One of the qualities we are in need of now,
I think perhaps more than ever,
Is that of curiosity.
In this time of growing uncertainty,
Stress and fear,
We can help ourselves and others by softening our assumptions and our judgments and by opening up courageously and contemplatively to the unknown.
My intention for this meditation is to help facilitate that process,
To help us move from contraction to openness,
From knowing to unknowing.
To help us open up with curiosity to the past,
To the present and to the future.
And so before we begin,
I'd like to begin with a quote attributed to Albert Einstein.
It reads,
The important thing is not to stop questioning.
Curiosity has its own reason for existing.
One cannot help but be in awe when he contemplates the mysteries of eternity,
Of life,
And of the marvelous structure of reality.
It is enough if one tries merely to comprehend a little of this mystery every day.
And so let's begin now by taking a comfortable seated position,
Spine straight and shoulders relaxed.
Close your eyes if you've not already done so.
And take a moment to root your awareness through the seat beneath you.
Feeling this sense of connection with the physical earth that holds you.
Soften the belly,
Beginning to deepen the breath.
Letting the entire body melt a little bit further into this practice.
Before we open up to some deeper inquiries we might explore,
Just take a few moments to be with a natural flow of your breath.
So just watching as it moves into the body with ease and grace.
And as it gently moves back out to the atmosphere that supports you.
Observe the sensations with that inward flow and with the outward flow.
And softening as you breathe in.
And softening as you breathe out.
Open the muscles around your eyes,
Your eyebrows.
Inviting the mind to relax a little bit further into this meditation.
And then continue to follow the flow of your breath just for a few more cycles now.
And for the next short while I invite you to become more aware of the thoughts that arise in the mind.
So without making them either right or wrong,
See if you can open up to being a witness of them.
Becoming a bit more curious about what flows through you in the form of thoughts and beliefs.
So just take a few moments to explore this on your own now.
You might also consciously let your thoughts about current events come to your awareness.
And as they do,
Maintain this position perhaps as the observer.
So in other words,
Can you be a witness to the person that is speaking as your mind?
And now I invite you to let the following questions flow through your being with compassion and non-judgment.
Without seeking an answer to any of these,
Simply note whatever arises.
Beginning with,
How do I know that my beliefs are true?
What firm opinions do I hold that I might soften to let breathe?
What tension or anxiety do I notice in the body?
And where might I relax some of these?
Is there space to compassionately and non-judgmentally hold the beliefs of two perspectives at the same time?
Can I be open to not knowing?
Now,
Coming back to the body,
Letting this inquiry soften for the moment.
See if you might once again relax the muscles around the eyes and forehead if they've contracted.
Softening the belly too.
Simply letting the entire being,
Both mind and body,
Relax,
Not holding on to anything just for this moment.
You can once again use the breath to anchor you in this natural presence,
This natural flow of life.
And if it feels natural for you to do so,
I invite you to silently repeat the following affirmations.
I am open to the mystery of the universe.
I am curious and contemplative about the world.
I create space in my beliefs to let others in.
I surrender into the unknown.
Let these words dissolve as you come back to the breath just for a few more moments of being in that flow.
And before opening your eyes,
You might like to set an intention to bring curiosity with you as you move through the day.
Draw your attention now to the seat or floor beneath you.
And when you feel grounded here,
You can slowly start to open your eyes.
Thank you for exploring this practice of cultivating curiosity with me today.
I wish you an inspired and compassionately contemplative day ahead if that is what you feel called towards.
