Come into a position where you feel both comfortable and alert.
You could be lying down,
In a reclined position,
Sitting upright,
Or even have your legs up the wall in an inversion.
Try not to get caught up in what you think a meditation pose should look like,
But allow your body to lead you to the right shape.
As you settle in,
Close your eyes or soften your gaze.
Now take a deep breath in through the nose and out through the nose.
As you breathe in,
Think inhale,
And as you breathe out,
Think exhale.
Throughout practice,
Your mind may bring up things for you to think about.
Try to allow those things to settle so you can focus solely on this experience.
Begin to notice any sounds around you.
Let each sound come up into your awareness and then let it go.
There is no need to analyze or label the sounds.
Bring your focus to your breath.
Notice how your body moves with each inhale and exhale.
Allow your body to relax a little more with every exhale.
Tune into your body by doing a slow body scan that starts at your toes and goes all the way to the crown of your head,
Noticing any sensations or tension that you may be experiencing.
Along the way,
Make any adjustments you can to feel more comfortable.
Remember,
Small adjustments can make a big difference.
Notice if you've reached that place of inner and outer stillness where you can feel the beating of your own heart.
If your mind has not yet settled,
Remember you can continue to think inhale as you breathe in and exhale as you breathe out.
You can even add a count after every exhale,
Counting up to ten and then starting back at one.
If you're able to settle your thoughts completely,
Perhaps you let go of the counting.
Even let go of labeling the inhales and exhales and allow your entire being to just be.
Now that you're settled in,
It's time to tap into your inner wisdom.
You will do this by asking yourself a question and trying to keep the mind still and listen for something deeper to arise.
Today's question is inspired by the yogic concept of satya,
Which means truthfulness.
If you are embracing the concept of satya,
You're moving towards your truth,
Peeling off all layers of inauthenticity that have been placed on you by society.
You're reaching towards the truth that has been inside you all along.
As you follow this path,
You'll find yourself shedding false beliefs,
Narratives,
And stories so you can emerge as your true self.
Turn your focus inward and ask yourself,
What mask am I wearing to make me feel loved,
Secure,
Or significant?
Sit with this question without trying to analyze or think,
Paying attention to anything that comes up.
What mask am I wearing to make me feel loved,
Secure,
Or significant?
As you practice listening to your own inner wisdom,
You may find that you get a sense or a knowing of an answer.
You may not have gotten anything,
Or something could come up later.
There is no wrong experience.
It takes time and practice to learn to listen to and trust your self.
Remember,
You are embracing your true self.
Take a moment to reflect on this practice,
Recognizing anything that came up for you,
Thoughts,
Sensations,
Feelings.
Bring the palms of your hands together at heart center,
Slightly bowing your head,
Expressing gratitude towards yourself for taking time for meditation and self-reflection.
The accomplishment is that you made space to practice.
After that,
There is no judgment or success factor.
Whether you sat in silence or if your mind was racing,
The goal is simply to practice.
Allow this experience and any insights you've gained to stay with you and open your eyes and allow your body any movement that it needs.
