Meditation Instructions for Sun., Dec. 26, 2010

For this Sunday, December 26th, the focus for our meditation will be on Peace. As we come to a pause in our busy lives to celebrate holidays with family and friends certain values become even more prominent in our thoughts. We cherish our connection to others, we realize how love does not require material possessions to be expressed, and we find ourselves wishing the state of calm and Peace that descends over us all could be sustained throughout the year. This week's meditation focus is a simple one -- we want to connect to that sense of Peace and use the power of our prayer and meditation to help infuse the energy of Peace throughout not just our nation but the entire world. In your meditation efforts bring to mind those areas where unrest seems to dominate and instead ask that they be blanketed with a deep and abiding Peace that brings respite to all.

Please follow the same practice as before: Get centered in your body, ask to bring in your guides and others who are there to assist us, connect to the circle of others participating in this project, and create the brilliant star-like light over the nation. Extend blue rays from the center of this light to the nation's four borders and then connect to the grid or matrix that extends from the circle.

Ask yourself how does it feel in my body when I am filled with an abiding sense of Peace? What does it feel like when I am aware of the presence of Peace around me? Then send the energy and intention of that feeling to the grid for the nation.

Be sure to disconnect from the circle at the end and express thanks for those who have helped us in this effort.

If you have feedback or experiences you would like to share please let me know via e-mail to k_miritello@bellsouth.net or kmiritello@gmail.com

Meditation Instructions for Sun., Dec. 19, 2010

For this Sunday, December 19th, the focus for our meditation will be on Determination. In the past we have focused on Optimism, but this week we want to recognize that for our ideal visions to be realized we must act with Determination. There is a purposefulness and confidence in how we carry out our life that can make the difference as to whether what we are striving for is achieved. To be Determined implies that no matter what obstacles present themselves you will seek to move past them. It requires a commitment to the goal that affirms you will not be deterred from succeeding even if along the way you encounter setbacks. In acting with Determination one needs to have a clear sense of the objective you are going after, the confidence to know you have the ability to reach that objective, and the stamina to persist under difficult conditions. This week in our prayer and meditation we want to examine in what aspects of our life do we need more Determination? Where are we hesitant to move forward because we are uncertain of our ability to achieve what we are seeking? In addition, we want to ask that our nation have the clarity of vision to know what goals we should be striving for and the Determination to succeed.

Please follow the same practice as before: Get centered in your body, ask to bring in your guides and others who are there to assist us, connect to the circle of others participating in this project, and create the brilliant star-like light over the nation. Extend blue rays from the center of this light to the nation's four borders and then connect to the grid or matrix that extends from the circle.

Ask yourself how does it feel in my body when I am acting with Determination? What does it feel like when I have the Determination needed to achieve my goals? Then send the energy and intention of that feeling to the grid for the nation.

Be sure to disconnect from the circle at the end and express thanks for those who have helped us in this effort.

If you have feedback or experiences you would like to share please let me know via e-mail to k_miritello@bellsouth.net or kmiritello@gmail.com

Meditation Instructions for Sun., Dec. 12, 2010

For this Sunday, December 12th, the focus for our meditation will be on Courage. Numerous accounts of feats of Courage repeatedly affirm that many of the heroes whose exploits we hear about act not with fearlessness but despite the fear they feel. In situations that would reasonably drive most people into the latter two states of the “fight, flight, or freeze” response those who act with Courage feel the same threat but push themselves to take action anyway. In some individuals this response pattern is almost instinctive, but in others it can be embedded or learned through conscious intent. In each instance in which you identify a fearful situation and summon the Courage to act anyway it expands your abilities and diminishes your limitations. Network television is currently airing one of those “hidden camera” programs that uses actors to create what appear to be real situations. The premise for the show is to present an ethical dilemma for those who are bystanders and see how they behave. While there are aspects of the show I don’t particularly care for, it is insightful to see how people react, or more often, not react. Those who ultimately take action by speaking up or confronting the actors are then debriefed and frequently state they felt a reluctance to interfere but were motivated to do something. While perhaps on a lesser scale than running into a burning building, the same behavioral incentive is present – they acted even in the presence of an initial aversion to respond because they knew it was the right thing to do. In our meditation this week we want to examine our own lives and identify where a fear may be present that is holding us back. See if you can begin to alter your response pattern by consciously summoning the Courage needed to deal with the situation and ultimately expand your capabilities.

Please follow the same practice as before: Get centered in your body, ask to bring in your guides and others who are there to assist us, connect to the circle of others participating in this project, and create the brilliant star-like light over the nation. Extend blue rays from the center of this light to the nation's four borders and then connect to the grid or matrix that extends from the circle.

