Fibers.
Welcome to this Australian Bushfire Compassion Meditation by Gabriella Demore.
This meditation is going to allow us to awaken and cultivate compassion both for ourselves and all of those affected by the Australian bushfires.
Many of us have been longing for other's suffering to end,
For our own suffering,
Anger,
Despair.
Worry or anguish to end too.
When there are so many people,
Animals and parts of our environment suffering,
Our feelings can become extremely overwhelming.
In this meditation we're going to acknowledge the suffering but then dedicate our meditation to all people,
Animals and the environment affected.
Offering our compassion and empathy and thoughtfulness to them through our breath.
So just taking time now to activate our full breath,
Breathing very deeply in through the nose,
Allowing that belly to become full,
Ribs and chest to become full as you breathe in fully and when you're ready breathing out through the nose or the mouth and allowing the shoulders to drop,
The belly to come in,
Even gently squeezing the belly towards the spine just to make sure you fully exhaled deeply.
Continue to breathe deeply as you anchor and settle into this meditation.
Breathing in fully and slowly in through the nose,
Out through the nose or the mouth and when you're ready we're just going to take a moment to acknowledge all of the feelings you personally have had,
All of the emotions when you think about the bushfires.
Taking time to notice or remember how the images,
Videos and stories have personally touched and affected you.
Perhaps they caused you distress,
Anxiety or worry.
Perhaps they caused you to feel great empathy and compassion or camaraderie.
Perhaps they made you feel confused and unsure of what to do or how to help.
There's no right or wrong just taking this time now to continue to breathe and become deeply in touch with how you've personally been affected by the bushfires.
Now I'd like you to remember your breath moving so beautifully through the centre of your body and I'd like you to start thinking about your breath as a tool to soothe and calm yourself.
Dedicate your breath to yourself as if you were offering it as a prayer,
A gift.
Dedicating your breath to yourself as if it was something valuable to share,
Something very useful to help yourself as it truly is.
Simultaneously feeling your suffering,
Becoming aware of it and continuing to breathe deeply for yourself.
Offer your breath as a dedicated prayer or offering to yourself.
Dedicate this practice to your own suffering,
To your own distress.
Becoming aware of your suffering while also soothing yourself at the same time.
And we're going to release our awareness of our own suffering now and just take another centering and grounding deep breath in here as we allow ourselves to become in tune with others suffering.
Starting to think of the others affected by the bushfires.
Allow yourself to be in touch with the devastation,
All of those affected,
All of those in fear,
Those who have lost,
Those who are fighting,
Those who are in service and those who will continue to be affected in the future.
Simply allowing yourself to be in touch with this devastation and while you acknowledge and feel their suffering,
Once again starting to focus on your breath,
Offering your breath as a gift to others.
Dedicating this meditation practice to others.
Offer your deep inhalation and exhalation to them.
With each breath sending compassion and empathy and thoughtfulness.
Sending your breath and your compassion to all of the people who have been affected.
Sending your breath and your compassion to all of the animals who have been affected.
Sending your breath and your compassion to every part of the environment that has been affected.
Dedicating your breath to the servicemen and the services who have been affected.
Sending your breath and your compassion to all of the businesses that have been affected.
Sending your breath to the community at large.
All of the communities in Australia and perhaps internationally that have been impacted or affected by the images,
The videos,
The news,
The awareness of the bushfires.
Allow yourself to feel the weight and the impact of the devastation while simultaneously breathing,
Continuing to offer your meditation.
Lastly we're going to send well wishes to ourselves and all of those who've been affected by the bushfires.
Sending our empathy,
Our kindness,
Our faith and hope to them and you may like to say these statements out loud or repeat them to yourself in your mind.
But we are going to pray and ask that may we be safe.
May we be safe.
May we be free from suffering.
May we be free from suffering.
May we know community.
May we know community.
May we be connected.
May we be connected.
May we rebuild.
May we rebuild.
May we rebuild.
And you may like to offer yourself or others another well-wish now.
Something that you feel you or they particularly need or could benefit from.
Just saying that gently to yourself now.
May we.
May we.
May we.
We're going to close this meditation now so taking a few final moments to be with your beautiful breath,
Your compassionate offering,
Your dedicated practice.
A few final deep inhalations and exhalations for yourself and for others.
Remembering you can come back to this meditation and practice at any time as many times as you like.
Know that you've done something helpful and productive and thoughtful for those today.
And when you're ready to come back to the room gently feeling your feet and your hands,
Your body on the floor or in your chair and very gently and very slowly coming back to the room when you're ready.
Taking your time,
Coming back to full awareness whenever you're ready.
Thank you for listening to this meditation.
You
