A Star Is Born

A soulful practice that will help you connect with your inner light and find strength and resilience through life's ups and downs. Lou offers compassionate guidance to reflect on past challenges and find the lessons that will help you grow into who you're meant to become. This practice will help you slow down, and bring you to a place of peace and stillness.

Transcript

Hello and welcome.

My name is Lou Redman and I thank you for showing up to practice with me today.

I'm going to somehow try and share a cohesive explanation of how this practice came to be.

It started as I was sitting at home in my living room.

This was around the holiday season and I had a Christmas tree up and I was noticing the star on the Christmas tree and then I was looking over at a decoration that we have on the wall that is also a star that we typically have around all year.

And I just started thinking about this concept of a star and at the time since this is winter time in the northern hemisphere,

I was thinking about oh wow,

Normally if it's darker outside then maybe we probably get to see more stars.

I'm not sure if that's true.

It's darker for longer but that's what was coming to mind.

And I had started thinking about oh okay,

Well the light is within the darkness.

And then that had me thinking about this,

I would call it a truth or a truism in our spiritual journey of often when times are so dark,

That is where we find our light.

And there's a lot of platitudes that you hear the light goes in through our cracks or the darkest hour is before the dawn or the wound is where our genius lies.

And often it's in those dark moments that we face in our life that we grow this incredible light within us that is able to see a new way and sometimes it might not happen right in the moment but as we reflect on our past,

We can often see that it was one of the best things that ever happened to us.

So with that,

That is kind of the inspiration for today's practice so we're just going to go ahead and whenever you're listening to this,

If you're on Insight Timer for instance,

You might be listening to this at another time of year but still the themes that we're going to be moving through I think are important at any time.

So let's go ahead and begin to shut your eyes down if there aren't and for this practice we're really going to see if we can bring our energy down into the ground.

Allowing gravity to start to take its force on the body and receiving gravity's force as you start to weigh and release and relax everything down whether you're sitting on a cushion,

Whether you're on a chair,

Maybe in your bed.

And winter time is this time for rest.

This is time for hibernation,

For dormancy in which if you're like I am,

Sometimes it's hard to embody that and hard to take a rest when we're always going,

Going,

Going.

So every time we come to our meditation practice,

Whenever that is,

It's a chance for us to pause,

A chance for us to slow down.

So begin to allow the cells of your body to start to slow down.

Almost as if every cell in your body was just to reduce its speed.

And as we bring our energy down,

We're storing it,

We're restoring it,

Putting it into our reserves so that we have more energy to put to the things we need and when we need to.

So begin to,

If you have an invite,

Your breath into this experience of slowing down the inhalation and the exhalation.

And allow that to continue to slow down the functions within your body.

And if you were to look at a barren forest in the wintertime,

It's not that the trees are dead,

The energy has just went down below.

It's taking time to be dormant.

And then when the conditions are right,

The energy blossoms.

We can practice this in our own way in our life.

And not that we have to be dormant and not do anything,

But noticing where we tend to force things.

And instead coming back to that place of presence,

That place of pausing and allowing things to blossom when the time is right.

So begin to allow your breath to create a little bit more space within your body.

Noting as you breathe that there's any part,

Any part of your body that's still feeling a little bit tense.

Bringing some of that breath to further relax and release and melt the energy down.

And then together,

Let's take a smooth and conscious breath in.

And let that go.

We're going to come back to noting our body and where it's at right now and finding a place of tension if it's still there.

Maybe just finding a place of discomfort or unease.

And we're just going to rest in that.

So I know I just had you release the tension,

But see if now you can find any other part that's speaking to you.

And this time,

Not needing to release it.

Instead,

Just breathing and allowing yourself to be with maybe the slight discomfort and not having to run from it or not having to push it away.

We'll just take a few moments to notice and observe here.

And gently let that go.

And now that we've just noted some physical discomfort,

I'm going to invite you to scan back the past 12 or so months.

So maybe you're listening to this around New Year's time.

So maybe it's the past year.

Maybe you're listening to this at a totally different time.

So just scanning back the past 12 or so months.

I'd like you to see if you're okay with going there.

