Creating Calm: The Magic Of Meditation Jars

what is a meditation jar

A meditation jar, also known as a glitter jar, calm jar, or relaxation jar, is a mindfulness tool used to help children and adults calm their minds, focus, and relieve stress or anxiety. The jar is filled with water, glitter, and often glue, and sometimes food colouring. When the jar is shaken, the glitter swirls around like whirling thoughts, and then slowly settles, representing the mind settling. The process of observing the glitter settle can help to calm and relax the observer.

Characteristics Values
Purpose To calm down, focus, and relieve stress or anxiety
Other names Relaxation jar, glitter jar, calm jar, calm-down jar, galaxy jar, sparkle bottle, mind jar, magic zen meditation jar, hush bottle, snow globe
Who it's for Children and adults
Best for ages 3+
Ingredients Jar, glitter, glue, water, food colouring (optional)
Glue type Clear glue, glitter glue, Elmer's Clear School Glue, non-water-soluble glue, clear school glue
Water type Warm water, hot water, tap water, distilled water
Other optional ingredients Glycerin, dish soap, Lego, beads, food colouring, oil
Jar type Baby food jar, Mason jar, plastic water bottle, Voss water bottle, plastic container, glass jar

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What a meditation jar is used for

Meditation jars, also known as glitter jars, calm jars, or relaxation jars, are used as mindfulness tools to help children and adults calm their minds, focus, and relieve stress or anxiety. They are often used as a teaching aid to help children understand how their minds work when they are experiencing difficult emotions.

The process of making a meditation jar can be a fun activity for children, who can choose and add the ingredients themselves. The basic ingredients are a jar or bottle, water, glue, and glitter. However, people can also add food colouring, glycerin, or other items such as Lego or plastic beads. The amount of glue added affects how quickly the glitter settles, with more glue resulting in a slower settling time.

Once the meditation jar is made, it can be used by shaking it and then watching the glitter settle. This process is said to be calming and can help people focus on their breathing, which in turn can help to calm their mind. The jar can be used by people of all ages when they are feeling overwhelmed, stressed, or anxious, or even just to provide a few moments of peace and calm.

Meditation jars can be particularly useful for children as they provide a tangible object to focus on, helping to guide their minds to calmness. They can also be used as a teaching tool to explain how the brain works and to introduce the concept of mindfulness. For example, the jar can represent a calm mind when the glitter is settled at the bottom. When the jar is shaken and the glitter swirls around, it can represent a mind full of thoughts and feelings when a person is worried, stressed, or upset. As the glitter settles, the mind also calms down, and it becomes easier to think clearly.

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How to make a meditation jar

A meditation jar, also known as a glitter jar, calm jar, or relaxation jar, is a mindfulness tool to help children and adults calm their minds, focus, and relieve stress or anxiety. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to make a meditation jar:

Materials:

  • A clean and empty jar or bottle (a mason jar, spice jar, or plastic water bottle can be used)
  • Clear glue or glitter glue
  • Whisk or other stirring implement
  • Hot water
  • Food colouring
  • Glitter (fine glitter, chunky glitter, or a combination of both)
  • Super glue (optional)

Instructions:

  • Fill your jar or bottle with hot water, leaving some space at the top.
  • Add clear glue to the jar. The amount of glue you add will depend on the desired consistency of the glitter. More glue will create a thicker mixture, causing the glitter to fall more slowly.
  • Whisk or stir the mixture until it is well combined.
  • Add a few drops of food colouring and stir until you achieve the desired colour.
  • Add glitter to the jar. Include a variety of colours and shapes of glitter. It is recommended to use at least a quarter to half an inch of glitter.
  • Fill the jar with hot water, leaving an inch of space below the rim, and stir.
  • Optionally, you can add more food colouring or glitter to achieve the desired appearance.
  • Fill the jar to the top with water.
  • Screw the lid on tightly. Optionally, you can add a thin line of superglue to the inside of the cap to seal it permanently.
  • Shake the jar and observe the glitter swirling around.

Using the Meditation Jar:

When feeling overwhelmed or stressed, shake the jar and observe the glitter. Focus on your breathing as the glitter slowly settles. This will help calm your mind and provide a moment of peace and mindfulness.

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The benefits of using a meditation jar

Meditation jars, also known as glitter jars, calm jars, or relaxation jars, are a great tool to help children and adults calm their minds, focus, and relieve stress or anxiety. Here are some of the benefits of using a meditation jar:

Mindfulness Practice:

Meditation jars are a fantastic way to introduce the concept of mindfulness to children and help them understand how their minds work when experiencing difficult emotions. The act of shaking the jar and watching the glitter settle can help children learn to calm down and regulate their emotions. This practice can also be applied to adults, providing a sense of calm and focus.

Visual Representation of Thoughts:

The glitter in the jar serves as a visual representation of thoughts and feelings. When the jar is shaken, the glitter swirls around, representing the chaos of thoughts and emotions. As the glitter slowly settles, it demonstrates how our thoughts and feelings can also settle, leading to a clearer and calmer mind. This visual metaphor is a powerful way to teach children about the connection between their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.

