Meditation Instructions for Sun., January 27, 2013

For this Sunday, January 27th, the focus for our meditation will be on Shelter.   I recently read a statistic that 20,000 children in New York City are homeless each night.  This is an astounding number.  I suspect many of them are part of families that are homeless, but the number would likely equal or exceed the total number of children in the city where I live.  I find it hard to even try and imagine every single child in my local area being without a home.  Such instability and stress in their life likely has a negative impact on their emotional well-being, their ability to concentrate at school, the overall health of their family relationships, etc.  A not-yet-released documentary titled, “These Storied Streets,” (see www.storiedstreets.com) attempts to correct common misconceptions about those who are homeless.  They are not necessarily the addicted or the mentally ill.  More and more, they are families with children.  One young teen in the documentary, abandoned by his mother, lived under the bleachers and washed at a nearby drinking fountain before attending high school every day.  A young mother describes the shame of being unable to feed her son or provide a place for them to stay other than their automobile.  Such situations serve as a blight on our country and are shameful given all that we have in the way of resources.  In our meditation and prayer let us ask that assistance may become available to all who are in need of Shelter throughout this nation.  Let us shine light on the true nature of homelessness across this country so that more may be moved to step forward and make Shelter accessible for those without the safety and stability of a home.

In our efforts this week let us also use the energy of our prayers and meditation to amplify the light that covers and fills this nation.  As we perform our meditation let us re-energize the brilliance and power of the light we create.  Begin by forming a concentrated ball of light that is so bright it is almost impossible to look directly at it.  Raise this sphere of light up high over the nation and then let its rays cascade down to create a solid, impenetrable dome of light that completely covers every inch of our country.  From shore to shore and border to border let the entire continent be filled with this brilliant, dense light that will serve to magnify the best and highest qualities of our country and the people who live across its vast lands. 

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, and connect to the circle of others participating in this project. 

Ask yourself how do I feel when I know I have access to Shelter that provides me with safety and security?  How does it feel in my body when I appreciate the value and importance of Shelter in my life?  Then send the energy and intention of those feelings to 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., January 20, 2013

For this Sunday, January 20th, the focus for our meditation will be on Strength.  It is easy to assume the burden on our military personnel by the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan is soon coming to an end.  Troop withdrawals have continued, and those who remain are serving in more of a training and advisory capacity while responsibility for security is being transitioned to local forces.  More and more units have been demobilized and military men and women sent home to return to their loved ones and pick up their civilian lives.  It would appear all is finally coming to a close.  But for many who have served the conflict is far from over.  In the past ten years the number of military suicides has risen to where they now exceed the total for combat deaths.  The rate of suicide in the Army in particular is more than double that found in the civilian population.  There is no single cause, but the pressures of being deployed, traumatic experiences during combat, stressed family relationships, financial hardships, and the fight to receive care for service-related conditions such as PTSD appear to be part of the picture.  These are the unseen battles our military men and women continue to fight long after their return home.  In our prayer and meditation this week let us ask that those who are most vulnerable to suicide find the Strength to reach out to others and ask for the help they need.  May our prayers Strengthen their ability to fight the dark demons that haunt them, and may they find comfort in the light that we send to envelop them. 

In our efforts this week let us also use the energy of our prayers and meditation to amplify the light that covers and fills this nation.  As we perform our meditation let us re-energize the brilliance and power of the light we create.  Begin by forming a concentrated ball of light that is so bright it is almost impossible to look directly at it.  Raise this sphere of light up high over the nation and then let its rays cascade down to create a solid, impenetrable dome of light that completely covers every inch of our country.  From shore to shore and border to border let the entire continent be filled with this brilliant, dense light that will serve to magnify the best and highest qualities of our country and the people who live across its vast lands.  In particular, let us focus this light on our military men and women who have served or continue to serve this nation.

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, and connect to the circle of others participating in this project. 

