Star Child
Teaching Healthy Meditation Habits
Words by Grace Schrobilgen
Mercy Barber is a yoga instructor, mother, and grandmother who firmly believes in the power of meditation to aid in centering one’s mind and body.
Barber discovered yoga 23 years ago when she was recovering from a trauma. In addition to bringing her healing, this practice allowed her to achieve a greater self-awareness. Barber views yoga and meditation as a means of self-discovery because they allow the body to connect with the mind in a very direct and purposeful way, making life “easier to navigate.” This is recipe for a effective method of relaxation, and according to Barber, “meditation is a time to self-witness: set intentions, ask questions, and listen for answers. It is a tool for self-empowerment.”
Upon discovering the healing effects yoga can have on the minds and bodies of adults, Barber decided to extend this stress-reducing practice into the everyday lives of children. With help from graphic designer Hollie Meador and Mercy’s daughter Zoe, Barber created Star Child. This story, full of colorful, calming language and told through loosely-structured rhyme, teaches children to meditate by a medium they are already familiar: a picture book.
The book contains imagery of space and the stars and teaches children that they were made uniquely. They are encouraged to stand out, show emotions, and connect with their inner vibrations. The imagery and style incorporate both design illustrations and real-life photos of children meditating and playing, which allows young readers to connect with the story and recognize the relevance it has to their own lives. The colors, patterns, and illustrations bring about the desired calming effect.
Barber believes that meditation is an important practice for children because, unlike adults who can cultivate the ability to focus on one task at a time, children are constantly surrounded by a multitude of situations and stimuli, which can be very distracting and overwhelming. She emphasizes that everyone experiences stress, even children, and that people of all ages can use meditation to tap into themselves and find harmony. Learning to push away the distractions enables us to focus more clearly on one act at a time, leading to more meaningful decision-making. Barber asserts that meditation allows children to feel complex emotions for themselves, resulting in less codependency on others. “Star Child was written from a desire to remind little ones that they are the creators of their own experience,” which grants them more autonomy and greater control over their own well-being.