Calming Effect:

The gentle swirl of glitter in the jar creates a calming visual effect. Watching the glitter slowly fall to the bottom of the jar can help reduce stress and anxiety. The calming motion encourages children to redirect their energy and attention positively, allowing them to refocus without feeling punished or isolated. This can be especially helpful during time-outs or conflicts, providing a sense of relaxation and grounding.

Customization and Creativity:

Meditation jars can be easily customized to suit individual preferences. They can be made with different colors and sizes of glitter, food coloring, eco-friendly alternatives, or even additional items like Lego pieces or plastic animals. This creativity allows for a sense of ownership and makes the meditation jar a fun craft project for both children and adults.

Portability and Accessibility:

Meditation jars are typically made in small containers, such as baby food jars or plastic bottles, making them portable and accessible. They can be easily carried in a purse or bag, placed on a desk, or kept by a bedside table. This portability allows for quick access to a calming tool whenever one needs to destress or find a moment of peace.

Overall, meditation jars offer a simple yet effective way to improve mental well-being and provide a fun and engaging activity for people of all ages.

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The different types of glitter that can be used

Meditation jars, also known as mindfulness jars, glitter jars, calm bottles, or relaxation jars, are used to calm the mind, focus, and relieve stress or anxiety. They are often used as a meditation tool for children to help them manage their emotions, but they can be used by adults as well.

The glitter in a meditation jar represents thoughts. When the jar is unshaken, the glitter settles at the bottom of the jar, and you can see clearly through it. When you shake the jar, the glitter swirls around, representing the whirling thoughts in your head when you are angry, stressed, or upset. As you calm down and the glitter settles, your thoughts become clearer and you feel more relaxed.

There are many different recipes for making meditation jars, but they typically include a combination of water, glue, and glitter. The type of glitter you use can vary depending on your preferences and the desired effect. Here are some options for the types of glitter that can be used:

  • Fine glitter: This type of glitter is recommended by some sources as it falls slowly and creates a soothing, calming effect. It can be found in various colours and shapes, including hearts and stars.
  • Superfine glitter: This type of glitter is smaller and more delicate than fine glitter. However, it may have a harder time falling to the bottom of the jar, so it is recommended to use it in combination with chunkier glitter.
  • Chunky glitter: Larger, chunkier glitter can be used to create a variety of visual effects. It falls at a different rate than fine or superfine glitter, so using a combination of sizes can make the jar more interesting and engaging.
  • Glitter glue: This type of glue contains glitter particles suspended in a clear or coloured glue base. It can be used instead of or in addition to loose glitter. It may create a cloudier effect in the jar.
  • Nail glitter: Nail glitter is often chunky and brightly coloured, adding a fun and unique touch to your meditation jar.
  • Confetti: You can add larger pieces of confetti or metallic confetti to your jar for a different visual effect. This can include shapes such as stars, hearts, or letters of the alphabet.

When choosing glitter for your meditation jar, consider the size, colour, and shape that you prefer. You can also experiment with different types of glitter to find the combination that creates the most calming and engaging effect for you.

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Other items that can be added to a meditation jar

A meditation jar, also known as a relaxation jar or glitter jar, is a tool to help children and adults calm their minds, focus, and relieve stress or anxiety. The glitter in the jar represents thoughts in the mind. When the jar is unshaken, the glitter settles at the bottom of the jar, and you can see clearly through it. This represents a calm mind. When shaken, the glitter swirls around, making it difficult to see through the jar. This represents a mind full of swirling thoughts when one is angry, worried, or upset.

  • Beads — Different-coloured beads can be used instead of glitter to create an eco-friendly version of the meditation jar. The beads can be chosen to represent different thoughts, feelings, and behaviours, or urges to do things.
  • Food colouring and oil — A mix of food colouring and oil can be used in place of water and glitter. Similar to the beads, different colours can represent different thoughts, feelings, and behaviours.
  • Lego — Pieces of Lego can be added to the jar as an alternative to glitter.
  • Confetti — Larger pieces of confetti can be added to the jar, such as stars or letters of the alphabet. These can be used as a focus-building exercise, where one picks a piece of confetti to watch as it falls to the bottom of the jar.
  • Glitter glue — Glitter glue can be mixed with warm water and added to the jar. The warm water helps dissolve the glue.

Frequently asked questions

A meditation jar, also known as a glitter jar, calm jar, or relaxation jar, is a tool to help children and adults calm their minds, focus, and relieve stress or anxiety.

A meditation jar is typically made with a jar or plastic bottle, filled with water, glue, and glitter. Some variations include food colouring, glycerin, or other small objects such as Lego pieces or plastic beads.

The glitter in the jar represents thoughts and feelings. When the jar is shaken, the glitter swirls around like whirling thoughts, and then slowly settles, demonstrating how the mind calms down and becomes clear again.

To make a meditation jar, start with a clean, empty jar or plastic bottle. Fill it partially with hot water, then add clear glue and whisk until it is well combined. Add food colouring and glitter, then fill the jar the rest of the way with water and secure the lid.

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