Okay,
So I thought we could start with a practice.
I find it helpful to,
Especially when I've been kind of in transition,
Arriving somewhere to just have a bit of time to settle and kind of feel my way into the group and what we're here to explore together this afternoon.
So I thought I could just lead us in a short sit and I'm also aware that there's quite a lot going on right now.
So I've woken up this morning feeling,
I don't even really have a word for it.
My partner kept asking me,
What's up with you today?
I just couldn't put my finger on it.
But the best description I could find for it is out of sorts.
Yeah,
I feel out of sorts.
And maybe that has something to do with the world having gone completely mad.
And there being a lot of suffering out there right now.
And I just feel really in touch with them.
So I'll include a bit of just whatever's going on for you.
I don't want to assume that you're in a similar place,
But just inviting you to just open to and try and be with and meet lovingly whatever might be happening for you just now on this morning,
This afternoon now.
Yeah,
So if you'd like,
You can close your eyes.
You don't have to.
Maybe we'll just take three deep breaths.
As we breathe out,
Maybe just inviting the body to connect more deeply with the seat underneath you.
And the earth beneath us,
Beneath this building that we're resting in.
Letting go into gravity.
And as we breathe in,
Connecting with the space all around us.
Maybe letting the body quite naturally with the in-breath expand and really fill the space that you're in just now.
Breathing out,
Allowing the shoulders to fall away from the ears.
And as we connect with the ground,
Also connecting with the quality of stillness there.
This ocean of stillness that's always holding us when we remember to notice.
And as we breathe in,
Letting the body quite naturally with the seat underneath us.
Breathing out.
And then beginning to connect more with the sensations of breathing in the body.
And breathing to gently drop awareness into the very core of our being.
Sensations there.
Breathing out.
As we intentionally bring awareness to the breath,
We may also notice the ways in which our thoughts or emotions might pull us away.
So we can be aware of those thoughts and emotions,
Allow them to come and go as they are.
We don't have to do anything with them.
But maybe breathing alongside them.
Breathing out.
Breathing out.
As we journey more deeply into what's here now,
We might become aware of difficulty,
Pain,
Confusion,
Anxiety,
Anger,
Sadness,
Grief even.
Or maybe just a numbness.
So whatever is here for you now,
Just the invitation is to try and be with it.
You might find it helpful to rest your hand on your heart.
Physical touch can be very soothing.
And just take a few deep breaths into that space.
Aware of our deep sensitivity and also capacity for love.
To meet whatever is here non-judgmentally with great care.
Breathing out.
Breathing out.
Breathing out.
Breathing out.
Breathing out.
Breathing out.
And just inviting you to broaden your awareness out.
To include the whole body breathing.
And allowing yourself to notice anything pleasant just now in your experience.
Could it just be the relief of sitting and breathing quietly with others?
Could it be a sense of energy moving in the body?
Or groundedness?
Or warmth?
The way the light is shifting in the room.
Just dwelling with anything pleasant and allowing yourself to really enjoy it,
To be resourced by it.
Breathing out.
Breathing out.
Breathing out.
Breathing out.
Breathing out.
Breathing out.
Breathing out.
Breathing out.
Breathing out.
Just a few moments of this practice,
Whatever's happening,
Just letting go of any effort you might be making.
You could take a few deeper breaths if you'd like.
You may like to rest back a bit in the posture.
You might enjoy putting the hands,
Palm up on the lap.
You could even try opening the eyes with a soft gaze and just allowing the whole of your experience,
Whatever's arising in the senses and in the mind,
To simply come and go.
And a broad,
Open,
Warm awareness.
Breathing out.
Breathing out.
Breathing out.
