May There Be Healing
In this practice, we come together to invite healing with the power of the breath. In the style of a Metta (Loving-Kindness) practice, we drop into the breath, drop into the heart space for one, for us, and for all -- including Mother Earth, herself.
Transcript
Warmest of welcomes to this practice where we will come together,
Embrace the power of the breath,
To invite in healing.
We'll start here in our surroundings.
I have this wonderful candle lit here,
The smell of lavender,
With a wooden wick.
I enjoy just inhaling that in.
Be welcome to get yourself set up in your environment.
I also enjoy having a cup of tea here by my side,
Maybe for an occasional sip,
But also just the smell of it,
The aroma of bengal spice.
And as always I have my journal here with my favorite fountain pen.
In case anything arises that I need to observe later,
Or even just for a pre and post reflection.
When you're ready we will get started.
Get settled here,
Either sitting on the floor or maybe on a chair.
My favorite posture is cross-legged,
Sometimes tucking a heel on top of the groin,
In the lotus position variation,
And just resting,
Allowing the palms to rest center on our laps.
Or if we're so inclined,
Be invited to extend the arms.
Palms can be facing upwards at the knees.
Whatever's most comfortable for you.
If we're seated in a chair we may find it most comfortable with our feet flat on the floor.
Once again,
Hands resting either in the laps or on the knees.
And for a moment here,
Unless they're already closed,
Then of course continue.
I like to observe here my surroundings,
Taking this warmth of the candle.
And on that gentle inhale,
Breathe that in.
Be invited to do the same.
Allowing the eyelids here just to drift close.
Coming together in our inner worlds here.
Taking a moment just to track the breath,
Just to trace it,
Just observe it.
No judgments here,
Just allowing.
On that inhale,
Feeling the expansion in the lungs.
On that exhale,
That release.
That space we created.
One more inhale.
And that exhale.
And one more time here,
Inhaling into those lungs.
Inviting in that expansion.
And exhale.
That space we created.
Maybe observing that heart rate.
Noticing how it steadies.
Noticing how the breath follows suit.
Noticing how the mind also steadies,
Also slows.
And really observing the space within.
Feeling the breath move through the body.
The invitation for healing being extended all throughout the body here.
For whatever is stored,
Whatever may need to be released.
The breath is here to really invite that in.
I'll take a moment here.
Bringing our awareness to the top of the head.
Noticing any sensations.
And slowly bringing that awareness to the forehead.
Allowing the breath to release any tension,
Any crinkles here.
Same thing around the eyes,
The nose,
The cheeks.
Softening the lips,
Unlocking the jaw.
Feeling the tongue relax on that bottom palate.
Releasing any tension in the chin,
Neck,
And shoulders.
Allowing them to fall into place.
Relaxing those muscles in the upper arms and lower arms.
Allowing the wrists and the fingertips just to become limp.
Bringing our awareness to the upper back here.
And the chest.
Really allowing those inhales to expand and release.
Those exhales.
Moving down to the lower back and even the stomach here.
Noticing the upper body.
Bringing our awareness now to the trunk area.
With ease,
With grace here.
A lot of our tension tends to come right from the trunk.
So we explore with curiosity,
With mindfulness,
With love,
With compassion.
So we explore with curiosity,
With mindfulness,
With love,
With compassion.
And we'll continue bringing our awareness now down into the thighs and hamstrings here.
Just relaxing,
Releasing any tension.
Moving down to the knees.
Calves and shins here.
And into the ankles,
Feet,
And toes.
And once again,
Just observing.
Noticing the space.
Feeling the body.
This freedom and space and time here.
And just allowing.
Allowing the breath.
Anyone with a breath here.
Anyone with a breath here.
Allowing it to move through the body in the way that is the most natural.
And just letting go.
Life force.
That invitation for healing.
Maybe honing in now a little more.
Bringing those inhales in,
Dropping into the heart space here.
Maybe feeling around for any tenderness,
Any crunchiness.
Maybe any source of tension.
Just noticing.
And really breathing into that space.
Allowing the breath to comfort.
To soften.
To embrace whatever is present.
These sensations.
Simply seeking some comfort,
Some attention.
Some love,
Some compassion.
Really allowing the breath to hold space.
With anything here.
And inhaling.
And exhaling.
May there be healing.
Inhaling.
And exhaling.
Healing.
And exhaling.
May there be healing.
And once again just holding space here.
Knowing in any moment we can always come back here to the breath.
To the heart space.
To the healing.
Inhaling.
And exhaling.
May there be healing.
Feeling that oats here.
Inviting in that healing.
Inhaling.
And exhaling.
May there be healing.
May there be healing.
Sitting here with the breath.
Continuing.
Feel.
Continuing to hold space.
And once again coming back into that heart space.
Perhaps it was heart space.
We see the heart.
The soul.
The particular person.
Who may have caused or created some sort of tension.
Tenderness.
Some sort of crunchiness.
And once again using the power of the breath.
Knowing that we all breathe the same air.
Knowing that this breath is your breath.
Is their breath.
Is our breath.
So knowing that on that inhale we invite healing.
For ourselves.
For each other.
Deep into that heart space and exhaling.
May there be healing.
For one.
For us.
Inhaling.
And exhaling.
May there be healing.
And one more time.
Inhaling into that heart space.
And exhaling.
May there be healing.
For one.
And again feeling that spaciousness here.
Feeling that connection.
Feeling the power of the breath to connect us to one another.
To invite in healing.
To ourselves and to those around us.
And finally.
Drumming into that heart space again.
This time.
In the heart.
We'll see the world.
The earth.
Feeling that breath.
Encompassing the heart of the world.
The heart of the earth.
The heart.
Once again noticing and noting.
This is the same breath that we all share.
This breath.
Is your breath.
Is our breath.
The breath of the collective.
The breath of Mother Earth herself.
And on this breath we invite in healing.
For one.
For us.
For all.
And for Mother Earth herself.
So we'll inhale here.
Deep into that heart space again.
Deep into the heart of the world.
And exhale.
May there be healing.
For one.
For us.
For all.
And again inhaling into the heart space.
Into the heart of the world.
And exhaling.
May there be healing.
For one.
For all.
Last time here.
Inhaling into the heart space.
Into the heart of the world.
And exhaling.
May there be healing.
For one.
For us.
For all.
And of course for Mother Earth.
We're continuing here to hold this space.
With ourselves.
With each other.
With all of us.
Mother Earth herself.
Together we hold this space.
Knowing there is nothing here that divides us.
Knowing here in this space we are all one.
You can be invited to stay with this oneness for as long as you wish.
Inhaling.
Exhaling.
Inhaling.
Exhaling.
Inhaling.
Exhaling.
Inhale.
And whenever you're ready we'll bring the hands together at heart space either in prayer or position if that's comfortable for you.
If not we can allow the hands to rest gently on the heart space.
With a slight tilt of the chin inwards here.
We'll offer a moment of gratitude to ourselves,
To each other,
To Mother Earth for this space here today.
For this sense of oneness.
And for individual and collective healing.
And when you're ready we'll allow the eyelids to flutter open.
Coming back into this physical space.
Observing our surroundings.
And as always please be invited to reflect on this experience and on this practice.
And remember at any point in time throughout your day you can always come back to the breath,
Always come back to that heart space to invite in that healing for one,
For us,
And for all.
Namaste.
