Coming now to a place where you can be at peace,
Feeling calm,
In harmony within yourself.
We're going to spend a few moments arriving,
Gathering,
Centering.
And as we let go of all thoughts of what is happening outside,
Beyond where we are at the moment,
And focus on coming within,
We will then go on to open up into a time of prayer.
If you're not already come to a sitting position,
Either sitting comfortably on a chair,
Or sitting directly on the floor or ground.
And noticing your strong contact with the ground,
Through the base of your body or your feet.
Notice how the ground supports you,
Seems to hold you up as it were.
Let your attention focus on wherever that contact feels strongest at the moment,
Where you feel most in connection with the ground,
With our Mother Earth.
And allow yourself to feel as it were that you were merging with the ground itself.
Almost as though you could stretch roots down deep into the ground,
Feeling ever more connected.
And noticing now the air around you,
The seeming emptiness of space.
Feel the freedom of having that space around you.
And be aware of how it extends way beyond what you can imagine,
In all directions around you and above you too.
And returning to where you are now,
Just imagining that there is a bubble of that space that is protecting you,
Holding your body as the Mother Earth is keeping you rooted.
And returning now to breathe in some of that beautiful gift of pure,
Radiant,
Refreshing air.
Breathing in through the mouth,
Noticing where the breath touches the roof of your mouth,
Tasting the air,
Welcoming it in.
And just keeping that focus with each in-breath for a moment or two longer.
And now closing the mouth,
If that feels comfortable,
And breathing in through the nose.
See if you can notice the very subtle path of the breath as it enters your nostrils and comes into your body.
Perhaps you can be aware of its gentle brush against your nostrils at the very point it comes into your body.
And noticing it rise within you,
And then noticing where it reaches to as it continues its journey.
Stay with the breath in its resting place,
Wherever that is for you,
Within your body.
If your mind becomes distracted,
Simply come back to reminding yourself that there is no need to worry about anything at the moment,
Other than just being where you are,
Being grounded,
Being blessed with this wonderful gift of the air that we breathe.
Letting all thoughts pass from your mind,
Letting all thoughts go,
Being aware when they come,
But not allowing them to distract you and take you on another journey.
The only task now is to rest with the breath in your body,
Tracing the path from where the breath enters your body of the nostrils,
And coming to that point where it settles deep within.
And taking a few moments in silence to rest at that place of arrival now.
And now from this place of oneness,
From this place of deep connection,
From your core opening up your intention,
Your desire,
Your prayer,
Focusing on someone you know who is currently worried,
Suffering great anxiety,
Feeling at a loss,
Desperately unsure about their future,
About some challenge or life change that they are facing.
Offer from your heart now love and light for that person.
See them bathed in a globe of pure white light,
Where they are being comforted.
See them being held and protected in love,
The tension being relieved in their body,
Their mind becoming settled,
Free of its constant busy distractions,
Endless chains of concern and uncertainty.
Ask that they may be given great comfort right now.
Enjoy a moment of peace,
A moment to be free from their suffering and to be open to the possibility of a happier future,
A happier outcome than they might now imagine.
Create for them opportunities to have hope,
To feel encouragement,
To have the will to carry on.
And extending that wish now to all in your neighborhood,
Perhaps some you know,
But many you may not.
You are also suffering from deep worry at this time.
The reasons may be many.
People losing jobs,
Losing their livelihoods,
Not knowing how they will provide for themselves and their families.
Parents whose children are in trouble,
Not knowing how to guide them,
Not knowing what help they can offer now.
Those who are in debt,
I can see no way of paying back what they owe.
Those who are facing many anxious situations,
I can see hope in their heart now and send out a will as request in prayer that they will be deeply blessed,
That they will know grace,
They will be comforted,
That light will replace the worry that now fills their minds and hope will take up residence in their hearts.
And seeing this extension of light and hope now reaching out much further beyond your neighborhood,
To the country or state where you live and in turn to the whole world.
Ask that there are many miracles that will transform the lives of so many troubled people,
Remembering that we are all one,
Connected at our hearts in the precious light of divine glory.
Gently becoming aware of your breathing again,
Where your breath enters your body,
Sitting with that precious rhythm for a short while.
Slowly becoming aware of where you are now,
Perhaps beginning to notice some of the sounds in the background,
Some of the sensations of the moment,
And becoming more fully aware of your body and the contact that you have with the floor or the ground.
Coming back to simply being aware of where you are sitting,
When it feels right,
Gently open your eyes and come back to where you are.
