Archive for the ‘Meditation’ Category
Being Held
Thursday, August 22nd, 2013
I feel seen, heard, and received. ~Deepak Chopra
As I sat with my spiritual teacher last week, we decided to take a deep dive into a meditation about feeling safe, loved, and seen.
This was my experience of the guided meditation with my teacher:
I was invited to envision a place where I felt completely safe. Breathing into a safe place, I envisioned lying on the mat in her office. As I started breathing slowly, my body softened, and I melted through the mat. I found myself laying in the grass of Kalani Oceanside Retreat Center in Hawaii. I could see blue sky and big white clouds. I could see the large red house my group will stay in for the Wild Cosmic Heart retreat in November. I felt peaceful and happy. I felt expansive.
The next part of the meditation was to see a person, guide, or being that also felt safe. I could see images of people I know. As I walked towards people I knew and love, an image of Mother Mary appeared. She opened her arms wide − her blue robe was long and flowing. She took me in her arms and held me. Rocking me as an adult back and forth, she held me like a mother in the womb. I felt safe and loved. She invited me to stay held − to feel held − to BE held.
After a few moments, she invited me to notice all the places that life is holding me. Mary whispered, “You are held in the ocean. You are held by the trees. You are held by your wife. You are held by your friends. You are held. Allow yourself to be held.”
With the wisdom of allowing myself to be held, it was time to return from the journey. Before I left, Mary placed a medallion around my neck and said, “Carry me with you. I am your mother in heaven. I have always held you.”
I stayed in the embrace for another moment. I took a deep breath, placed my hand on the medallion, and began to transition back into my physical body.
With deeper, more conscious breaths, I returned to the sacred space of Kalani, then the mat, and back to ordinary time. I awoke to the couch and looked out the window and saw a bright blue sky with big white clouds.
There was something extraordinary about feeling held. I felt such a deep connection − being held − in myself.
After sitting for a few moments in quiet, I shared the powerful journey with my teacher. We honored the places that need tending to, the need for connection on all levels, the embrace we give and receive. And most importantly, a journey that reminds me just how loved, seen, heard, and received I always am.
Meditation in the Catskill Mountains
Tuesday, August 13th, 2013
Take five minutes to slow your breath and open your heart with a meditation in the Catskill Mountains. With beautiful mountain views, we will take a few minutes to breathe in light and be the mountain. Enjoy!
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Going Deeper Into the Breath
Thursday, August 8th, 2013
Let’s go into the breath. 
Let’s explore the breath.
Breathe in your nose and out your mouth.
Our breath can open the channels within.
Notice how it feels to breathe.
Notice your breath.
Are you comfortable with your breath?
Notice any discomfort – breathe there.
Sit in the healing power of your breath.
When you breathe without resistance, what happens?
Fill yourself even more with your breath.
As you breathe, feel your body expand.
Drop into yourself a bit more and breathe deeper.
Welcome the inhale and exhale meeting.
Every breath is a new beginning.
Now you are starting here. Breathe.
And now you are starting here. Breathe.
And so on. And so on.
You breathe peace and we all feel the peace.
The miracle of the breath will show you the way – always.
Breathe – Just Breathe
Tuesday, August 6th, 2013
“Are you breathing?” 
“Yes.”
“No, you are holding your breath.”
And so began my conversation with my spiritual teacher. We took time to take conscious breaths. We paid attention to any tension held in our bodies and sent our breath there. We relaxed into ourselves with each inhale and exhale. We allowed emotions to surface.
I realized I was holding my breath because I was feeling stuck and overwhelmed by all the minutiae in my life. I became quiet – the kind where I couldn’t find the words.
So we meditated again – deeper this time.
Towards the end of the meditation, all I could hear was my teacher repeating the words, “You matter.”
Every story allows us to learn from our breath. We hold on, we hold in, we breathe just enough to get through our day.
Yet, the power of our breath can be profound. Deep, rhythmic breathing expands the diaphragm muscle and expands the lung’s air pockets. Shallow breathing constricts.
What am I constricting in my life? And what am I expanding?
Our breath will show us. The easiest pathway to freedom is through the breath.
Are you holding your breath? Are you willing to exhale fully?
Breathe – just breathe.
Abide in Peace
Wednesday, July 31st, 2013
Meditation is about mental transformation. Meditation is more than relaxation and feeling good. The questions we need to ask ourselves about our meditation are: Am I changing? Am I kind? Am I more compassionate and less judgmental?
It takes more than one morning or one sitting or one weekend to go into these questions and go within. When people say they don’t have time to meditate, are they really saying, “I don’t have time to listen to my heart?”
It’s a continuum of looking at our meditation practice and noticing what is changing for good in our life.
Is what I am meditating on for the benefit of all?
Am I being more loving, kind, compassionate, and joyful?
What am I willing to transform?
What is the focus for my meditation?
Am I willing to focus on peace?
Notice what happens when we abide in peace.
How are we more peaceful with ourselves and one another?
Photo by Mary Anne Flanagan
Meditation on the Breath
Thursday, July 18th, 2013
Everything Is Meditation
Wednesday, July 10th, 2013
After a recent conversation about my healing work, I sat in meditation listening and felt such an alignment with my mind and heart.
Meditation:
I teach meditation.
What kind?
Prayer meditation.
Prayer?
Yes. Isn’t every thought or word to the universe a prayer?
I never thought of it that way.
Our voice is our prayer, is it not?
Yes, everything is a prayer. Everything is meditation.
Meditation on Joy
Wednesday, April 3rd, 2013
Anchoring Our Breath
Tuesday, April 2nd, 2013
Your breath is your anchor.
Your anchor is your breath.
Breathe yourself in.
Ground yourself with your breath.
Root yourself in your breath.
Ground yourself with each inhale and exhale.
(Instagram Photo by Mary Anne Flanagan)
“Pay” Attention
Tuesday, March 19th, 2013
Meditation on the cost of our attention:
Notice the price we pay for our negative thoughts. When we focus on the negative, the cost is quite expensive to our minds and bodies. We become mentally and physically exhausted. We stir up delusions about situations and people. We exaggerate bad qualities and can even make ourselves sick.
Notice how we feel when we pay attention to the blessings in our life. We are rewarded with more goodness and more blessings. We feel lighter and are thoughts are more joyful. We are mentally clear and more at ease in our bodies. We feel connected and purposeful.
What price are we paying with our thoughts? How much is our attention costing us?
Peaceful Contemplation:
Where would you like to put your attention today?
Notice how much you are “paying” you attention.