Ask yourself how do I feel when I have the Strength to be able to turn away from darkness?  How does it feel in my body when I have the Strength to reach out to others when I need their help?  Then send the energy and intention of those feelings to 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., Jan. 13, 2013

For this Sunday, January 13th, the focus for our meditation will be on Restoration.  With the start of another new year we would expect to find ourselves excited and energized about what lies ahead.  But for many people this period of post-holiday stress and excess can instead leave us feeling depleted.  Although the holidays bring us time off from work we can sometimes fill that with bustling about at an even faster pace in order to get ready for celebrations.  For some the holidays require travel over distances to be with family, and the trip as well as the occasional difficult dynamics of being with relatives can leave us feeling drained and exhausted.  Rather than throwing ourselves back into our busy schedules with a sense of plowing ahead let us instead recognize the importance of first taking time to Restore ourselves.  If we can find a way to recharge our energy levels before tackling what we want to accomplish during the year we are much more likely to succeed in our endeavors.  This week in our meditation let us consider whether we take sufficient time to Restore our energy or do we consistently run ourselves into the ground?  How can we instead make changes in our life that help us to feel more rejuvenated?  Let us ask that all who find themselves exhausted find ways to Restore their vigor and be filled with the energy needed to accomplish their goals throughout the year.

In our efforts this week let us also use the energy of our prayers and meditation to amplify the light that covers and fills this nation.  As we perform our meditation let us re-energize the brilliance and power of the light we create.  Begin by forming a concentrated ball of light that is so bright it is almost impossible to look directly at it.  Raise this sphere of light up high over the nation and then let its rays cascade down to create a solid, impenetrable dome of light that completely covers every inch of our country.  From shore to shore and border to border let the entire continent be filled with this brilliant, dense light that will serve to magnify the best and highest qualities of our country and the people who live across its vast lands. 

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, and connect to the circle of others participating in this project. 

Ask yourself how do I feel when I take care to Restore my body’s health and energy?  How does it feel in my body when I take time to Restore myself before taking on a challenging task?  Then send the energy and intention of those feelings to 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., Jan. 6, 2013

For this Sunday, January 6th, the focus for our meditation will be on Respect.  Lately I have noticed an increasing trend toward remarks by public figures or posted by ordinary citizens on social networking sites that go beyond the pale of blunt criticism of our elected officials.  More and more often these comments cross over into viciousness in the way they intentionally try to denigrate an individual they don’t even know personally.  The vitriol behind these remarks is evident, and it is clear they are attempts to fan the flames of discontent among people who do not approve of those in office.  Elections can be so incredibly polarizing for our nation.  I think back to this past fall and the numerous posts on Facebook from people I know, people I respect, but whose opinions certainly differ from mine, and the disappointment I felt when I would read comments that were filled with animosity.  It is one thing to hold our elected officials accountable and to speak freely when we believe they are not serving us or the nation well; it is another to unfairly attack another’s character.  As a nation we need to begin to realize that when we attack those in office we weaken our own country.  Whether we voted for them or not, whether we like them or not, we must acknowledge the authority of their office and accord them the Respect that brings.  If you genuinely believe the elected official is not the right person for that office, then pray that they acquire the traits that would better help them to serve.  Lashing out in anger against our officials only diminishes the strength of this country.  Let us this week in our prayer and meditation recognize the importance of Respect for all who hold elected office, and may we ask that across this nation citizens develop a sense of Respect that helps rather than hinders our country’s efforts. 

In our efforts this week let us also use the energy of our prayers and meditation to amplify the light that covers and fills this nation.  As we perform our meditation let us re-energize the brilliance and power of the light we create.  Begin by forming a concentrated ball of light that is so bright it is almost impossible to look directly at it.  Raise this sphere of light up high over the nation and then let its rays cascade down to create a solid, impenetrable dome of light that completely covers every inch of our country.  From shore to shore and border to border let the entire continent be filled with this brilliant, dense light that will serve to magnify the best and highest qualities of our country and the people who live across its vast lands. 

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, and connect to the circle of others participating in this project. 

Ask yourself how do I feel when I act with Respect toward others?  How does it feel in my body when I acknowledge the importance of Respect for those who serve?  Then send the energy and intention of those feelings to 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