This is an acupressure meditation for a peaceful heart.
I'll teach one acupressure point on the center of the chest,
Or the sternum,
Called CV17,
Conception vessel 17,
Or it's often translated as the Sea of Tranquility.
This is the acupressure system from Chinese medicine.
I'll guide you through holding this point through a meditation and affirmation.
Some of the benefits of holding this acupressure point CV17 is that it benefits the physical and the emotional heart.
It can help improve the breathing capacity by opening up through the chest and through the lungs.
It may ease feelings of stress,
Anxiety,
And grief,
And help in an emotional balancing way.
Some of the contraindications for holding acupressure points are that it is best not to press on any injuries,
On any broken bones,
And when guiding this point,
If for any reason it doesn't feel right to you,
Know that you can always let go.
And now let's hold CV17.
Feel for your sternum.
That's the bony landmark right in the center of your chest.
And feel for the bottom of the sternum,
Or the base of the sternum.
Press lightly when holding acupressure points.
As you feel for the base of the sternum,
Line your thumb at the very base and move your thumb three thumb widths up from the bottom.
So one,
Two,
Three.
And as you hold lightly with care,
Tenderness,
And compassion,
Do you feel in the center of your sternum a small notch,
A dip,
Or a hollow?
This is your CV17,
Sea of tranquility.
Acupressure points are often located in these dips,
Hollows in the body.
They're described in Chinese medicine in the translation often as metaphorical doorways or gateways,
Portals into getting to know yourself in a new way.
And holding acupressure points can improve circulation in the body,
Can also help with the movement of energy,
Or qi,
In Chinese medicine.
And as you hold this acupressure point now,
You might be sitting in a chair or relaxing on your back.
Your hand that's doing the holding,
Whether it's your middle finger or your thumb or your index finger,
Notice if you could relax your hand just a little bit more and soften through the tops of your shoulders.
Let yourself be comfortable and relaxed wherever you are,
Bringing a sense of ease into the moment.
If you would like to close your eyes,
You're welcome to close your eyes or the eyes might be open.
Bring your awareness into this acupressure point,
C of Tranquility.
Notice the way this point moves as you breathe.
You might take a deeper breath in right to where your hand is,
Letting your chest move upwards on the in-breath,
And exhale softly through the center of your chest.
You might imagine your breath moving like an ocean wave,
Like a calm,
Gentle,
And smooth ocean wave crashing on the beach.
Exhale your chest moving upwards on the out-breath,
Hand fingers moving back towards you.
And if it's comfortable for you to follow the rhythm of your breath,
Let your mind move and follow your inhale and exhale.
Letting your breath and chest in the center of your sternum move like a calm,
Relaxed wave on the ocean,
Tapping into this sea right in the middle of your chest,
Your C of Tranquility.
And you're welcome to repeat this affirmation to yourself silently or aloud,
Eye open to peace and tranquility.
Gently release,
Holding this acupressure point.
Let your touch in the center of your chest get lighter and lighter.
And eventually relax your hand down anywhere comfortable for you to feel into the residue of holding that acupressure point.
Notice any effects of holding the point.
Does your upper body feel more open or closed?
Do you feel any changes in your physical body?
Any changes in your mind?
And notice what is touching the ground,
Whether it's your feet on the floor or your body touching your bed or your chair.
Noticing the space around you,
The air around you.
If your eyes were closed,
In your own time gently opening your eyes,
Taking in the sights around you.
Thank you.
