This meditation is designed to correspond to the Jewish holiday of Sukkot,
Often referred to as the Feast of Booths,
Or Feast of Tabernacles in the autumn.
On Sukkot,
Many Jews worldwide will build temporary dwellings,
Huts,
With thin,
Thatched roofs that do not insulate against rain or the elements,
But instead replicate our ancestors' experience both in wilderness and during harvest seasons.
I invite you to sit comfortably and quietly.
And if it's your practice,
Close your eyes.
Set your feet evenly on the ground,
Your legs uncrossed,
Your arms and hands uncrossed,
Resting at your side.
Take several deep breaths,
Counting if you can,
At least to four,
As you inhale and exhale evenly.
Inhale deeply,
And exhale slowly.
Continue inhaling deeply,
And exhaling as slowly as possible.
With your eyes closed,
Imagine yourself in a vast and open expanse.
The weather is cool as the heat of the summer has passed,
And there is not yet rain in the air.
But somewhere in your senses,
You know it is approaching.
Breathe in the soothing air as the seasons change from summer to autumn.
And again,
The air is dry and comfortable,
And the rain may be approaching.
A gentle rain that will grow things in the ground and around you.
Breathing in slowly,
And out safely.
The moon is full,
And the stars are bright and twinkle in the expanse of the night sky.
Your labors of the day and the season have come to an end.
And you find yourself in the quiet of nature,
With only the need to gather the richness of Earth's produce.
Above you,
Wisps of cloud cross a full moon.
And you are safe,
Resting among and outside under the stars.
Around you is a small hut,
Purpose-built to gather the rewards and fruits of a bountiful harvest season.
You have more than you could imagine.
Certainly more than you need.
Breathe in deeply the soothing air,
Lit by the moon and suffused with the distant vapor of long-awaited rain.
As you breathe in,
Smell the richness of fruits and grains and vegetables.
The tang of peppers,
The juice of pomegranates,
The perfume of guava,
The rich earth of wheat,
Breathing in all of nature's gifts.
You are safe in a temporary yet personal dwelling,
A home amid the universe's glory,
A small piece in an impressive landscape,
And the world holds you in its bosom.
Breathe in and out.
Breathe in the safety and wonder of this place.
Breathe in the glory and grandeur of nature around you.
And finally,
Breathe in fullness and gratitude for all that you possess.
So much more than you need.
Continue breathing in slowly and out slowly until you are ready to return and open your eyes.
Blessings.
