All You Need Is Love

In this meditation, reflect on the interconnectedness of love as prescribed in Leviticus 19:2 and Leviticus 19:18. Begin by centering yourself and acknowledging the divine love that permeates your being. As you breathe deeply, cultivate a profound sense of self-love, recognizing your inherent worth and dignity as a creation of God. Then, extend this love outward, embracing others with compassion and empathy, as instructed to "love your neighbor as yourself." Let this meditation remind you of the sacred bond between God, self, and others, nurturing a deeper understanding of love as the foundation of spiritual connection and harmony.

Transcript

We'll begin with a bell. Settling down, Standing seated or lying down, Eyes open or when you're ready, Closed. Becoming more quiet. Becoming more deeply still. Letting your body settle and relax in whatever way works for you. Positioning your arms, Legs, Hands, Feet, In whatever pattern helps you to fall in. Slow down. Having less muscle tension so that you can go deeper into a meditative state. If you're agitated, Can't seem to relax yet, That's fine. This could just be a practice to move you closer. Thinking about things that were or will be is normal, Not always helpful, Not necessary right now, But don't fight yourself. See if you can't let go, Let those worries and troubles drift away just for a moment. You can attend to them later. Letting yourself settle and listening to the gentle and delicate and diverse sounds around you at all times. Sounds within you of breath and pulse or digestion. Noticing whatever it is you notice. Like a bird watcher just attending for things moving and changing and being within you and outside you. When you get distracted, Not if, But when, We always do, You don't have to fight it, You could go into the distraction, It probably wouldn't be that much fun. So you can return to my voice, Sink into your body again, Notice your breath and draw it in more deeply, Let it go more slowly. Whatever helps to cue you again and again, Continually, Toward this meditative experience. Breathing, Settling in, Quieting the mind, Maybe smiling a little. We're going to use this time to draw our attention first outward to the grandeur of the created world and then inward with love of self and then outward again to love others. Let's begin. Letting your attention drift and float to all the things that are filled with awe and mystery, Grandeur and gratitude. It could be skies, Trees, Birds, Breezes, The great beyond that fills you with delight. Let your mind drift into space. All that is awesome and transcendent, The vastness, What's out there so incredible. Letting your attention flit among the trees and between the stars, Whatever fills you with wonder, The vast universe. When you get distracted or if you get lost, Just come back. You could use my voice as a cue and reminder, Resettling in your body or just listening to your breath, Whatever works for you right now. Knowing also that whatever is great and beyond is also contained within you, That you are a gentle and important part of the vastness of a loving universe. Accept that. Breathe into it. Take it in. Take some deeper breaths, Farther in, Slower out, Just acknowledging love that is your portion of a glorious universe, Cultivating love for yourself as a reflection of all that is awesome and your part in it. Settle into it. Accept it. Letting self-love light you up and lift you up, Breathing, Returning when you're distracted. Fill yourself up with love, Letting it almost overflow. Let it overflow. With all of that love and glory you took in from the universe, Perhaps you find that you have more that you could give away. Imagine starting to send it out on little tendrils of light, A dispersing mist or wave, Giving the excess love away to everyone around you, Humans and other animals, Plants, Even the air, Friend and foe alike, Continually filling up with awe and love and giving it away, Sending it out in a virtuous circuit. So much love and so much to love. Get embraced by it, Overwhelmed, Continuing to breathe in the universe's love deeply and breathing out the love of the universe widely, Sharing in it all. Take seven more cycles of breath, Drawing it in and giving it away with just enough love. Take seven more cycles of breath, Drawing it in and giving it away with just enough love. Take seven more cycles of breath, Drawing it in and giving it away with just enough love. Take seven more cycles of breath, Drawing it in and giving it away with just enough love. Take seven more cycles of breath, Drawing it in and giving it away with just enough love. Take seven more cycles of breath, Drawing it in and giving it away with just enough love. Take seven more cycles of breath, Drawing it in and giving it away with just enough love. Take seven more cycles of breath, Drawing it in and giving it away with just enough love. Take seven more cycles of breath, Drawing it in and giving it away with just enough love. Take seven more cycles of breath, Drawing it in and giving it away with just enough love. Take seven more cycles of breath, Drawing it in and giving it away with just enough love.