In this meditation we will be practicing Abhaya Mudra,
A gesture for self-protection,
For aid against fear,
And for calming and preparing ourselves to face whatever comes our way.
Find a comfortable seat.
Begin to take deep full breaths,
Feeling as your body settles,
Noticing if there are areas of tension.
And then take a moment and call to mind one,
Two,
Or perhaps three things that create a sense of anxiety or fear for you.
There's no need to tackle anything that is going to upset you at this point.
Just bring to mind something that has a tendency to make you a bit uneasy.
If many things begin to flood into your mind,
Then pick just a few that you can spend a little time with right now.
With your eyes closed and your breathing continuing to flow in and out through the nose,
Your body settling,
Relax your jaw and soften your shoulders.
Just let your left hand rest in your lap or on your knee and gently bring your right hand to touch your heart,
Feeling the heartbeat perhaps,
Just connecting with your body and your breath.
Again,
Call to mind one thing that is a source of anxiety or fear for you.
Try to gently paint a picture in your mind that represents that thing and acknowledge what sensations arise in the body.
Continue breathing.
And then when you're ready,
Release your right hand from your heart and gently point your palm away from you,
Letting your hand rest near your shoulder with the palm open,
The fingers lightly touching.
Feel this gesture of no fear,
Self-protection and self-assurance.
And imagine sending that energy of protection from your heart through your palm in the direction of the object of your fear.
Continue to breathe.
Notice that where you are sitting right now in this space at this moment,
You are safe.
Notice the object of your fear fading away.
Notice the sense of calm in your body.
And if you're not there yet,
Then gently return your hand to your heart.
Take a few deep breaths.
Feel the stability and strength within you.
Whenever you're ready,
Return your palm into a Baya Mudra and send that gesture of self-protection forward in front of you.
Just sit with the mudra.
You you you you Whenever you're ready,
Gently return your right hand to your heart and bring your left hand up and place it on your belly.
Take a few deep breaths in through the nose and out through the mouth.
You And then draw your hands together at your heart.
Draw a smile on your face.
Take note of the sensations in your body right now.
Thank you for your practice.
Namaste.