Tonight I would like to read parts of a poem called Desiderata by Max Ehrman,
Followed by a short meditation.
Go placidly amid the noise and the haste,
And remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible,
Without surrender,
Be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly,
And listen to others,
Even to the dull and the ignorant,
They too have their story.
If you compare yourself with others,
You may become vain or bitter,
For always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your own career however humble.
It is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Be yourself.
Take kindly the counsel of the years,
Gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune,
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
You are a child of the universe,
No less than the trees and the stars.
You have a right to be here,
And whether or not it is clear to you,
No doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.
Therefore,
Be at peace with God,
Whatever you conceive Him to be,
And whatever your labors and aspirations,
In the noisy confusion of life,
Keep pace with your soul.
With all its sham,
Drudgery,
And broken dreams,
It is still a beautiful world.
Let the wisdom of these words sink deep into your being.
Know that all is well and relax your entire body,
Softening from head to toe.
Take a deep breath low into your belly.
Release with a sigh.
This time,
Take a deep breath high in your chest.
Release with a sigh.
Take another deep breath into your low,
Low belly and hold it,
Relaxing the muscles of your lower back on the exhale.
Take a deep breath into your upper,
Upper chest.
Hold it,
Relaxing the muscles of your upper back on the exhale.
Darkness and deep breathing reach far into your memories.
You know innately how to let go and sleep soundly.
Let your body be still.
Let all of your muscles and tendons melt into the mattress.
Imagine a soft lavender light surrounding your body.
Let it enter your whole head and let this warm,
Soothing light spread slowly into your forehead,
Softening it.
Let the sides of your forehead melt down towards your ears.
Relax the space behind your ears.
Let your eyes be soft.
Relax your sinuses both above and below your eyebrows.
Let this soft lavender light soften your whole head,
Making it rest heavily into the pillow,
Taking the burden off of your neck.
Relaxing.
Feel the light wash down your shoulders.
Feel the warm waves of vibrations enter all of the tendons there.
Your shoulders melt completely relaxed.
Your whole body releases.
Each cell relaxing.
Let this light move down to your intestines.
Let it fill the space around and in this area.
On an inhale,
Let your intestines uncoil,
Expand and then release on the exhale.
Let your lower back sink into the mattress.
Feel your entire back soften.
Feel the light seep into both arms,
Making them soft and heavy.
Feel the light seep into both legs,
Making them soft and heavy.
Feel the light swirling in your fingers.
Feel the light swirling in your toes.
Softening.
The warm ball of light moves into the arch of your foot,
Swirling and loosening,
Dropping into stillness,
Surrendering to complete relaxation.
You lie on a soft current of light,
Gently floating as if in warm water.
Enjoying the sensation of drifting.
Enjoying this soothing rocking,
Rocking you towards sleep.
All of the particles of light weave their way into your muscles and tendons,
Healing,
Loosening.
You are drowsy and content.
Fade into this tranquil moment.
You are melting,
Becoming transparent.
You are floating.
You lie on this cozy bed,
Gently floating.
Gently rocking.
Gently floating.
Gently rocking.
Being soothed and healed.
Completely relaxed.
Letting go.
Drifting.
Drifting.
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