Many years ago, when we lived in Kathmandu, I took a guided meditation class twice a week with a Buddhist monk. Ten of us would sit for an hour together on floor cushions, our backs straight, our legs crossed, our palms upward. Our thoughts would follow the words of our teacher, and we would breathe in…….and then out….. Then in…..and then out…. Then we would chant, our voices bouncing off the walls, making deep patterns of sound. These incantations of sorts managed to bring us a quiet within, leaving us serene by class end. Our hour together over, we would bow to our teacher, gather our belongings, and scatter into the Himalayan night, wrapping our cloak of tranquility around us.
My meditation instructor was a special woman. Italian by birth, she brought to her practice a kind of joy and energy that was unusual. She would laugh frequently and with her shaved head, blue eyes, and crimson robes, she made quite a picture. I still miss her today and pine longingly for that inner peace that she once taught me.
Marrakesh, as you know, is famous for its saturated color. So when I saw this Marrakesh home of interior designer Romain Michele-Meniere in the November-December 2006 Maison du Maroc I blinked in surprise. All white, in a city of color. So quiet. So still. Just looking at these pictures I could almost hear a pin drop. I thought to myself, how very nice to have such a place to escape to. And I imagined myself with legs crossed and palms upward, breathing in…..and then out…..And then in….and then out….
