Welcome,
Welcome.
So,
So glad that you are here during this fourth week of Advent.
Gather any props that you would like to make yourself so comfortable,
Creating the rest nest of your dreams.
Choose to be seated or reclined.
Just ensure that your neck and head are supported.
The four weeks of Advent are broken down into themes.
This week,
The theme is love,
Love and adoration.
The Advent season is an opportunity for growth,
Restoration and renewal.
Advent is an intentional season marked by reflections of hope,
Peace,
Joy and love.
During this time,
We remember and anticipate the birth of Jesus.
Advent is a way to strengthen our faith through reflection and waiting.
If you have any stretches or movements that you'd like to do before finding rest,
Please do so at this time.
And when you're ready,
Make yourself so comfortable,
The rest nest of your dreams.
Use any kind of props that would offer support,
Blankets,
Pillows,
Yoga blocks,
Bolsters,
Anything else to facilitate rest for your mind,
Body and spirit.
On this fourth week of Advent,
We focus on love.
We celebrate love as the angels proclaim the good news of Jesus's birth.
The whole meaning of Christmas can be expressed through the sentiment of love.
God sent a gift of pure love to us that first Christmas.
Love lay in the scratchy hay of a manger in a meager barn in Bethlehem.
All of God's love arrived on earth as a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes in the rough wood of a manger.
Perhaps closing the eyes or having a soft gaze and imagine being there in the barn.
Breathe in the scent of animals,
The smell of the manger carved from wood,
Perhaps incense,
Maybe there was smoke from a fire.
Imagine being present,
Deepening the breath.
Begin to breathe in love and breathe out love.
Breathe in God's love for you and breathe God's love out into the world.
Breathe in love and breathe out love.
Take a few more rounds of breath with the intention of love.
When you're ready,
Allow your natural breathing to take over.
We will gently now move into a body scan rotation of consciousness.
Make any additional wiggles,
Add in any other props that you would like,
Ensuring that you're so comfortable as we move into our gentle body scan.
We'll begin at the feet,
Maybe wiggle the toes,
Letting the feet be really soft,
Bringing awareness to the soles of the feet,
The tops of the feet,
Each toe,
Bringing awareness to the ankles,
Calves,
Shins,
Kneecaps,
Behind the knees,
Thighs,
Glutes,
The entire pelvic bowl,
Bringing awareness to the lower back,
Mid back,
Upper back,
Shoulder blades,
Shoulders,
Upper arms,
Elbows,
Lower arms,
Wrists,
Tops of the hands,
Palms of the hands,
Each finger,
Bringing awareness now to the neck,
The back of the head,
Top of the head,
Forehead,
Eyebrows,
Eyes,
Temples,
Ears,
Nose,
Lip,
The entire mouth,
Teeth,
Gums,
Tongue,
Maybe swallow a time or two here,
Maybe open and close the lower jaw,
Swallowing and bringing attention or awareness to the throat center,
Bringing awareness to the clavicle,
The right clavicle,
The right side of the chest,
Right lung,
Noticing the beautiful dance of our God-given breath and how the right side of the chest dances with the breath,
Bringing awareness now to the left side of the chest,
Left clavicle,
Left lung,
Left side of the torso and chest,
Bring awareness now to both sides of the chest,
Both sides of the lungs,
And the entire torso as you breathe in love and breathe out love so that it surrounds you,
Breathe in God's love for you,
Breathe out God's love for the world,
Bringing awareness to your heart space.
You may wish to gently place one or both hands on the heart,
You may wish to repeat a few of these phrases as well wishes or prayers or blessings.
First to yourself,
May I be happy,
May I be happy,
May I be at peace,
May I be at peace,
May I feel loved,
May I feel loved.
Being a deep inhale,
Breathing in God's love for you,
Take a complete exhale,
Breathing out God's love for the world.
You may wish to repeat these phrases for the world.
May we all be happy,
May we all be happy,
May we all be at peace,
May we all be at peace,
May we all feel loved,
May we all feel loved.
As we move now into a time of prayer,
Stillness,
Meditation,
And reflection,
I'd like to share a message written by Saint Elizabeth of the Trinity called Let Yourself Be Loved.
Let yourself be vulnerable,
Let your walls down,
Your carefully constructed fortresses breached,
Your fiercely guarded heart laid bare.
Let your wounds be touched,
Your fears revealed,
Your deepest desires,
Damaged dreams,
And most daring hopes unveiled before the bridegroom who has the power to redeem,
Restore,
And resurrect them.
Drop your independence and let him love you.
Let God love you.
We are greatly,
Infinitely loved.
Rest in God's loving arms and let him love you in this very room at this very moment.
Enjoy these moments of quietude and I'll guide us back together in just a bit.
If you are able to stay here a little bit longer or a lot longer,
Just resting,
Reflecting,
Meditating,
Praying,
Please do that.
If you are ready to bring gentle movement into the fingers and toes,
Moving into some larger movement with the arms and legs,
Perhaps bringing the legs in for a hug,
Eventually floating over to your preferred side,
Pausing here for a moment,
Letting me remind you that in this world,
You are so loved that you matter and you make a difference.
Perhaps you can rest here for as long as your heart desires.
When you're ready,
No rush,
Gently push yourself up to find a comfortable seat,
Bringing the hands to heart center or prayer pose.
And if you're still reclined,
Perhaps just bringing your hands to your heart for our closing blessing.
May you be filled with the wonder of Mary,
The reverence of Joseph,
The delight of the angels,
The excitement of the shepherds,
The tenacity of the Magi,
And the peace of the Christ child now and forever.
All of God's beautiful children said,
Amen and amen.
Thank you so much for being here today.
Sharing this time and space.
From my heart to yours,
I am wishing you and yours a season filled with hope,
Peace,
Love,
And joy.
Whatever your traditions may be,
Hanukkah,
Christmas,
Solstice,
Festivus,
Kwanzaa,
Las Posadas,
Every celebration.
May love abound.
Thank you again so much for being here.
Blessings,
Blessings,
Blessings.
