Hello,
Friend.
As Thich Nhat Hanh once said,
We cannot force someone to hear a message they are not ready to receiving,
But we must never underestimate the power of planting a seed.
You see,
Within each of us there exists a metaphorical garden,
A garden in which every thought acts as a seed that will one day bloom either into flower and fruits or into weeds.
So essentially,
The blooms of tomorrow rest upon the seeds you plant today.
So what type of seed have you been planting as of late?
For today's meditation,
We will mindfully attend to our garden by bringing awareness to all that nurtures it,
Breath and body,
While planting the seeds of kindness needed to bloom the flowers and fruits of tomorrow.
So let's begin.
Find a place where you won't be disturbed for about the next 15 minutes.
Allow yourself to be here.
In this moment,
You have nowhere else to go,
You have nothing else to do,
And you have no one else to be.
You are all that is required.
And when you are ready,
Begin to take equally long and soothing inhales and long and soothing exhales.
Just as a gardener cultivates the earth to create a place to which seeds will thrive,
Intentionally relax your body with each passing breath.
Soften your face.
Notice the movement and the space that exists with your eyes closed.
Unhinge your jaw.
Feel the muscles of your legs and your arms at ease.
Notice your chest,
Your back,
Your softening belly,
Working in cadence with each other with each passing breath.
Now empty all expectations of who you think you are,
The roles that you play,
The jobs that you do,
Of what you think you need.
Release the habit of controlling anything.
As you always have everything you need,
Your only effort here is to remain present.
When you drop your expectations,
Your desires,
Your need to control,
A lightness of being is found within,
Full of potential,
Creativity and compassion.
And now,
As if dropping a pebble into a calm pond,
We will drop some intentions into the stillness of your lightness of being here.
Simply repeat the intentions as you do embody their meaning,
Should it speak to you.
And should it not,
Simply allow it to ripple away and into the universe.
I am loved.
I am worthy.
I am capable.
Lightness of being is my guiding force.
My body and breath its vessel.
This is my truth.
It is my beacon.
I will repeat these phrases of kindness,
These intentions,
One more time and then leave you for about 5 minutes to practice on your own.
You can repeat these intentions to yourself,
Or you can invite others into the space that you've created.
I am loved.
I am worthy.
I am capable.
Lightness of being is my guiding force.
My body and breath its vessel.
This is my truth.
It is my beacon.
I'll watch the time.
Begin to bring your attention back to the sound of my voice and the space that surrounds you.
As you go about your day,
Your week,
Should you find yourself in a dark place,
Mindfully plant yourself in that moment by bringing awareness back to your breath,
Its ability to soften the body and plant the seeds of compassion and kindness that will help you make it through.
You must master a new way of thinking before you can master a new way of being.
Only you can truly plant the seeds and nourish the garden of your becoming.
So what seeds will you plant today?
Until we meet again my friends,
Namaste.
