Hello friends and welcome to this meditation that offers rest and stillness within the busyness and the demands of life.
As we begin we are going to spend some time coming to stillness.
So I invite you to begin with,
To begin to notice your breath.
And as you begin to notice your breath,
Settle in,
Become comfortable,
Sitting up or lying down.
As you follow the inhale and the exhale,
Slowly and gently come to stillness.
We are going to begin with a simple clearing space practice.
And it's a practice that allows you to clear space within yourself by laying down your thoughts,
By putting down the things that you're walking through at this time.
So whenever a thought comes,
A distraction,
Whenever anything comes to you that catches your attention,
To do with your life,
To do with anything that you're walking through,
I invite you to simply imagine taking it from your forehead and placing it down onto the ground.
And keep repeating that action,
You may even want to use your hand to take it from your head and to lay it down next to you.
Or you may want to simply imagine taking each thought,
Each thing that arrives and placing it down next to where you are.
We're going to continue this practice for a few moments so that you can come to the place where there is a slowing down of what's arriving,
Where you feel like you've placed down everything that's come to you.
If I move on before you've finished clearing space for yourself,
Pause the recording and then start it again when you're ready.
Okay.
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So once you have cleared space,
Notice how you feel in your body and your mind.
You may want to take the pile that is down beside you,
All the things that you for now let go of,
And offer them as a prayer.
Surrender them to the love of the beloved.
To let them go knowing that they are seen and responded to.
You may want to leave them next to you in order to return to them later.
Now return once more to your breath.
And begin to become aware of your body,
Noticing sensation.
Whether you are sitting or standing,
Allow yourself to sink,
To become heavier.
Allow some ease to come into your body.
If you find one of your thoughts or distractions returning,
Simply place it down again next to you.
I'm going to offer you some words from Psalm 23.
If you're not sure about the Bible,
Welcome these words simply as poetry.
Allow them to bring their gift and their beauty.
If you're very familiar with the Bible,
And especially with Psalm 23,
Try and welcome these words as if for the first time.
Allow yourself to be present to them with your whole being,
With your body,
Your heart and your mind.
Imagine them painting a picture in your imagination.
Welcome the opportunity to inhabit the space into which they lead you.
Oh my beloved,
You are my shepherd.
I shall not want.
You bring me to green pastures for rest.
And lead me beside still waters,
Renewing my spirit.
You restore my soul.
You lead me in the path of goodness to follow love's way.
Oh my beloved,
You are my shepherd.
I shall not want.
You bring me to green pastures for rest.
And lead me beside still waters,
Renewing my spirit.
You restore my soul.
You lead me in the path of goodness to follow love's way.
As you welcome these words and allow them to paint a picture in your imagination,
Notice what you see.
Notice the restful place in which you find yourself.
Take in your surroundings.
Notice sights and sounds.
Do you feel the green pastures beneath your feet?
Or experience their softness as you lie down upon them?
Do you notice the fragrance of the meadow?
Are you aware of the still waters trickling alongside?
Maybe your feet are dangling in those waters and they are like refreshing streams rising through your body.
Continue to notice where you are in your imagination.
Really let yourself be there,
Be here,
Receiving the gift,
The stillness and the rest of this place.
Do you find yourself alone or are you accompanied by someone,
Another creature,
Creatures?
Continue to notice.
Here,
Nothing is required of you.
Nothing is required of you.
You are simply here,
Just as you are.
Every part of you is in this place of green pastures and still waters.
Every part of you is in this place of green pastures and still waters.
You are invited to rest here a while,
To be here,
To lay your head back,
To close your eyes and to rest,
To sink,
To receive restoration and healing.
As you become accustomed to the stillness here,
Lean into the place of non-doing.
Be attentive to your body and to your heart.
What needs begin to arise within?
What grace wants to accompany you at this time?
How do you want the beloved to be present to you?
Stay here to give yourself time to connect with your needs.
You may want to offer a gesture of open hands or place your hands over your heart as a way to invite your deepest needs to be met.
Breathe deeply as you receive the compassionate,
Kind and tender loving attention of divine love.
I'm going to leave you with the sound of the water.
And in a while this meditation will gently come to an end.
Be refreshed,
Beloveds.
Take rest and be at peace.
Amen.
I'm going to leave you with the sound of the water.
I'm going to leave you with the sound of the water.
I'm going to leave you with the sound of the water.
I'm going to leave you with the sound of the water.
