And there to sit,
To sit as if it was the first time.
You know where your feet are,
You know where your legs are,
You know where you sit then on a little pillow or a chair.
You know where your spine is,
It's long,
Elegant,
Your shoulders are kind of rolling back,
So your chest has a sensation of openness.
But all of this posture of the meditation is an effortless ease.
You don't need to force anything,
You're just standing there.
And maybe for today's term,
The right palm down and the left palm up,
A little bit like Yin-Yang,
A little bit like a goddess in Asian paintings.
You can see one is connecting to the earth,
The other is connecting to the heaven and the sky.
One is nourishing,
The other is nourished.
And inhale there for a few moments,
Going from one hand to the other in your mind,
Inhaling with the left hand,
Exhaling with the right hand.
It's a concept that works for you,
Continue like this,
Inhaling on the left hand,
Palm up,
Exhaling with your right hand,
Palm down.
And now be silent,
But we'll stay here for a little bit.
This is the quality of your breath.
And then bring more of your attention towards the right hand.
And noticing how it is,
Is this warm or cold or a little misted?
So fully,
The right hand is the one turned down,
Can you feel each fingertip touching down towards your lap or your knee?
Any sensation of softness or harshness depending on the fabric of your leg?
Be curious,
Are all fingers touching down?
Is the whole palm pressing down or is there any space in between?
Do you feel any tension there in that hand?
Could you soften just a little bit so it is less rigid?
And then slowly bring your attention to your left hand and hopefully that left hand has the palm turned up and so stopped by the base,
The back of the hand might be resting on something.
How is that sensation?
Maybe it's heavy,
Maybe it's very light,
Maybe you can sense your fingertips and right there in the air.
Are they touching one another or are they free from each other?
Without looking,
Since we have eyes closed for most of us,
Can you imagine the shape of that hand?
Is this flat out or is this more like a lotus flower or a rosebud?
Do you feel any tension in your wrists there?
And then going back to that mind game of inhaling through your left hand and exhaling through your right hand.
It's like if you were inhaling through your whole left side of the body,
Your left nostril.
And you can imagine you're exhaling through your right hand,
Through your right nostril.
Maybe then if it's not a pure reality,
Imagine that for a while for the next minute when you're feeling more silent.
Then bring to your mind some event of these months that you could say you have received things.
Maybe you have received a raise,
Maybe you have received a letter,
Maybe you have received a gift.
Just think of what did the life give to you these months?
Just think of positive stuff,
You know,
What did life give to you?
What did you receive?
Maybe it was a smile at the post office that surprised you.
Maybe it was a meal cooked by one of your parents.
Maybe it was a phone call.
Think of that.
What have you received these past few weeks that is notable,
Noticeable?
And keep on breathing in between thoughts.
And then turn your attention toward your right hand,
Which is still turned down,
And ask yourself,
What have you been giving?
How,
In what way did you give things to others?
Did you write a letter?
Did you write emails?
Did you hold the door for someone?
Did you prepare a meal for somebody?
Did you pet your cat,
A cat?
What did you do?
In what way did you give stuff to others?
Material,
Emotional,
Or just with your eyes,
Just with your voice.
And of course,
Think of ways that you give nicely.
Without judging,
Obviously,
Just noticing,
Huh?
Maybe part of giving was also giving yourself option,
Giving yourself a bath,
Taking the time for a shower,
Giving yourself a massage.
It could be self-gifted.
And see in what way you can move your hands to come toward one another,
One on top,
One at the bottom,
And hold your hand like this.
Like if you had a little pearl in the middle and you don't want it to fly away,
A little feather.
Let's imagine you have a little feather in the palm,
And so you're just making that bubble effect around your feather so it doesn't fly away in the wind.
And then you can reset with your hand connected,
Appreciating what you can give and what you receive.
And let yourself breathe long,
Deep inhale and long exhale for a few moments in silence.
What thoughts are coming up?
Don't be welcome,
But on their way up.
Keep sensing your breath,
Your hands touching one another.
And ask yourself maybe with the coming weeks,
How can you place an intention to be more aware of when life gifts you things and when you are giving to others?
When you're receiving and when you are giving.
Is there a particular terrain that you could be more mindful of?
So you will a little bit switch toward kindness,
Toward helping,
Toward compassionate giving,
Gratitude and appreciating receiving.
You see what I mean?
And as you feel ready,
Place both hands on top of one another toward your heart.
And in that way,
That gesture of pure love in some way,
Pure like connection with kindness and loving.
Just envision that everything you give and everything you receive is seen by you through the eyes of love,
Kindness and compassion.
So you feel supported and those are feelings supported.
Letting go of your hands slowly,
Letting your eyes open if they were closed,
Come back to the room gently.
