Like A Flower Facing The Sun

Hello.

Let's see if we can reset the momentum of the day so far and become aware of this new moment that is happening only right now here together.

And we have the opportunity to completely receive it.

This chance to be alive.

Sometimes I like to think of meditation posture as like being a flower that is facing the sun,

Opening to receive its energy.

And so right now,

With eyes open or closed,

However you like,

Maybe feel yourself rooted in the ground,

However you are positioned,

Being pulled down into the ground,

Into the earth by gravity.

Feeling the ground supports you,

Feeling your roots in the ground,

And then reaching up out of the earth and naturally unfolding to receive the energy of the sun.

And maybe just the energy that is all around you right now,

Just opening up to receive it here with me.

And that's the only instruction I have for you in this simple practice.

Just keep feeling yourself being pulled down by this natural force into the ground.

Feeling the ground supporting you,

As it always does,

Feeling grateful for that.

And then naturally reaching up and out from your stable base toward all of this and letting it all come in.

And let's take a few deep breaths together.

Breathing in deep.

And breathing out,

Letting it go all the way out.

Notice if you might be holding on or restricting that out-breath at all.

And see if you can just let it go completely.

And after the full exhale,

Just wait for the inhale to come back in naturally on its own,

As it always does.

Breathing out fully and then breathing back in and resetting again and again to just this moment here with me.

And opening up to all of this that's happening only right now.

So just use this practice time to feel yourself as this flower rooted firmly in the earth and organically and naturally unfolding to receive the energy of the sun.

And that energy of the sun being this experience that is really only happening in this moment.

If we can only open up and receive it,

We have that opportunity again and again in each moment.

So we can notice ourselves maybe pulling away or closing up in whatever habitual way we've learned to do.

And for this time together,

Let's just keep noticing that,

Whether it's being pulled to plans for the future,

Worries,

Concerns,

Anxieties,

Frustrations,

Or just judgments even about this experience.

And notice that as like our closing up and pulling away from this opportunity that's available right now.

And it's okay that we keep closing up.

I think that might just be part of our unique human condition.

And maybe the flip side of this incredible gift of conscious awareness.

So just keep noticing yourself pulling away,

Closing up,

However you feel it or notice it.

And then use that bodily posture with feeling grounded,

Rooted,

And then also relaxed and receptive to keep returning to really receiving and letting in all of this experience that's happening right now.

And let's just bask in it for a bit.

And just notice all of the sensation.

Whatever you're feeling,

Maybe let that be completely okay.

No need to change anything right now.

Whatever you're feeling physically,

Whatever you're feeling emotionally,

Whatever you're hearing or smelling or tasting or even thinking.

Just view thinking as like any other sensation and allow it all to happen however it's happening right now.

Feel yourself as this flower rooted and completely open to whatever this moment,

This sun has to offer you.

Feel yourself slowly unfolding and naturally opening up again and again to just this.

All that is new right now.

Just feel yourself as this flower rooted and completely open to whatever this moment,

This sun has to offer you.

You might feel into a sense of gratitude,

Of appreciation for being a part of all of this.

You,

This little flower that is beautiful in a way that only you could be.

And at the same time opening up to feeling how you're a part of all of this immense experience.

You are a flower that has become self-aware and I think sometimes that can feel scary and it might make us pull away,

Draw back from the sun or even maybe feel like we're fighting against it.

So with this awareness we might also be able to appreciate how incredible it is to simply be alive.

So again,

Feel yourself grounded,

Rooted in the earth and then stretching up and out to receive all of this.

This experience that you're in with me right now.

Just open up again and again to let it in and let it fill you up.

And as always,

Without further ado,

?

.

You'll just notice whatever your mind is like right now.

And maybe become aware,

Do you feel more like you're pulling away?

Or more of this complete opening up and letting in?

And no judgment either way.

But the more you notice,

The more you have the opportunity to open back up if you want to.

So I like to apply this sort of posture not only to sitting meditation practice,

But also to daily life.

At any moment I can notice,

Am I retracting?

Am I constricting?

Am I pulling away from the sun?

From this new raw experience?

And can I open back up?

Allow myself to unfold and let it come in.

Let this in its full,

Raw,

Kind of bizarre and amazing nature come in.

And every time I can,

It is totally new.

Even in this instant,

I can return to how completely brand new this experience right now is.

So thanks for spending this time with me.

And thanks for being a fellow flower on this interesting journey.

And I hope you keep opening up and I'll try to do the same.

And if your eyes were closed,

You can gently open them.

Allow all of this newness to come rushing in.

And you can move around in your seat.

You might flex or clench and then release.

Stretch however it might feel good.

And I hope you have a great rest of the day or evening.

Thanks for joining me.