Meditation Matters

How to Breathe Away Stress

Spring Renewal

Finding Peace in Times of Uncertainty

We all feel uncertainty, but remember that these emotions are often a reaction to a perceived future that has not yet happened.

Expanding Joy

It may not always feel this way, but joy is a state of being you can choose. Sometimes we simply need to reawaken the infinite joy that exists naturally within us. Today’s meditation will focus on Expanding Joy. 

After today’s live meditation, due to business travel and vacation, I am planning to pause our live meditations until mid-February. In addition, we are working on several technical improvements to the live meditation and podcast for the new year, as well as several new topics, for when we return.  My plan is to be back in no-action on February 20^th.  

 

 

Poetry Friday - Amanda Gorman

Amanda Gorman is a young American poet and activist, as well as the first person to be named National Youth Poet Laureate. In this meditation, we contemplate a short excerpt of the poem that Gorman read at the inauguration of President Joe Biden, "The Hill We Climb." We will also read a new poem by Gorman called, "New Day's Lyric." 

Mindfulness

We hear a lot about mindfulness, but what is it exactly? Mindfulness is about expanding our own awareness of our actions, thoughts, and feelings. It is the practice of nonjudgmental observing. Mindfulness is the fertile soil of freedom, because it allows us to liberate ourselves from the two extremes of thinking too much and thinking too little; from persistent busyness and thoughtless habits; from the extreme of anxiety on the one hand and reactivity on the other. Through mindfulness, we can see better the choices we get to make in every single moment. And through this practice, we can learn to be more fully present, or deliberate and  more joyful. 

 

In this practice, we focus on building our skills of mindfulness.

Welcoming Inner Peace

It is a powerful thing to embrace a simple moment of silence, a moment of disconnection. But we can give ourselves permission to feel peace in this given moment and become aware that we are completely deserving of peace, now and always. 

 

In this meditation, we work on allowing ourselves to welcome inner peace.

Setting New Year’s Intentions

An intention is a heartfelt, intuitive desire that will increase your happiness at the deepest level. While many of us are probably making New Year's resolutions, resolutions often require a certain amount of effort and willpower. On the other hand, intentions, if set correctly, are effortless and can lead to positive results that are both important and surprising. 

In this meditation, we reflect on our intentions for the new year.

Welcoming Our Inner Child

George Bernard Shaw once said, "We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing." So today let's decide to bring more play into our lives, to stay young in mind, body, and spirit.

In this meditation, we work on Welcoming Our Inner Child. 

Cultivating Compassion

Compassion allows us to understand and accept ourselves and others, even through difficult times and challenges of life, including mistakes. And as compassion for each other grows, so does our ability to share more, and focus on empathy instead of fear, and to replace grievances with gratitude. According to the Buddha, compassion is incomplete unless it includes ourselves. 

In this meditation, we work on expanding our ability to be open with ourselves and others through compassion. 

Miracles

We often think of miracles as events that break the laws of nature. But this is a narrow view, both of the laws of nature and the nature of miracles. Rather, miracles occur when we increase our awareness of beauty, of love, of compassion. None of these things--beauty, love, compassion--can be measured in a laboratory. And yet, not one of us would deny their existence and their ability to change the world. 

Albert Einstein once said, "There are two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle."

In this meditation, we work on increasing our aware of miracles great and small, with the help of this poem by Walt Whitman:

Miracles

a poem by Walt Whitman

Why, who makes much of a miracle?
As to me I know of nothing else but miracles,
Whether I walk the streets of Manhattan,
Or dart my sight over the roofs of houses toward the sky,
Or wade with naked feet along the beach just in the edge of the water,
Or stand under trees in the woods,
Or talk by day with any one I love, or sleep in the bed at night with any one I love,
Or sit at table at dinner with the rest,
Or look at strangers opposite me riding in the car,
Or watch honey-bees busy around the hive of a summer forenoon,
Or animals feeding in the fields,
Or birds, or the wonderfulness of insects in the air,
Or the wonderfulness of the sundown, or of stars shining so quiet and bright,
Or the exquisite delicate thin curve of the new moon in spring;
These with the rest, one and all, are to me miracles,
The whole referring, yet each distinct and in its place.

To me every hour of the light and dark is a miracle,
Every cubic inch of space is a miracle,
Every square yard of the surface of the earth is spread with the same,
Every foot of the interior swarms with the same.

To me the sea is a continual miracle,
The fishes that swim—the rocks—the motion of the waves—the
        ships with men in them,
What stranger miracles are there?

