Discernment Meditation

This meditation is about the art of stillness and clarity. It is very much a third eye chakra meditation. In this busy world where we are bombarded with information being discerning is more important than ever... Discernment is an act of will - a place of choice, decision making and looking beneath what is obvious. We need to feel into this part of us. The word derives from the Latin to separate. So we are looking at separating the voice of fear from the voice of truth, external expectations from internal alignment, temporary from long term. In this meditation you will find yourself on a path with a fork in the road - two options within your life. How does the body respond to each path, what comes up for you as you step a foot onto each path... In this meditation we are practising the art of discernment without concerning ourselves with the outcome, training ourselves to listen to the wisdom of the body.

Transcript

Hello, I'm Rozanne, Your host and guide. And today we are going to examine the art of stillness and clarity with a discernment meditation. So discernment is one of those words that we hear quite often, But perhaps we don't always stop to consider what it really means. We might think that it means having good judgment or making wise decisions, Knowing the difference between right and wrong, Being able to tell between something that's good for us and something that isn't. All of these things are part of it, But the word itself does offer us something a little deeper. Now the word discernment comes from a Latin word, Discernere, Which means to separate, To distinguish, To sift apart. And I really love this idea because in a world where we are constantly being given information and opinions and advice and expectations, Discernment asks us to pause, To become still enough to separate what is ours from what isn't, To distinguish between the voice of fear and the voice of truth, Between what we think we should do and what we actually want to do. So it's between external expectations and our own inner alignment. So discernment is an act of will. It's a place of choice, A willingness to stop and look beneath what is actually obvious and feel into what is real. Really happening within us before we decide. And perhaps this is more important than ever. There's so much noise, So much information, So many voices telling us what to think and choose and what we should want. Sometimes clarity doesn't come from finding more information. Sometimes it comes from being still enough to hear ourselves. So today we're going to explore discernment through the third eye chakra, That center of inner seeing, Perception, Clarity. And you don't need to make any decisions today. Instead, Think of this as an opportunity to practice, To notice, To feel, To become curious about what happens when you imagine different possibilities. So, If you're ready, Let's find a comfortable position and let's begin. So allow your body to settle and your eyes to close. And in your own time take a slow gentle breath in. And a long breath out. Again, Breathing in long and deep. Breathing out. So. . . And allow yourself to arrive here. Notice the weight of your body. Where your body is supported. Maybe there are places that are holding a little bit of tension. Without needing to change anything, Simply become aware. And bring your attention to your face. Your jaw, Your shoulders, Your chest. Your belly. Your hips. Your legs and your feet. Notice the breath moving through you. These next few moments simply be still I don't know where to go nothing you need to work out And gently bring your awareness to the space between your eyebrows, The area of the third eye. And imagine that you are creating a little more space here. A little more stillness. And little more room to see. And now imagine yourself somewhere peaceful. Perhaps you're walking along a path. There's no need to decide where you're going. You're simply walking, Moving through landscapes. Notice how it feels to have nowhere that you need to be and nothing that you need to decide. Just this moment. And eventually you come to a fork in your road, In your path. And ahead of you are two paths, Two possibilities. You know that each path represents something in your life. Perhaps there's a decision you're considering, A change, A relationship, A new direction you might take. You don't need to name it, Just allow whatever comes to mind. And stand for a moment at the place where the path divides. You don't need to choose, You are simply here to explore. So look at the first path and notice what you imagine is waiting for you there. And when you feel ready Just place one foot onto that path. You haven't chosen it, You're simply trying it out. And pause, Notice what happens in your body, What happens to your breath, What happens in your belly, Your chest, Your shoulders, Your heart. Do you feel yourself moving towards this possibility or pulling away? Is there contraction or space? Excitement or fear. Relief or resistance. Don't try to interpret it, Don't decide what it means, Simply notice how your body responds. Imagine taking another step just a little further along this path. And notice again, With both feet on this path, What do you feel? What thoughts arise? What happens inside you when you imagine this becoming your reality. And now gently step back, Return to the fork in the road. Because you haven't made a decision, You are simply exploring. Turn your attention to the second path. Gaze down it. Notice what you imagine is waiting for you there. When you're ready, Just place one foot onto this palm. Again, You don't have to choose it, You're simply curious. So you pause here, Notice your body, Your breath. Your chest, Your heart, Your shoulders. Notice what changes, What comes up and what feels different. And perhaps take another step. Imagine yourself moving a little further along this path. Imagine this possibility becoming your reality. Simply notice. How does your body respond? What feelings come up? What feels alive, What feels heavy but feel spacious, Constricted. Remember. That fear does not necessarily mean no, And excitement doesn't necessarily mean yes. You're not looking for a simple answer. You are practicing the art of discernment, Separating, Distinguishing, Sifting apart. Listening beneath the noise. So now slowly return once more to the fork in the road and stand in front of those two paths and simply notice. Perhaps one feels different from the other. Perhaps something has become clearer. Maybe nothing has. That's okay. Discernment doesn't always give us an immediate answer. Sometimes we simply need to become still enough to notice what is already there. So bring your awareness back to the space between your eyebrows, Your third eye. Place of inner seeing. And take a beautiful soft deep breath. And as you breathe out, Perhaps reminding yourself that you can pause, That you can look beneath what is obvious. Maybe say to yourself. I can listen and I can choose. And I don't have to rush. Take another slow deep breath. And when you're ready, Begin to bring your awareness back into your body. Noticing the surface beneath you, The room around you your fingers and your toes. Take your time. May not have made a decision, You may not need to, But for now perhaps it is enough to know that you can pause, You can listen, And you can give yourself the space to discern. Om Shanti.