouTube and podcast apps. Links will be provided in this episode’s show notes. For now, please enjoy this bonus episode.

Hi Jo. Thank you so much for joining me. Tell me a little bit about yourself. How did you get into meditation?

Jo Rose: Sure. So I’m Jo Rose. I’m the founder and host of A Zen Mind Guided Meditations. I’ve been meditating on and off for about 10 years now, and it wasn’t until a couple of years ago, about three–four years ago, that I decided to actually start creating meditations and putting them out into the world for other people to experience and to practice with. And since then, it has grown exponentially and has reached such an incredible audience, and we see more and more people turning to meditation with openness and with curiosity. And it is really at the forefront of what I do to make meditation, um, accessible and fun and easy for everyone and anyone.

Sadoyan: Yeah. And now you’re at the Getty, and I’m wondering what it is about the museum space in particular that’s, you know, great for meditation, for the visualization practices you lead.

Rose: Yeah. So museums are an incredible place to really intentionally drop into a more mindful, intentional space. I think that often with museums, we go in and we try to capture as much as we possibly can. We want to see it. We wanna move through it very quickly. But when you actually engage with art in a more intentional and mindful, slow way, you really get more from it. And it also kind of opens us up in our own creativity and just openness to experience the art in a very different way. So my way of experiencing it might be different than your way of experiencing it, and I think it’s just an incredible way to, um, deepen your own practice with mindfulness and with creativity and with whatever it is that you can take away from any given piece of art.

Sadoyan: And so what is it about being in a museum specifically that, you know, enhances your meditation practice that you can’t get elsewhere?

Rose: I think it’s the variety of art that we see and, you know, every piece is, like, a different opportunity to really explore, you know, a visualization, right? And you’re kind of presented with something initially, and then the next piece of art might be something completely different. And so your relationship with that art and with that—whatever it might be, whether it’s a landscape, whether we’re looking at a sculpture, it might be completely different, but when you drop into it intentionally, there’s really so much that you can take away from that.

Sadoyan: Right. And so do you come into the museum with a particular intention in mind, or do you just let the experience unfold?

Rose: I personally let the experience unfold. I think that when we go into something with that open-minded attitude and we just are willing to see where it takes us, that’s when we can actually get the most out of it, because we don’t have an agenda. So I feel like oftentimes when we go in and we hope to get something out of it, we can feel very frustrated if we don’t achieve that outcome. But for me, mindfulness and presence has always been about just enjoying and experiencing and being fully present for whatever it is that’s in front of you.

Sadoyan: Mm-hmm. Definitely. It’s so much about being in the presence of the objects, being in the museum space, and really taking in that entire experience. Um, so what happens for you when you practice a visualization? What do you notice for yourself throughout the process?

Rose: I find that when I’m visualizing, it is almost like a little vacation for my brain, and it’s kind of an exciting way to really tap into your own inner landscape and your own creativity. And it’s just almost like a childlike sort of whimsical wonder that is sparked within, where you can go anywhere and you can feel or experience anything, and it really pushes the limits of what we know to be true. And I find it just very fun, and it just kind of brings us back to that wonder and that curiosity that we all have within us.

Sadoyan: Yeah, really tapping into your imagination and your creativity as a result of it too, I imagine.

Rose: Absolutely.

Sadoyan: Yeah. Um, is there something about your time at the Getty Villa, I know you visited the Villa, or the Getty Center, that surprised you during your visit?

Rose: I think it was just the magnitude of different art and different experiences, and having it all kind of come together. It’s a really unique experience because again, as I mentioned, you know, you engage with one piece of art in one way, um, or one garden, let’s say, and then you can move to a completely different part of the gallery or the villa or whatever it may be and experience something completely different. Yet you’re still under the same roof. You’re still having the same experience. Um, and I think that it was really unique and very special to kind of not only see the work, but also to see the environment and to really immerse yourself in an experience that became, you know, sensory oriented and, again, just open-minded and curious. And just seeing it all kind of come together was really satisfying.

