Hello friends and welcome to this meditation with some words by Rumi from his poem Each Note.
In arriving I invite you to find a comfortable position,
Let yourself sink,
Let yourself arrive into this here and now.
Gather yourself in and gently begin to welcome stillness and settling.
Is it possible to release and soften?
Is it possible to become heavier and to sink?
Is it possible to welcome stillness and let your body come to rest?
When thoughts or distractions arrive,
Notice them and then let them go,
Dissolving,
Being released as prayers.
Notice your breath,
Return to your body,
Return to the sound of my voice.
I'm going to read these words once now and then to end.
God picks up the reed flute world and blows.
Each note is a need coming through one of us,
A passion,
A longing pain.
Remember the lips where the wind breath originated and let your note be clear.
Don't try to end it,
Be your note.
I'll show you how it's enough.
Go up on the roof at night in this city of the soul.
Let everyone climb on their roofs and sing their notes.
Sing loud.
Let these words arrive and settle into you.
Let them find a resting place.
Notice if there are any in particular that have captured your attention.
Slowly let your attention come into your body.
Notice the rise and fall of your belly and your chest as you breathe.
Notice sensation in your body.
Begin to notice if there's a note inside of you that wants to be played.
A passion,
A longing pain.
Is there a note hidden somewhere within that you've been ignoring or not aware of?
That in this moment as you turn towards it desires to be played.
What is this note?
What is your note that wants to be played?
And notice within you where this note is resistant to be played,
Where it perhaps feels like it's not enough or too much.
Are you avoiding playing it?
Does it feel vulnerable or scary to let this note ring loud and clear from you?
Are you aware that there are other notes that want to play alongside it?
Is this note asking to be played on its own or alongside the notes of others?
What does it mean to climb on your roof and sing your note?
Notice desire as you sit with these words in the quiet,
As you examine your heart,
As you think about your note or your notes.
What desires begin to surface within you?
What desires are waiting to see themselves formed into action,
Into something of substance?
What desires,
What lids taking off to be seen and acknowledged and played?
Perhaps you're carrying a note within you that you are really aware is present,
And for right now it simply needs tending to in the quietness,
In the hiddenness,
Waiting to be formed into a melody that in time will be played.
How can you be intentional with this gestation of the melody or the note?
Do you need patience?
Do you need the grace to trust?
Do you need the grace to surrender this note,
This melody,
Knowing that it will be played when the time is right?
Finally Rumi invites us to sing loud.
Let those words land in you right now.
Sing loud.
How does your body respond?
How do your emotions respond?
What's it like to hear those words sing loud?
Be with those words for a few moments.
I'm going to finish this meditation by reading the words once more.
God picks up the reed flute world and blows.
Each note is a need coming through one of us,
A passion,
A longing pain.
Remember the lips where the wind breath originated and let your note be clear.
Don't try to end it.
Be your note.
I'll show you how it's enough.
Go up on the roof at night in this city of the soul.
Let everyone climb on their roofs and sing their notes.
Sing loud.
My friends,
May you know yourself in union with the beloved.
That you don't have to play your note on your own or make anything happen.
That God is waiting to grace you with all that's needed,
To play with you,
To be the conductor,
To help you shape the melody.
Let your notes ring loud and clear.
Be blessed my friends.
It's always a joy to be here with you.
Until next time.
Amen.