If you can reflect and think about a time that you might have considered dark or uncomfortable.

It was one that grew you or that challenged you.

It could have been an embarrassing moment.

Maybe it was a moment of grief or moments of grief,

Periods of grief,

Of depression,

Of stress.

And again,

Maybe just first know where is this showing up in your body?

And then I'd like you to go back and visualize that person,

This version of you at that moment.

Maybe you see them in your mind's eye.

You know what they went through.

Maybe that you're still going through it and seeing and holding this person in your eye with compassion.

And what support can you share with them,

Knowing what you know now?

I'm going to offer a few words that you're welcome to repeat out loud if you'd like.

You're welcome to repeat silently,

Imagining like you're speaking this to your former self who's going through this difficult moment.

Be gentle on yourself.

It's going to be okay.

You are so strong.

You'll figure it out.

Be gentle.

Be gentle.

Be gentle.

Be gentle.

Anything else that you'd like to share with this person?

Share with yourself.

And then reflecting now on this moment after some time has passed and looking back,

Can you see if there was any light that came through?

Was there a star that was born out of this experience?

Maybe it was knowledge.

Maybe it was necessary growth.

Maybe you don't know yet.

Or maybe you can't find the answer and that's just okay.

It's okay.

And in this moment,

Either reflecting on it or trusting that there is some light,

There was a seed,

There was a star that was born.

You might still be on the journey of seeing that and realizing that star.

How can you put a positive view to what happened?

And breathe that in.

And then let's take a full breath in and a full breath out.

And we're going to shift gears here a little bit and bring to mind a little bit of a visualization.

So I'd like you to imagine yourself somewhere that is outside on a snowy night.

So maybe the snow has already kind of passed.

Maybe it's just flurrying.

There's been a good amount of snow.

And if you do live in a place that has snow,

One of the most mystical everyday moments is in that silence we sense while being outside in the dark as the snow mutes the world and lights up the night sky.

It reminds me of that song Silent Night.

There's a piece to it that if you've experienced it,

There's a natural stillness,

A natural meditation to it.

So imagine you're in that.

And for those of you that snow is not something that's part of your day to day,

Allow yourself to experience now.

It's the beauty of our imagination.

Let's just enjoy this silence for a few more moments.

And then I like you to look up at the night sky and find a star that's in the sky.

And I like you to reach out with one of your hands and grab that star.

And this star is your North Star.

This is representative of the things that guide you,

Your values,

Your beliefs.

These guide you in times of darkness and hold your star in your hand and look at it and ask,

What is this star for you?

What are those feelings?

What are those ideals?

Is it love?

Is it peace?

Is it compassion?

Understanding?

Persistence?

Resilience?

And go ahead and see what's coming up and what matters to you.

And just send this energy into the star.

What guides you through the darkness?

Maybe it's a higher power,

Maybe it's a higher energy.

Inview it into this star.

And then I'd like you to take that star,

Imagining yourself putting it into your forehead and into your mind's eye.

And so your star is your intuition.

It is your mind's eye.

And knowing that this North Star will guide you.

And once you put it into your forehead,

I'd like you to look up at the night sky and see all the other stars that are out that night.

And see if you can note this connection that you have,

That your star has to the entire universe.

Feeling that connection that we share.

As you look up,

I'd like you to ask for guidance.

Ask for guidance from maybe from the other stars,

Maybe you ask guidance from whomever,

Wherever you feel that guidance comes from.

Feel that connection pouring down from the sky into your forehead.

And then ask to be guided and listen.

And then go ahead and take a breath in and let that go.

Now you're going to bring that star that was in your forehead and I'd like you to bring it down into your chest.

So the star is in the center of your body.

And feel the star and that light start to radiate outwards.

If there's one thing that going through darkness and difficulties gives us is an understanding and a gift for others.

We can be compassionate towards others,

We can have empathy.

We are able to see others in that same suffering because we know what it's like,

We've been there.

So as you grow the light moving from inside of your body,

You grow your star,

I'd like you to imagine someone in your life who can use this light,

Who can use your star right now,

Your guidance,

Your support.

And I'd like you to bring them into your mind,

Maybe you see them outside of you,

With you right now.