Ask yourself how does it feel in my body when I am aware I am acting with Courage? What does it feel like when I face my fears and find the Courage to take the action that is needed? Then send the energy and intention of that feeling to the grid for the nation.

Be sure to disconnect from the circle at the end and express thanks for those who have helped us in this effort.

If you have feedback or experiences you would like to share please let me know via e-mail to k_miritello@bellsouth.net or kmiritello@gmail.com

Meditation Instructions for Sun., Dec. 5, 2010

For this Sunday, December 5th, the focus for our meditation will be on Possibility. The actor Christopher Reeve once said, “So many of our dreams at first seem impossible, then they seem improbable, and then, when we summon the will, they soon become inevitable.” We all too often limit our accomplishments by predetermining what we think is impossible and subsequently acting as though that restriction held true. But what if we weren’t held back? Numerous acclaimed feats were achieved mainly due to a blessed ignorance of the existence of limitations. I recently read a book about the 1972 air disaster in which a Uruguayan rugby team became stranded in the rugged terrain of the Andes. One survivor managed to walk across the mountains into Chile to contact rescuers. Afterward, people found it incredible to realize that he had accomplished this heroic task. With no training, no equipment, and only the barest of provisions he managed to navigate his way over peaks and cliffs that would challenge professional mountain climbers. It was a feat he should not have been able to carry out, and had he realized the challenge before him he may not have even tried. But his ignorance of the difficulty and strong desire to survive pushed him to make the attempt. In our own lives we want to examine this week not what is probable for us to achieve based on what we think are our capabilities. Instead, let us seek to expand beyond our limitations and summon the will to reach for what is held in the broader realm of Possibility.

As a reminder, we typically form as a group in our focused meditation every Sunday from 12:15 to 12:30 pm (Eastern time) and return to bring more energy to the same theme throughout the week as time permits. If you are unable to participate at that particular time there are instructions posted on how to energetically contribute at either an earlier or later time (please see "Instructions for Meditating at Alternate Dates or Times" posted on August 21, 2008). A few minutes before 12:15 you may want to get into your meditation posture and begin the relaxation phase.

Stage 1:
Sit (or lay down) so that you are relaxed and comfortable but your spine is straight and aligned over your pelvis (if seated). Begin by taking several slow, deep breaths. Follow the sensation of the breath down into your body. Breathe into your spine, your hips, and then your legs. Feel the breath reach your feet on the floor and then feel the connection through your feet to the earth's energy. Draw the earth's energy up through your feet into your body. Feel your body fill completely with this energy from your breath and the earth. Invite your own personal spiritual guides to join you in this meditation. Ask for those in the spiritual realm (especially the nation's Founding Fathers) who want to assist us in this effort to be present. If you have trouble feeling centered and fully in your body or feeling grounded to the earth ask Guidance to help you.

Stage 2:
Stay relaxed and begin to make a connection with the others in the group by perceiving that we are present in the same room and formed in a circle. Feel yourself make contact with the person on each side of you in the circle by taking their hand -- one to the right and one to the left. Feel the energy of the group grow as you make this connection. Recognize there are groups all over who are doing similar activities with the same intention. We are connected to them as well as to each other. Feel the grid or network that is created from this energetic connection. We receive energy from it as we feed energy to it.

Stage 3:
Place a brilliant white light over the center of the country. Extend blue rays out from the center of that light in the four directions (north, south, east, and west). The blue rays fill the country from border to border and sea to sea. Connect to the energetic grid or network created across the circle. Use that grid to direct energy to the manitou of the nation (see "Meditation Instructions for Sun., Sept. 7, 2008" for explanation) with the intent of sending the energy of Possibility across the nation.

The way to do this is to perceive in your body how the quality of Possibility feels. Ask yourself how do I feel when I understand how broad are the Possibilities of what can be accomplished? How does it feel in my body when I know the Possibility of what I can achieve is more than I realize? Hold that sensation and allow it to intensify as you feed that energy to the grid or network with each breath.

Stage 4:
Close by disconnecting from the group circle. Feel as though you release the hand of the person next to you and feel yourself break from the group.

Stage 5:
Thank your guidance and those in the spiritual realm for coming to assist you in this endeavor. Ask them to continue this work from their plane on your behalf. If you are able, you may want to repeat this process throughout the week, focusing on bringing light and energy to the meditation topic. When you do, connect to the same network or grid of energy created by the group at the original meditation session. Direct your intention to help support and grow that group energy. Be sure to disconnect from the group at the end.

If you have feedback or experiences you would like to share please let me know via e-mail to k_miritello@bellsouth.net or kmiritello@gmail.com