Pondering is not a procedure to be taken lightly. I call it a procedure because it is not a whimsical effort or routine that one indulges in without preparation, considerable thought and planning. The dictionary gives considerable lineage to the word “ponder.” Among the dozens of descriptive words, I picked three that fit my needs to explain my pondering routine: to mull, muse, speculate.

I have speculated about pondering, both before or after a good session, and have decided that it is a time that your mind communicates with you. Most pondering is done in silence. Do not confuse pondering with merely thinking. Don’t confuse worrying with pondering. When you ponder, your mind is used with a more in-depth concentrating procedure.

Pondering spots are many and varied. Most pondering is done alone, seldom in a crowd: Locations like the park, the beach or on a bench in a museum. There may be many folks around, but basically, a ponderer removes himself to seclusion. The atmosphere of location has a bearing on the procedure of pondering.