I just wanted to start by sharing a story that emphasizes the importance of exploring the present moment with curiosity and with intuition.
A few summers ago,
I went to London on a vacation.
We were wandering around and the group was getting tired and wanting to head back to the hotel.
But I knew we were really close to Trafalgar Square and something was telling me to go there.
So half of the group headed back to the hotel and the rest headed to the square.
And each night I would send pictures home to my daughter and to my sister about the adventures we explored that day.
I sent them a picture of the lion from Trafalgar Square.
Shortly thereafter,
My sister sent me a picture back.
It was a picture of my grandfather.
I had seen that picture many times before but had never made the connection as to where it was just knowing that it was when he was stationed overseas during World War II.
It was a picture of him and another individual standing in front of the same lion.
I was literally standing in the same place as my grandfather,
Some 70 plus years apart.
So what does this have to do with meditation and curiosity?
If I hadn't been curious about the square,
If I hadn't been curious about this feeling in that present moment that I needed to get to the square,
I would have missed out on this amazing opportunity.
If instead I had simply went back to the hotel,
This connection to my grandfather who had passed away several years ago would have been missed.
And so imagine the possibility of curiosity.
Exploring our lives with curiosity is also about exploring the world with a beginner's mind.
According to Wikipedia,
A beginner's mind is defined as having an attitude of openness,
Eagerness,
And a lack of preconceptions when studying a subject,
Even when studying at an advanced level,
Just as a beginner would.
The easiest way to describe beginner's mind is by experiencing it.
So I'd like to walk you through an exercise.
Assuming you feel comfortable to do so,
Please close your eyes.
Take a few deep breaths.
Settle into the moment.
Now I want you to imagine your favorite childhood toy.
Recall what your favorite childhood toy looks like.
Explore the toy in your mind with curiosity.
Imagine this was the first time you ever saw anything like it.
Notice what color it is.
What it would feel like in your hands.
Do you remember when you got it?
What was your reaction to that toy?
Notice how you were feeling just thinking about the toy.
When you are ready,
Please open your eyes.
Notice your reaction to the exercise.
Notice how you are feeling.
Imagine what would happen if you explored an idea or a concept with a beginner's mind.
This exercise was intended to emphasize the importance that even as experts we can still be curious,
Be open,
Be willing to consider different perspectives.
I would now like to walk you through a guided meditation.
As always at the end of the meditation you will hear a soft bell.
It is important to come out of the meditation slowly and take your time,
There's no rush.
I will be here guiding you through the entire process.
The theme of this meditation is engaging the present moment with intuition,
With curiosity,
And a beginner's mind.
Let us begin this meditation mindfully as you become mindful of your body,
Mindful of your environment,
And as you maintain a gentle present moment focus.
Start by finding a comfortable position.
Let us settle into our breath.
Placing your feet flat on the ground with your hands laying comfortably in your lap.
Or if you are sitting on a cushion settle into a comfortable position.
Closing your eyes if you prefer and become present and relaxed in this moment.
Taking a few long slow deep breaths as your body begins to settle into the meditation and as you start to relax.
Let's start the relaxation at the top of your head as we walk through a body relaxation.
Simply release any tension you notice.
Start by relaxing your mind,
Letting go of anything that might be getting in the way of you being here in this present moment.
Remembering it's okay to have thoughts and when a thought occurs simply notice the thought without judgment and then simply let go of the thought on the next exhale breath.
Next relax and soften your forehead.
Relaxing your eyes,
Your jaw,
Allowing each area of your body to settle into the breath.
Relaxing your neck,
Your shoulders,
Letting go of any tension in your body.
Relaxing your left arm,
Your right arm.
Relaxing your left leg,
Your right leg.
Breathing into the relaxation and exhaling into the relaxation.
Notice if you're feeling any aches or pains in a specific area,
Any numbness or tingling sensations.
Breathing into the aches and pains sensations and letting it go as you exhale.
Mindfully engaging your attention in the present moment on what you're experiencing without judgment.
For this meditation let us welcome everything and simply let go of any expectations.
At any point during this meditation if your mind starts to wander,
Simply come back to your breath as an anchor of focus.
Breathing to be kind to yourself.
We will take the next few moments in silence giving you the opportunity to continue to focus on your breath as you mindfully maintain a gentle present moment focus of intuition,
Of curiosity and a beginner's mind.
I will keep track of the time as we take these moments in silence.
Begin quite slowly.
You you you keeping your eyes closed as we integrate back from the meditation start by wiggling your toes and fingers or any part of your body that feels right to you take as much time as you need to come out of the meditation slowly and mindfully and when you are ready you can open your eyes thank you for joining me in this meditation and I hope you enjoyed the experience take care everyone