Sadoyan: We’re sharing your Getty Villa visualization today, which is a little different from our usual episodes. So what can our listeners expect?

Rose: I think that what you can expect is sort of stepping into a place and a time that is within your own imagination, and of course, based off of the Villa, but somewhere where you can really become open and explorative, and of course, you can calm down, and you can really just enjoy the experience and tap into the sensory part of the meditation as well. So no matter how far you are away from the Villa, um, being able to really experience it as if you are here, and just again, letting your mind wander and letting yourself really enjoy all that there is to offer in a visualization. So my hope is that, um, this meditation will of course, you know, down-regulate the nervous system, help you kind of relax and just experience the Villa within your own mind.

Sadoyan: Beautiful. I can’t wait. [chimes softly ring]

[Meditation music begins]

Rose: Hello and welcome to this guided visualization meditation. This practice is a part of our “Inner Sanctuary” series and was created with the Getty Villa in Los Angeles, California.

Begin by finding yourself a nice comfortable position, either seated or lying down. And whenever you’re ready, gently close your eyes as we turn towards that wonderful inner experience.

Taking a moment to loosen and relax the body. Beginning at the crown of your head.

Soften the muscles in your face. Allowing your jaw to relax and your tongue to rest heavy in your mouth.

And drop your shoulders away from your ears. Perhaps rolling your wrists and letting them feel nice and heavy.

Softening your abdomen, releasing any clenching or tightness that you may be holding onto.

Allow your glutes to relax. Feeling the weight of your body settling into the surface beneath you.

Releasing all the muscles and tension in your legs. Wiggling your toes before allowing them to relax completely.

Feeling your entire body becoming heavy and connected and supported to the space beneath you.

Drawing in a nice, deep, cleansing breath into your body, filling your lungs completely. And with a slow and gentle exhale, purse your lips and breathe it all out.

Another deep breath in through your nose. Allowing this nourishing prana, this beautiful life-force energy to move throughout your body.

And exhale. Letting your body soften, sinking deeper into the surface beneath you.

One more nice deep breath in.

And a full complete breath out.

[Meditative music]

[Birds chirping and ocean waves rolling]

You find yourself standing on the balcony at a magnificent villa overlooking the sea. Before you the landscape opens towards the endless blue of the ocean.

[Birds chirp]

Tall, slender cypress trees stretch gracefully towards the sky. Their dark green silhouettes standing against the brilliant blue beyond.

[Ocean waves rolling]

In the distance, the ocean stretches towards the horizon, where the sea and sky seem to melt into one another. The afternoon sunlight glistens across the water like thousands of tiny diamonds dancing upon its surface.

[Ocean sounds]

A gentle coastal breeze brushes against your skin, carrying with it the salty fragrance of the sea. And somewhere in the distance, you hear the faint calls of seabirds drifting through the open air.

You feel something timeless about this space, as if you’ve stepped back more than 2,000 years to a magnificent villa in Italy. A world of sun-warmed stone and fragrant gardens, where architecture and nature exist together in beautiful harmony.

[Ocean sounds]

As you begin to walk along the balcony you hear the delicate sound of flowing water coming from the gardens below.

[Water bubbling]

Before you lies a magnificent garden surrounded by elegant columns and covered walkways. Beautifully manicured hedges line paths to form intricate geometric patterns around a long crystal-blue reflecting pool.

You walk slowly towards the water, feeling the warmth of the afternoon sun against your skin. And as you approach the edge, you notice the delicate ripples moving across the surface. Soft overlapping patterns of light that shimmer and dissolve before forming once again.

[Water bubbling]

All around you, the garden is alive with color. Lush greenery frames the pathways, while flowering plants bring delicate touches of color to the sunlit landscape.

As you stand there observing it all, you notice a beautiful yellow butterfly resting upon one of the flowers nearby. Its delicate wings slowly opening and closing in the sunlight.

You find yourself completely encapsulated by its beauty. Noticing its colors and the beautiful symmetry of its shape.

As you observe, the butterfly lifts gently into the air, floating from one flower to another, gathering nectar from the blossoms. And you follow its movements for a few moments captivated by the beauty of something so small.

