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Romantasy has inadvertently become a pillar in my life. It’s the A Court of Thorns and Roses series, aka ACOTAR, by Sarah J. Maas for me. The world building, the badass characters, and sure, the smut, combine in a hefty dose of escapism—a brain break, if you will.
Imagine my surprise when I discovered that the series—specifically book five, A Court of Silver Flames—touches on another of my go-to brain breaks: meditation. Or, as Maas reimagines it, mind-stilling.
Warning: slight spoilers ahead.
What Is ACOTAR’s Mind-Stilling?
Of the series’ many characters, Nesta Archeron is among the most deplorable. The older sister of protagonist Feyre Archeron, she’s also the focus of A Court of Silver Flames. Throughout the ACOTAR book, Nesta is forced to address her personal trauma and the subsequent fallout—namely, her own negativity, selfishness, and bad behavior—through intense physical and mental training.
Mind-stilling is the mental aspect. Nesta’s training takes a decidedly yogic approach that features balance, strength, and breath. To further her physical fitness and ease her own reactivity, the character takes a cue from a group of ancient female warriors known as the Valkyries and begins to practice mind-stilling. The practice calls for 10 minutes, both morning and evening, spent sitting in a comfortable position and quieting the mind.
Sound familiar?
The Benefits of (and Trouble With) Meditation
As in ACOTAR, real-life meditation is a simple and powerful practice that improves everything from your mood to your monkey mind. It calms your nervous system, alleviates symptoms of depression, and improves attention and memory.
It can also feel difficult to prioritize. Whether it’s work, yoga classes, loved ones, pets, or a good book, there always seems to be something more pressing and demanding of my attention.
Still, when I do make time to meditate, life is just better. I’m better. My responses in stressful situations are level and calm, my capacity to focus increases, and my world, both outer and inner, becomes a far lovelier place to be.
In summary, my mind is better when it’s quiet, but my mind is also stubborn. Fortunately, my mind can be manipulated.
How Romantasy Improved My Mind-Stilling Practice
By the time Maas introduced the concept of mind-stilling, I was already entirely committed to Nesta’s character arc—an irredeemable, shame-ridden woman to an authentic warrior who knows her worth. I found Maas’ reframing of meditation to be equally romantic. Rather than a chore, Nesta views mind-stilling as a secret and essential tool. A magic trick. On a good day, this is how I view meditation, too.
Soon after finishing the book, I changed my iPhone’s meditation notifications (which previously read “MEDITATE”) to “MORNING MIND STILLING” and “EVENING MIND STILLING.” I can’t say that I’m perfectly faithful to the routine, but I brighten each time the nudge pops up, reminding me that I get to meditate. That it can make me a stronger, better person. That simply sitting with myself can make real life feel like magic.
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