Welcome to the Hosting Council exercise.
This meditation was first developed by Dr.
Gary Weaver who worked with teens in juvenile detention.
It is intended to help you to connect with your spirituality through connecting with three distinct,
Related,
And important aspects of your spirituality.
These three aspects are connection with other beings,
Whether they be human,
Animals,
Or nature,
Connection with your higher self,
And connection with your higher power.
As always,
Find more resources to dive deeper on my website.
As we begin,
You can go ahead and do what you need to do to become more comfortable in your body,
Beginning to tune into your breathing,
Tuning in to your inner sanctuary,
Checking in with your physical,
Spiritual,
And emotional parts of yourself,
Giving space to whatever exists.
If it feels safe,
You can close your eyes and mindfully inhale through your nose and then exhale slowly through your mouth.
If it feels supportive,
You can work towards making your exhales longer than your inhales through counting or just through sense.
If it's helpful,
You can also visualize roots growing from the soles of your feet and extending deep into the earth.
Feel the roots anchoring you firmly to the ground,
Connecting you into the stability of the earth.
With each inhale,
Feel the support of the earth flowing up through your roots and into your body,
Filling you with strength and calm.
And with each exhale,
Releasing any tension or stress,
Allowing it to flow down through your roots and into the earth where there is capacity for it to be held and transformed.
Continue to mindfully breathe in and out and feel yourself becoming more grounded and more present with each breath,
Each breath more embodied,
Allowing yourself to feel rooted and supported,
Knowing that you are safe and protected.
When you're ready,
Visualize yourself sitting at a table.
Allow your imagination to create the table for you,
Filling in the details.
Carry into this table that feeling of rootedness and support.
Invite to the table everyone who has your best interest in mind.
This may be people living or ancestors,
People near or across the world.
It could even be an animal or a plant that you feel connected with.
Invite anyone who you feel truly has or had your best interest in mind.
Once they have assembled,
Notice their support surrounding you,
Joining you at the table and ask them if they love you.
Next,
Invite your higher self,
Your true self,
Your capital S self,
The part of you that is eternal,
To join you at the table in whatever form they may take.
Feel the deep love and wisdom that emanates from your higher self and ask your higher self if they love you.
Lastly,
Invite your higher power,
Whatever word you use for it,
To join you at the table in whatever form it takes.
Feel the unconditional love and guidance that flows from the divine.
Ask your higher power if they love you.
Now,
With everyone assembled together,
Look around at them and ask them what is important for you to know right now.
What do you need to know about yourself and what message do they have for you?
Allow yourself to be open and receptive to the message that unfolds.
It may come in the form of words,
Images,
Or feelings.
Trust that whatever message you receive is exactly what you need to hear at this moment.
Take a few minutes to reflect on this message and again look around at who has joined you at the table.
Feel gratitude for the love and support that surrounds you.
Ready?
Slowly open your eyes and return to the present moment.
You may want to spend more time reflecting on or writing about what was revealed to you and who showed up at your table.
As I bring this meditation to a close,
I invite you to return and engage this practice to host counsel with all of these systems of support anytime you find yourself needing guidance.
