Welcome to Breathing Space for meditation,
Storytelling,
And poetry.
I'd like to invite you to use this series of meditation and readings from different storybooks and poetry books to find your own breathing space when you arrive in the room by tuning into our senses.
So starting with what we can see,
Just going to look around and pick out five things you can see.
Could be things looking at the textures,
Shape,
And then we're going to look for four things on the chair and some pressure.
Could be our feet on the ground,
Clothes and we're going to try and identify three things we can hear.
Something in another room maybe.
Could be your own body.
Two things that you can smell now.
Two things you could identify,
Two different things you can taste.
Now we found ourselves fully present where we are.
I'm going to start the meditation which is at the beginning and at the end as well.
And if your eyes aren't already closed I invite you to do so.
Let me set this up.
I'd like you to bring your attention to anything that might be present for you just in this moment.
Turning your attention inwards.
What are your internal conditions like at this moment?
As you become aware of what's going on inside you might begin to notice some movement of the body with the breath.
I would like you to follow that breath now just noticing your natural breathing rhythm.
As you breathe in just noticing the air rushing into the body through the nostrils and as you breathe out noticing the air leaving the body through the nostrils you may feel a sensation of the air as it enters the nose following the breath with each inhalation and exhalation bringing us back to the present moment following that breath in and out just noticing what's happening in the body as you breathe you might notice your stomach expanding allowing the lungs to fill with air you might notice the stomach breathing following the breath in through the nose into the lungs and expanding in the body with the life of the body in your next breath in I like to invite you to follow the breath into the body follow the air as it expands inside of you oxygen entering into the bloodstream being carried around the entire body consciously expanding your attention now to the entire body so knows if anything is present for you in the body right now any tension lurking anywhere in the muscles you may even feel yourself slowly relaxing with each breath noticing the eyes feeling any tension around the eyelids softening and dissolving noticing your face muscles just releasing any tension that might be working just noticing around your mouth and your lips just a gradual relaxation with each breath you take so noticing the neck if there's any tension present in the neck so in the shoulders what's present for you right now in the shoulders so and as the body starts to dissolve expanding our awareness we begin to notice the entire body slowly slowly gently releasing any residual tension that might be existing and as we bring the mind back to the back to the breath following each breath in and out conscious that with each breath we take we always have the breath with us to bring us home to the present moment so so breathing in and out i'm going to read a poem famous poem by Rumi but i think it's fitting for the moment it's called the guest house you may have heard it before this being human is a guest house every morning a new arrival a joy a depression a meanness some momentary awareness comes as an unexpected visitor welcome and entertain them all even if they're a crowd of sorrows who violently sweep your house empty of its furniture still treat each guest honorably he may be clearing you out for some new delight the dark thought the shame the malice meet them at the door laughing and invite them in be grateful whoever comes because each has been sent as a guide from beyond i'd like to invite you now to reflect on the meditation all the stories or poetry that you may have heard when reflecting on the meditation bring a gaze of non-judgment to your mind if you had difficulty during the meditation whether it was pain discomfort or a flitting mind just appreciate that and if it was a great meditation if you deem it as a pleasant experience just appreciate that equally as well any thoughts or ideas to contemplate on from the storytelling and poetry i'd like to encourage you to take that with you the rest of the day and i look forward to seeing you in the next breathing space
