Settling into the quiet.
Letting jangling nerves unjangle,
Unring,
Even out,
Iron their way out.
As if we could imagine our neurotransmitters slowing down their work.
But also being aware,
Being honest with ourselves that thoughts are part of being human.
And that stray thoughts and worries and excitements,
Images and words are part of being alive.
You cannot end your thoughts without ending your life.
So while you are living,
You will think.
And when you meditate,
You just try not to hold on to any particular thought.
Not to be wedded to any feeling or idea or emotion or process.
Just floating through it all in an ether sea.
Breathing,
Inhale deep,
Exhale slow.
Using the ancient breath mantra SELA.
SELA,
Just letting it out with the word SELA.
Doing something kind for yourself right now.
Scratching an itch,
Stretching a stretch.
Thinking a funny or generous thought about yourself,
Giving yourself a compliment.
You made some great toasts this morning.
You put away the groceries very,
Very effectively.
You were so kind to your loved ones.
Something small,
Something big,
Just a kindness to yourself.
Going deeper,
Getting slower.
Hearing the quiet.
As you become more quiet,
Maybe other sounds perk up.
You notice more of the world around you.
Close your eyes when you're ready and see what else you can hear,
Feel,
Taste,
Smell.
Everyday people elbow us,
People bump our car,
People say rude things in the checkout line.
We take advantage of each other.
Go right ahead and hold on to that if you want.
Or you could sleep better maybe by letting go of the things that are bothering you.
Letting go.
Forgiving.
Forgiving all those debts,
Emotional or material.
Not seeking punishment or retribution.
That's a poison that you'll swallow yourself.
Letting go.
Going deeper into your sleepy nature.
More restful,
More quiet,
More forgiving.
And we've made mistakes too.
We've injured others,
Been rude or short,
Thoughtless,
Careless.
You may not want to apologize,
You may not be ready.
It doesn't exactly matter.
But in order to sleep,
You might want to imagine apologizing.
Imagine letting go.
Imagine being happy even if you can't be right.
May it be so.
Maybe you feel your eyes getting heavy,
The light starting to dim.
Maybe you feel your body sinking,
Gravity taking over.
Lying down in peace.
With kind thoughts and gentle dreams coming.
Being oh-so-aware of everything that is good about you.
Everything that is blessed.
And as the light fades here,
It goes to other parts of the world.
And will illuminate your part of the world soon again.
All of it is one.
Taking a moment to acknowledge the unity and universality of creation.
That we are all joined in a cosmic harmony.
A cosmic web of material atoms,
Molecules,
Divine stuff.
All that is created at a common origin.
And feel that connection through all things,
All life.
May it fill you with awe and love.
Breathing it in.
Feeling love and compassion scintillate through your day.
At every moment,
In every step.
Breathing deeply.
Sinking into your resting place.
Feeling protected.
Saved.
Covered with gentle wings.
And a mighty shield.
Dwelling in a magnificent shelter and refuge.
Protected and embraced.
Lifted up and carried above all harm.
And risk and danger.
Sated.
Comfortably full.
Having what you need.
Maybe not all of the things you want,
But most of what you need.
Breathing in deeply.
Exhaling slowly.
Pushing out the air on the word SELA.
SELA.
You can lie down peacefully.
And eventually get up peacefully.
Knowing that you are enough.
Knowing that you are shielded and protected and shaded.
Lying down so that you can heal through the night.
Safe when you go out of consciousness.
And strong when you will come back in peacefully.
Peacefully.
With all that you need in wholeness.
Giving your spirit over.
Giving yourself away.
Into the arms and compassion of the universe.
Letting go.
To be liberated.
And revealed.
And cradled by great and good forces.
That dwelled with those before us.
And these same great and good forces will last beyond us.
And we are part of the great and good force of the universe.
May the universe bless you.
And protect you.
Feel its blessing and protection.
May the universe look toward you with grace.
Offering you extra special support.
Feel that support.
Feel that adoration from the universe.
May the universe turn toward you with peace.
Wholeness.
Completeness and fullness.
Take that wholeness in.
Breathing it deeply.
Maybe you exhale with a cella.
And you feel those great and good forces all around you doing mysterious works while you sleep.
All day you have doubts,
Wonders,
Difficult questions,
Paradoxes you can't solve.
Dilemmas.
There is a great and good force on your right side.
With which you can rest your questions.
Let them go.
All day you struggle.
Use your voice.
Vigor and your muscles.
You lift weights.
You walk.
You huff and puff.
For good and sometimes wasted energy.
It's okay.
But you don't have to do anything now.
No work.
No labor.
No vigor.
Just put it all down on your left side with a great and good force responsible for strength and muscle.
Letting it go.
Letting all that effort go.
And ahead of you a force shines a light.
Nightlight through the darkness.
A lantern.
You can follow through dreams.
Protecting your bed.
And behind you a great and good force of healing.
Working healing into your muscles and bones,
Thoughts and memories.
Emotions and body.
A spiritual healing and nourishment.
And overall,
This incredible glory.
This presence of the universe loving you and watching over you.
Trust in it.
And maybe in the last frames of your day,
The last moments,
You just need to shift and shimmy.
Wiggle your toes.
Scratch something.
Just shiver.
And breathe deep and exhale with a Sela.
Sela.
And all is right with the world.
It continues without any of your effort.
Universal and eternal.
Coincident and coherent.
Altogether awesome.
It was,
It is,
And it will be.
No beginning,
No end.
And you get to ride within it.
And have the experience of existence.
You can rest in that.
Trusting your body and your spirit into the loving hand of the universe with nothing to fear.
