Find yourself in a comfortable seat of your choice,
Taking the time to settle into your environment,
Into your body,
And into this time that you've set aside for yourself and for others.
Meditation at its heart is not solely about taking care of the self,
But instead can be about bettering our world through compassion and diligence,
By nurturing inner peace to inspire outer peace,
By practicing together,
And by practicing for others.
This is your time to pause.
Pressing pause means stepping aside from your obligations and the busyness of your day for these 10 minutes.
It means allowing stillness in,
Letting everything else go,
And resting in the now.
Bring attention to your space,
Noting your surroundings by noticing any sounds.
Next,
Notice any sensations that are affecting your body.
What do these feel like?
Now,
Tune into your emotions,
Any physical responses you're having,
And then the thoughts and feelings arising from or causing those emotions.
This gradual process inwards brings attention to your internal state,
How you're really doing.
I invite you here to remember that we are interwoven threads in the fabric of the world.
What does belonging feel like and mean to you?
Does it feel warm and fuzzy?
Does it give you clarity and purpose?
Does it make you feel cared for and held?
Instead of imagining ourselves as separate from everything else,
I encourage you to see yourself through your connections.
First,
Imagine those closest in your life to you,
Drawing a thread from yourself to the person you're thinking of.
Imagine a circle with yourself in the middle,
Imagine a circle with yourself in the middle,
And all of these threads extending outwards.
Now imagine just one person out of the people you've identified and create their circle around them.
Maybe there's an overlap between you and someone in their circle,
So connect those points.
Continue mapping,
Drawing connections.
You have started to create something massive,
Extending upon itself,
Add in one more element below each person,
The plants,
The animals,
And other organisms supporting life.
Just like a tulip amongst the rose,
You are part of a beautiful picture.
Now see that it's hard to believe with all of these threads,
That you are alone,
That you are separate,
As there will always be a link between you and someone or something else.
Feel into this space of connection,
Interdependence,
And community that is always there for you.
You belong,
You are a necessary part of the web of life.
Tune into this sense of wholeness.
Know that you are held by the world in this net of community.
What does it feel like to belong?
When you're ready,
Bring your sensations back to your body,
To your breath,
And slowly to the space you're in.
Gently lift your eyelids or sharpen your gaze to arrive in the present.
Thank you for practicing with me today,
And I encourage you to embody prana,
Meaning a life of meditation,
And a life of meditation.
Thank you for practicing with me today,
And I encourage you to embody prana,
Meaning a life force,
By living like a force of nature.
