A Time For Transformation – Learning From These Moments Of Crisis

Life is currently upside down, which is providing us a unique opportunity to see the world from an entirely different perspective. This practice is enriched with words from the poet Rumi and poses questions for you to consider.

Are there ways that we can harvest this experience to come closer to our deepest selves? To have greater understanding and appreciation of what really matters most to us? Coupled with binaural beat technology, this practice invites you to look within.

Transcript

Welcome.

My name is Laura Garrison-Brooke and I'm glad you've joined me on this exploration.

During this time of uncertainty,

We're all being shook up,

Almost like we're pieces of a puzzle that are being thrown up into the air.

And when the pieces land,

We have an opportunity to guide them,

So maybe they create a different picture of reality.

This meditation is an invitation for you to mindfully explore what you would like that new reality to look like.

Please know that I am offering this meditation very grounded in the fact that this is a time of tremendous challenge.

Life is upside down.

Life is upside down.

And as stressful and challenging and discombobulating as that is,

Being upside down is also an opportunity to see the world from an entirely different perspective.

My question for you to consider are there ways that we can harvest this experience to come closer to our deepest selves,

To have greater understanding and appreciation of what really matters most to us.

I invite you to see this time inside as an opportunity to go inside,

To get quiet,

To connect more deeply with what is important to you,

To see more clearly what you value and what you love,

To be more true.

As we think about where we are in this challenging time,

We need to remember that we can't always control what happens to us,

But we can always control how we respond.

This meditation is not about saying,

It's okay,

This happened to me.

It's about saying,

This happened.

How do I channel my strengths and my wisdom so that I come out of this being more rather than less?

This is powerful work over the long haul,

But please,

Please,

Let's keep our expectations realistic.

Give yourself permission to be human,

Especially during these challenging times.

If you're churned up and don't get any clarity from this meditation today,

That's okay.

Life is long.

You're planting beautiful,

Powerful seeds that will grow over time.

My invitation is for you to come back to this as many times as you need to peel back the layers to get closer and closer to your true self.

This meditation is meant to be the beginning of a transformative journey,

And transformative journeys need powerful guides.

The words and the wisdom of the Sufi poet Rumi will help chart our course for this meditation.

Rumi said,

Stars can't shine without darkness.

I'm glad you're here.

Let's look into the darkness together to see the different ways that we can learn to shine brighter.

I invite you to take a seat.

Take a nice big belly breath.

As you exhale,

Feel yourself root down.

Inhaling,

Feel the spine grow long.

I invite you to draw attention to your spine.

As you inhale,

Feel energy flowing up along the central channel of the spine.

The crown of the head shines up.

Exhaling,

Energy flows down,

Pouring down the tailbone into the earth.

I invite you to see this energy as light.

Inhaling,

The energy goes up the spine and shines out the top of the head.

You are a beautiful column of light that shines far up into the sky.

Exhaling,

This light shines down into the crown of the head,

Along the spine,

And into the earth.

Find your own comfortable rhythm of breath.

Inhaling,

See the pulse of energy flowing up and out of the top of the head,

A shining cord of light reaching up into the heavens.

Exhaling,

The energy flows down from the sky,

Entering the top of the head,

Filling up the body with luminescence.

Everything in life is energy.

Feel this energy fill you.

Closing your eyes,

I invite you to go within.

With no sense of judgment,

Recognize the feelings that are swirling inside of you.

Compassionately recognize what is.

This is a hard path that we're walking.

Rumi counsels,

Being a candle is not easy.

In order to give light,

One must first burn.

And we are walking through the fire right now,

Aren't we?

Is it possible that this fire can burn away what is extraneous?

In this time of isolation,

Can we start to separate the wheat from the chaff?

Discover what's most important and valuable to us?

Here's Rumi's analogy on how life unfolds.

He says,

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 are 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 for whatever comes because each has been sent as a guide from beyond.

Each has been sent as a guide from beyond.

And life may be clearing you out for some new delight.

I love these words.

Sometimes it's only through loss that we come to better appreciate what remains.

And sometimes we need space to welcome new things into our lives.

Rumi says,

Try not to resist the changes that come your way.

Instead,

Let life live through you.

And do not worry that your life is turning upside down.

How do you know that the side you are used to is better than the one to come?

