Meditation Instructions for Sun., June 26, 2011

For this Sunday, June 26th, the focus for our meditation will be on Serenity. Roz Savage is a British solo ocean rower whose exploits I have been following for several years. She is a former management consultant who chucked it all during an intensive examination of her life purpose and picked up the cause of keeping our oceans clean of pollution. To promote her cause she became the first woman to complete the 3,000-mile Atlantic Rowing Race, last year completed a solo row of the Pacific Ocean, and this year is tackling the Indian Ocean. In addition to vicariously getting to live through the blog updates (www.rozsavage.com) and podcasts of her adventures I admire her ability to clearly express the deep insights she reaches during the long periods of solitude during her ocean journeys. Her recent post describes how the ocean is rarely calm enough for her to clearly see the fish swimming below its surface. She came to the realization people bear some resemblance to this. She writes, “A lot of the people are like a choppy ocean, all froth and noise and ripples and waves. You can’t see past the surface because it’s going ten different ways at once, reflecting what is around them, just as the ocean reflects the colours of the sky and the clouds. But when the surface is calm, you catch a glimpse of the hidden depths, and what moves there, the life beneath the surface, and the ocean’s true nature is revealed. When you meet those rare people who are calm enough, and brave enough, to let you glimpse their true nature, it is unforgettable.” Her remarks allude to being centered and genuine, traits that prompt a sense of Serenity from those who possess them. All too easily we can lose our grasp on that feeling of Serenity. The hectic pace of life intrudes and makes our life too “frothy” or out of fear we build barriers that block others from seeing our true nature. This week in our prayer and meditation let us reflect on this quality of Serenity. Let us ask what impedes our ability to generate a state of internal calm and Serenity and what enables us to have the self-assurance to allow others in so they may appreciate our depths.

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 feeling a sense of deep calm and Serenity? What does it feel like when I am able to remain centered in a way that brings Serenity and the courage to allow others in? 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., June 19, 2011

For this Sunday, June 19th, the focus for our meditation will be on Movement. Movement is essential for overall good health of the body -- a body that is too rigid, that spends too much time frozen in postures of limited range, is one that tends to foster muscular atrophy, shortening of the tendons, inflammation, and all the pre-conditions that can lead to disease states. Our vitality is dependent on our ability to Move. Beyond the mere physical action of Movement, however, this concept also implies that we are not static beings. We do not remain the same, nor should we. In addition to the changes in our physical body that Movement brings, there are also changes that occur in our emotions, our attitudes, etc. If we are unwilling to allow these changes to occur we can become stuck in place and remain less adaptable. Just as physical activity expands our body's abilities, our readiness to engage in Movement signals our willingness to expand our thinking or to change our mind. This week in our prayer and meditation we want to ask in what way are we perhaps resistant to change and Movement in our life and how do we instead want to more fully embrace it.

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 enjoy my ability to engage in Movement? What does it feel like when I allow Movement to help me change who I am? 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., June 12, 2011

For this Sunday, June 12th, the focus for our meditation will be on Companionship. A dear friend called earlier in the week with the sad news that her beloved pet had to be put to sleep. While this is always such a painful process to lose a pet it prompted me to think about what tremendous Companions they are in our life. Despite the pain of their inevitable loss the benefits we derive from their presence that teaches us immeasurable joy, enviable serenity, and the real meaning of unconditional love make it all worthwhile. Whether the Companions in our life are our animals or friends they can have the impact of bringing out the best in us. There's a wonderful book by author Temple Grandin titled, "Animals Make Us Human," in which she shares her years of research in understanding animals from an autistic's unique perspective. The book attempts to help us better understand how to bond with our animals and to appreciate the incredible depth and breadth of their emotions. Its premise is to teach us what we need to know about animals to help them live a better, happier, and more fulfilled life. In the process, we learn more about our own human nature and the importance of our need for Companionship. This week in our meditation we want to examine those who have served as Companions for us in our life and how they have helped us along the way. In recognizing the invaluable assistance they provide we may honor them for having gently taught us critical life lessons and without knowing it at the time helped move us further on our path.

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 appreciative of those who have served as my Companions in life? What does it feel like when I realize the lessons I have learned from my Companions? 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., June 5, 2011

For this Sunday, June 5th, the focus for our meditation will be on Agility. When I hear the word Agility what first comes to mind is the competitive sport in which dogs are taught how to navigate a challenging obstacle course. They are given points for speed and the precision with which they maneuver through the obstacles. Agility is a very different skill from mere strength -- it requires creativity and adaptability instead. While we may not necessarily be in competition for points or ribbons our own lives bear a resemblance to this exercise. Rather than having to negotiate a series of physical barriers there can be other impediments that confront us. One of the most daunting tests is our ability to emotionally navigate through the hurdles we encounter in life. Sometimes these are self-made barricades that we erect out of fear and doubt; other times the difficulty comes from our relationships with those around us. Just as we think we have found a clear route in navigating these paths something appears in our way that requires us to find an emotional and mental Agility to successfully circumvent its interference. This week as we look at the potential impediments in our life let us also ask for the Agility needed to surmount those challenges.

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"). 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 "Explanation of the Grid or Manitou" for more information) with the intent of sending the energy of Agility across the nation.

The way to do this is to perceive in your body how the quality of Agility feels. Ask yourself how do I feel when I have the adaptability and Agility to successfully overcome challenges in my life? How does it feel in my body when I am able to navigate through emotional obstacles with Agility? 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