Releasing Fear Itself

Fear is natural. Because of the habits of our minds, fear, anxiety, and worry are sometimes easy. And calm and confidence are difficult. But fear doesn't exist anywhere in the world--it only exists in our minds. 

Join us for today's meditation, focusing on Releasing Fear Itself.

Radiating Our Internal Light

Michelle Obama says in her new book "When we are able to recognize our own light, we become empowered to use it."

In celebration of the Festival of Lights, today’s meditation will focus on Radiating Our Internal Light.

Expanding Our Freedom Within

In celebration of the Bill of Rights Day, today's meditation will focus on expanding our freedom within.

It's been said that freedom is the oxygen of the soul. And while there are so many dimensions to freedom, in this meditation we'll focus on our spiritual freedom.

Across The Universe

In memory of John Lennon, who died 42 years ago yesterday, today we will enjoy some of his most moving words.

National Time Travel Day

In celebration of National Time Travel Day, today’s meditation will include a Journey to the Infinite Now. 

We often worry about the future and dwell in the past. But when we learn to reside fully in the here and now, we live in a time and place of infinite possibilities. 

Embracing the Power of Humility

True humility is not viewing yourself as something small, but viewing yourself as something larger.

In this meditation, we will expand our sense of true, positive humility.

Choosing Happiness

True happiness is not dependent on what is happening. It is always possible and available, even in times of pain and sadness.

In this meditation, we will train ourselves embrace happiness more fully and to welcome happiness more easily into our lives.

Rosa Parks Day

On December 1st, 1955, on her way home from work, Rosa Parks took a seat on a bus and quietly set off a social revolution. After refusing to move to the back of the bus because she was black, Parks was arrested. Eleven months later, the US Supreme Court ruled that racial segregation of public buses was unconstitutional.

In honor of this important date, let's explore how we can through meditation recognize the injustice around us, see the humanity of those who are suffering, and expand our awareness of the connection between ourselves and others.

Judging Less

It's in our nature to judge others, including people close to us. And while judging is often useful as we make our way in the world, it also can become toxic and isolating. 

In this meditation, we will focus on practicing non-judgement towards ourselves and others.

Doing Less, Living More

Thích Nhất Hạnh said that people will judge and say "Don't just sit there, do something." 

In this meditation, we will try to do the opposite. Oftentimes sitting and doing nothing is considered a luxury. But sitting can produce to most nourishing calm and joy, and we can all afford some time to sit. 

The Light We Carry

Michelle Obama says in her new book "The Light We Carry" that "when we are able to recognize our own light, we become empowered to use it." 

In this meditation, we will focus on allowing a universal light to find our heart's center.

Chair Yoga: Every Movement Counts

Yoga can be done anywhere or anytime. Every movement and every stretch counts. As the Bhagavad Gita says "Yoga is the journey of the self, through the self, to the self."

In this meditation, we will use chair yoga to tap in to your inner capacity for healing and well-being. These poses are designed to facilitate an alignment of your breath with your movements. 

Mindful Breathing: Being In The Present Moment

Breathing is a profound act that connects us internally with our truest self and externally with all life on earth. By focusing on the act of breathing, we arrive in the present moment, we clear our minds of distractions, we cleanse the energy within, and we connect with that part of us which is quiet and still. 

In this meditation, we will use breathing techniques to connect and find stillness.

Poetry Friday - Wendell Berry

Wendell Berry's poetry celebrates the holiness of life and everyday miracles we often take for granted. He celebrates the healing power of living in harmony with nature.

In this meditation, we contemplate Berry's poem, "The Peace of Wild Things."

Mindful Breathing: Expanding Love Towards Ourselves and Others

It's been said that real love means loving kindness and compassion without conditions. 

Welcoming Inner Peace: Letting Go

It's normal to have an active mind. Allow yourself to let go of all emotions that no longer serve you.

Being Your Best Friend

Many of us our taught that we should think before we speak, but we rarely follow this advice for ourselves. As a result. we often say things to ourselves that may not be that helpful or supportive. This meditation focuses on our ability to think before we speak to ourselves.

Mindfulness: Improving Our Skills

In celebration of National Train Your Brain Day, today’s meditation focuses on Mindfulness.

Poetry Friday (Rupi Kaur)

Poetry Friday (Br. David Steindl-Rast)

Judging Less

Letting Go of Anxiety

Overcoming Disappointment

Finding Inner Peace