Without any need to know right now,

Open yourself up to exploration,

To possibility,

To the chance that in this crucible we are in right now,

We might emerge transformed,

More grateful,

More joyful,

More appreciative,

More present.

What might this transformation look like for you?

Rumi's advice,

Whatever lifts the corners of your mouth,

Trust that.

So what makes you smile right now?

What is feeling more precious and close to your heart?

Remember,

These can be micro-moments.

Your cat chasing a ball across the floor.

Your child's laughter as they watch a funny video.

Standing in the sun,

Feeling a breeze on your skin.

The beauty of the natural world that surrounds us.

What makes you feel joyful?

I invite you to breathe into this knowledge.

See that in your mind's eye.

Feel it in your heart space.

What makes you feel joyful?

Hour by hour,

Day by day,

Allow yourself the time and space to notice and explore.

As if your joy is a thread that you can follow.

Moment by moment,

Layer by layer,

You can dig deeper to discover what is most authentically true to you.

Rumi says,

You have no need to go anywhere.

Journey within yourself.

Enter a mine of rubies and bathe in the splendor of your own light.

He continues,

Look within.

The light is already there.

And with your breath as your companion,

Walk into the cave.

And with every step you take,

You bring light.

Breathe and look within.

What do you notice?

What do you see?

Big belly breaths.

Look within.

What do you see?

Maybe you've discovered a lot.

Or maybe your answer right now is not much.

Rumi encouraged us,

Be patient where you sit in the dark.

The dawn is coming.

This kind of internal exploration is a way to get to the bottom of the cave.

The dawn is coming.

This kind of internal exploration is powerful,

Even if it doesn't feel fruitful right in this moment.

As you practice this kind of mindfulness,

You might have an aha moment upon a weakening,

Or in the shower,

Or while out for a walk.

You are planting seeds right now,

And it's your continued exploration and intention that waters them and makes the soil fertile.

Be patient where you sit in the dark.

The dawn is coming.

Big belly breaths.

I invite you again.

Look within.

What do you see?

Big belly breaths.

Rumi shares.

Your legs will get heavy and tired.

Then comes a moment of feeling the wings you've grown lifting.

That's what I wish for you,

What I wish for all of us.

May this time be one of introspection,

A time where you grow your wings so that they lift you up,

Giving you the freedom,

Wisdom,

And self-knowledge to pursue a life richer than you have ever had before.

And if you have moments where you feel you've gone astray or lost the thread,

Which we all will at times,

Remember this,

The final quote I will share with you in my favorite Rumi poem.

Come,

Come,

Whoever you are.

Wanderer,

Worshipper,

Lover of leaving.

It doesn't matter.

Ours is not a caravan of despair.

Come,

Even if you have broken your vows a thousand times.

Come,

Yet again.

Come,

Come.

I am wishing you a transformative journey where you connect more and more deeply to a life that is authentically,

Joyfully yours.

Reviews

What a beautiful intro and meditation about what the world, and we are going through! The opportunity to go within is upon us to shine like stars in the darkness….

Very much needed in these turbulent times! Thank you!🙏🏻

25.12.2021 Almost noon.
So wise. So beautiful. I embrace it.
Thank you Laura. Very much.
🌀🌀🌀
Orly

Laura transports us to a zen place where there is peace, joy and hope. Thank you 🙏🏻

Continuing inspiration each time I listen. Thank you Laura 🕉 🙏🏼 💟

Wonderful- definitely worth revisiting time and time again 💐

A lovely combination of your calming voice and delivery, the right music, and then Rumi’s powerful prose - a perfect trifecta! Thank you. Namaste. 💚🙏

Just discovered/reading Rumi. Pure synchronicity. I've found a thread. Thank you.

So helpful. I I especially liked the interwoven Rumi poems. Thank you.

Beautiful. I will have to listen to the extended version. I was hoping to find a meditation to fall asleep but this was so good I stayed up 😊
Thank you for sharing the beautiful poetry 🌠

Thank you! Lovely, calming voice! Beautiful & seamless incorporation of Rumi. 💕

Beautiful incorporation of Rumi encouraging introspection during uncertain times.

Thanks for telling me about this. Indeed appropriate for these troubling days. I love Rumi

Thank you. Sending good wishes.

Have been walking in the dark. Glimmers of light here. Namaste🙏🏻

Weaving Rumi’s wisdom throughout, made this reflective moment even more powerful and meaningful. Beautiful experience! 🙏✨💐