Feel that light grow,

Feel that light start to move into their space.

And then giving those same words that you gave to your former self.

Again,

You can say this out loud or you can just feel the energy moving out to them.

Be gentle on yourself.

It's going to be okay.

You are so strong.

You are going to figure it out.

I wish you peace.

I wish you peace.

Be gentle.

Be gentle.

Be gentle.

Send them any other energies of love and support.

Send them your light,

Your star.

And when you're done,

You're going to take one last full breath in and let all that go.

And gently come back into your body,

Back into your space.

And when you feel ready,

Gently opening your eyes and coming back into your day.

I encourage you,

If you'd like to really embody this practice,

If you get a chance,

If you remember,

If you think about it later,

To go outside tonight.

And if you're fortunate to be able to see a star,

Find one that calls to you.

Reach out with your one hand and just as you did in your imagination,

Grab that,

Pull it into your body.

And again,

Feel yourself imbuing these values and your own guidance.

And sometimes bringing that full body enactment to the sitting practice helps us to really embody this just into our lives and helps us to bring it with new zeal and just,

I think,

More intention in our lives.

So if that calls to you and if you happen to have the opportunity,

It's a little recommendation to take this outside of a nap and outside of just sitting down.

So I thank you all,

As always.

I love connecting and hearing from you.

So until we practice again together,

Hopefully soon,

Sending you much love,

Sending you my star in some way of when I do things like this.

So peace,

Love,

And as always,

Namaste.

Reviews

Thank you for the light in this meditation ✨️

Wow wow wow

Beyond amazing, it took me on a brilliant journey. Met my Arcturian family which surprises me a lot bc I didn’t know I had them. So so deeply grateful dear Lou🌸

Thank you thank you thank you 🙏🏻

10 stars and then some
⭐️💫⚡️✨🌟🌟☄️💥🪐✨🪐🪐☄️✨💫⭐️💫⚡️✨✨☄️💥🪐✨🌟⚡️✨⚡️🪐🪐💫⭐️💥💥☄️☄️☄️💫🪐⚡️✨✨

Thank you for a beautiful meditation 😊
Namaste 🙏💙

I often meditate in motion (its a way to live alongside my ADHD— can’t focus on much without doing something else) and happened to listen to this on a walk on a clear night! What a perfect meditation for that. Thank you!!

Amazing as always

Lou, as always, thank you for this beautiful and timely mediation. There is so much chaos in the world that it can be hard to see the light, but it is always there if we take the time to recognize it.

I really appreciated sending light to others. I was with my best friends from college over the weekend and they could all use a little more light and love. I feel lighter sending light to them.

Thank you for your work. ❤️

Wonderful as always. Deeply relaxing and grateful for the reminder of slowing down. Much love and blessings 💙 x

So wonderful. I love how you always find a way to make these feel ‘human’ and not transcendent. The explanation in the beginning is often part of that :)
I was thinking to go star gazing today or tomorrow, so might be perfect timing!
Thankyou Lou!!

This made me cry! Thank you so much!

Absolutely lovely! Can’t wait to go outside tonight to find my star.💕

That was sweet and great exercise.....😁🤓🤘✌🏼🙏

I really enjoyed this meditation.
Thanks a lot.
Namaste 🙏

Absolutely poetic! So comforting!
Loved it!

Thank you, Lou, once again for sharing your insights and awareness with us in such a gentle yet powerful way. I feel your starlight as I feel my own. I am both soothed and energized.
Namaste 🙏❤️✨

Lou, I love your story telling and how your thoughts came together for this meditation. I love, absolutely LOVE the concept of a star being born within, from the darkness and now it lives on inside us. We can give that star to others, as we have earned it. We have earned that hope. It helps us make sense of suffering, that nothing is ever wasted...it serves a purpose. I am so grateful for this lesson which you worded so beautifully. Have a wonderful day.

Another beautiful meditation that met me exactly where I’m at. Namaste Lou 🙏🏻🌺

That was lovely.. just what I needed today.. thank you so much

Thank you so much! After this meditation, I stepped onto my balcony and found a star to grab. Namaste! 💫🙏💗