Awareness and Alcohol Take a moment to settle into a comfortable seating position.
Close your eyes or soften the glaze with your mouth gently closed.
Begin by noticing the natural rhythm of your breath.
Be aware of the breath as it flows quietly into and out of the body.
You may sense a gentle rising in the chest or stomach,
Then a gentle releasing as you breathe out.
Allow these transitions to be relaxed and soft.
As you rest here,
Notice that there is already a quiet clarity present.
A simple sense of being here,
Aware,
Listening and sensing.
You don't need to create this clarity.
It is already here,
In the background of all experiencing.
Thoughts come and go.
Sensations may shift.
And yet,
Something remains steady and reliable.
A quiet awareness that notices all.
It is present yet unmoved.
Rest here for a few breaths as this simple awareness of clarity.
We now explore a gentle reflection on alcohol.
Not as something to judge or change,
But simply as something to see clearly,
Openly.
Bring to mind a time when you chose to have a drink.
Or a time when you chose not to.
Notice what arises in the body and mind as you feel into this.
Thoughts,
Memories,
Circumstances,
Sensations or emotions.
There is no right or wrong here.
Only quiet observation.
A quiet,
Unattached awareness of noticing.
Now reflect on how you feel before alcohol is taken.
Your intentions,
Anticipations,
Expectations or moods.
Then how it feels during the sensations in the body.
The shifts in perception.
The subtle changes in physical and emotional awareness.
And then how it feels after.
In the body.
In the mind.
In the quality of one's capacities,
Attitudes and awareness presence.
Noticing here,
We are not focusing on a story,
On a narrative.
No evaluations are being sought.
Just gentle,
Open,
Unattached,
Clear seeing.
Now bring attention back to this moment.
To the clarity of being here now.
Breathing and sensing.
Notice how clarity feels in the body.
Perhaps as lightness,
Spaciousness or calm.
Clarity is not a concept.
It is a felt sense of presence.
From this place,
You may sense how substances can soften,
Cloud or change this clarity.
You may also sense that awareness itself remains fully present.
Quietly witnessing every experience and emotion without judgment or comment.
From clarity,
Choices flow harmoniously,
Gently and naturally.
Sometimes the body and mind may choose to drink.
Sometimes they may choose not to.
There are no judgments here.
Simply an awareness,
Openly,
Present as is.
An awareness that feels aligned,
Open and free.
You may notice that as clarity deepens,
Certain choices arise effortlessly.
Not from struggle,
But from a refined understanding,
From clearer,
Wise seeing.
Let this be an exploration of freedom.
Freedom to choose.
Moment by moment.
If any habit or pattern or feeling arises,
Meet it with clear understanding,
With kindness.
There is no suggestion to correct yourself.
Simply rest as the awareness in which all experiences appear.
Habits come and go.
Identities shift.
Circumstances change.
And influences move on.
And yet,
Quiet presence remains untouched,
Unmoved,
Pristine.
Rest here quietly for a few breaths.
Remain open and still.
Notice that you are not only experiencing sensations and thoughts,
You are also the awareness in which they appear.
This awareness is open,
Spacious and unaffected by what arises.
Whether there is clarity or cloudiness,
Stillness or movement,
One's awareness remains quietly present.
You can rest as this open presence now,
No effort required.
No need to adjust or change anything.
Be still and spacious.
As this meditation gently comes to a close,
Allow the body to be supported.
Feel the breath.
Feel the aliveness and potential in this moment.
You may choose to carry this meditative clarity into daily life,
Into conversations,
Social occasions and activities.
Remember,
Clarity is always present and available.
Not as something to achieve,
But as the natural state of being unconditionally aware.
A natural ease.
In which all arises harmoniously.
And with this simple clarity,
You are already home,
Aware,
Open and calmly present.
With this clear seeing,
You now rest as the awareness in which all choices arise for the benefit of all.
