Welcome,
This is a sacred space,
A time to return inward,
To quiet the noise of the world and to awaken the presence of Shiva within you.
This is not a religious ritual,
This is not about worshipping an external God,
This is about remembering the part of you that is unchanging,
Untouched,
Eternally still,
That which witnesses your thoughts,
Emotions and body,
But is never defined by them.
In yogic tradition,
This essence is called Shiva,
Pure consciousness,
The silent sky beyond the clouds,
The still mountains beneath the storm.
This practice is inspired by ancient Kriyas,
Breath,
Awareness and stillness.
To gently awaken your system and align your body,
Mind and energy with the deeper truth that already lives within you.
All you need is a quiet space,
An open heart and a willingness to just be.
So take a seat,
Let go of expectations and come home,
Not to something new,
But to something ancient and eternal that has always been waiting within you.
Let's begin.
So sit cross-legged with spine erect,
Hands resting on knees.
Sit facing a natural element like the sky,
Tree,
Candle flame.
Now inhale deeply through your left nostril.
Close the right with your thumb.
Exhale slowly through the right nostril.
Open the right,
Close the left with your ring finger.
Then switch.
Inhale right,
Exhale left.
Do this for another three times and I'll come back to you in a few seconds.
Then breathe through both nostrils,
Evenly for one or two minutes.
As you breathe,
Silently repeat,
I am breath.
I am balance.
I am breath.
I am balance.
Now,
Center your awareness between your eyebrows.
With eyes closed,
Gently lift your inner gaze to the space between the brows.
Don't strain,
Just rest your awareness there like a feather on water.
Let the breath continue naturally.
Each time the mind wanders,
Bring it gently back to that point.
Here's a silent mantra if it's helpful.
Shivoham.
Shivoham.
That means I am Shiva.
Repeat softly in the mind,
In rhythm with breath.
Shivoham.
Shivoham.
Shivoham.
Shivoham.
Shivoham.
Now,
Let go of all doing,
Sit in pure being.
Stop the mantra,
Let your gaze soften into the darkness behind your eyes.
Allow the breath to flow naturally.
Don't control anything,
Just watch.
You are now the witness,
The Shiva consciousness,
The one who sees without reacting.
Stay here,
Float in this stillness as long as it feels natural.
Now gently bring your palms together,
Rub them and place them over your eyes.
Bow your head,
Not in worship,
But in recognition of the Shiva within you.
And whisper softly,
Let this day be lived from stillness.
Let this breath be sacred.
Let this self dissolve.
Namaste.