[Meditative music]

On either side of you, magnificent columns rise towards the sky, supporting the covered walkways that surround the garden. And as you pass between them, you begin to notice the colorful paintings adorning the walls. Rich colors and intricate architectural scenes inspired by ancient villas where delicate garlands and theatrical masks bring the walls to life.

There is something extraordinary about the artistry surrounding you and the care with which every paintbrush stroke has been created. And you take a moment to admire it, feeling as though you’ve wandered into another world.

Continuing along the pathway, you make your way back through the building and towards a smaller courtyard tucked within the villa.

As you enter, the atmosphere begins to change. The expansive openness of the outer garden gives way to a more intimate space, where the afternoon light filters between the surrounding columns.

Beneath your feet, the terrazzo floor feels smooth and cool. And beautiful bronze sculptures stand around a narrow central pool, their dark silhouettes reflecting in the water.

You notice the delicate streams flowing from the fountains in the corner of the courtyard and the gentle sounds of water echoing softly against the surrounding stones.

[Water bubbling]

You bear witness to the patterns within the stones and the graceful curves of the columns.

[Meditative music]

You look up and the courtyard opens towards the sky as sunlight pours in through the open space, illuminating the greenery below.

And you stand there for a moment, feeling the coolness of the stone beneath your feet. Feeling the warmth of the sunlight against your skin.

You continue your exploration, turning to your right and discovering a smaller garden. An intimate lush space surrounded by beautiful stone walls and shaded by magnificent sycamore trees.

It feels peaceful and welcoming.

Your eyes find their way to an extraordinary fountain decorated with intricate mosaics and seashells.

[Water bubbling]

As you move a little closer, you admire the tiny pieces of stone and shell that have been so carefully arranged into complex patterns.

You extend your hand beneath one of the flowing streams and feel the cool, refreshing water moving across your fingertips.

The sound of a hummingbird comes into your perception and you watch as it hovers effortlessly beside a vibrant purple blossom. Its tiny wings moving so quickly they become almost invisible. Another one appearing as they drift gracefully between the flowers together.

[Birds chirping]

You allow yourself to linger here appreciating the delicate beauty and the life that exists within this garden.

Lifting your gaze towards the magnificent trees above, their branches stretch gracefully overhead forming a beautiful canopy of green.

Sunlight filters through the leaves, casting delicate patterns of light and shadow across the stone beneath you. A gentle breeze moves through the branches, carrying with it the fresh aromatic fragrance of herbs growing somewhere nearby. You recognize the earthy sweetness of thyme mingling with the refreshing scent of mint.

You take a slow, nourishing breath in.

And exhale, feeling your body settling into a deep state of ease.

[Meditative music]

As you stand here taking in the beauty of your surroundings, you begin to realize that this magnificent villa is your own inner sanctuary. A beautiful space that exists within your imagination. There is a wonderful sense of belonging here, as though every pathway and every garden has been waiting to welcome you.

You make your way to a comfortable place to sit for a while.

And you settle into this space.

Breathing deeply here.

And for the next few moments, simply allowing yourself the permission to rest, to bask in the beauty of this sanctuary.

Listening to the distant birdsong and the gentle movement of water. Feeling the warmth of the afternoon sunlight soaking into your skin.

Breathing in the fragrance of the flowers, the herbs in the gardens around you, and allowing your awareness to wander naturally towards whatever calls you.

[Birds chirp and water bubbles]

Breathing in. And breathing out.

Feeling your body becoming a little heavier with each breath.

[Meditative music and sounds of water]

Slowly bring your awareness back towards your physical body. Feeling the surface beneath you. Noticing the gentle rise and fall of your breath.

As you begin to reconnect with the space around you. Noticing the temperature in the room. The fabric against your body.

When you’re ready, take a nice deep breath in. And let it all go with your exhale.

Gently wiggling your fingers. And slowly opening your eyes.

Wishing you so much peace and so much love.

Namaste.

[Meditative music slowly fades out]