Meditation Instructions for Sun., June 29, 2014

For this Sunday, June 29th, the focus for our meditation will be on Illusion.  There have been many occasions in my life when I have found myself thrust into a situation where I felt entirely unprepared for the task.  It would be easy to become paralyzed by fear and either withdraw or fail to act, but I knew these were not viable options.  Often it involved a work assignment where before I knew it I was in over my head.  It can be overwhelming to find yourself in a situation where you have no idea what to do.  What has calmed my nerves and spurred me to take action, some action, even if it might not be the right action, was to think of others I knew who had managed their way through such challenges.  Without denigrating them I felt if they had been able to figure out a way to deal with the situation successfully then I could, too.  It helped if I assumed the Illusion of feeling confident and knowledgeable until I could find a solution.  Even though I may not have initially felt very sure of myself pretending to be self-assured seemed to somehow help.  Work by psychologist Dr. Paul Ekman, an expert in the study of emotions, has shown if someone manipulates their facial muscles to intentionally put a smile on their face, even if they feel depressed, their emotional state subsequently elevates.  They feel happier just by assuming the expression of happiness.  Creating the Illusion first will ultimately lead to the genuine feeling of the emotion.  This week in our prayer and meditation let us consider whether we might benefit from adopting an Illusion of what we want to become in order to help us grow into that idealized person.  It is as though creating the shell makes it possible for us to eventually inhabit that space in a deep and unpretentious way.  Let us ask to be shown how to use Illusion in our life to lead the way toward becoming a better person.

In our efforts this week let us also continue to use the energy of our prayers and meditation to amplify the light that covers and fills this nation.  As we perform our meditation this week let us begin by re-energizing the brilliance and power of the light we create.  Just as before, 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 entire 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 adopt the Illusion of confidence to help me through a challenge?  How does it feel in my body when I feel myself slowly become the Illusion I have created?  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., June 22, 2014

For this Sunday, June 22nd, the focus for our meditation will be on Open-Mindedness.  I was recently talking with a friend about her mother’s impending visit from another city.  The friend was bemoaning that during the visit she would have to intentionally censor her conversations so as not to stray into areas where she and her mother held opposing views.  Past experience had taught her that entering into any discussion of politics or religion or whatever the latest topic being churned by the media happened to be would only lead to a path of frustration and anger.  She made the remark that there is nothing you can do to change another person’s mind.  As I thought about it more I realized this isn’t necessarily true.  Case in point is how my own views have drastically shifted over time.  Coming from a traditional Catholic upbringing there was a very long period when I held onto certain beliefs that I now no longer retain.  For example, I was one of those who initially thought the Harry Potter stories were dangerous for young people.  After all, didn’t they promote witchcraft?  Wasn’t that heretical to Christian tenets?  As I look back on those views now I have to laugh given how I have come to embrace the Harry Potter books, movies, and culture.  How did that transition take place from Muggle to Believer?  Somewhere along the way I had to Open my Mind and become willing to entertain the notion that maybe these books weren’t entirely dangerous.  From that vantage point I could then move to a position of appreciating all the positive impact they had.  Teens and young people were encouraged to read books once again.  They felt inspired or encouraged in their efforts to deal with difficulty in their own lives, especially against bullying.  The change occurred over time but had to begin with my willingness to first consider an opposing view without immediately dismissing it.  This same transformative process has occurred in many ways in my life over the years, each time resulting in a huge shift in perspective that was ultimately beneficial.  This week in our prayer and meditation time let us consider whether we are holding onto beliefs that no longer serve us well.  Let us ask if we need to adopt more Open-Mindedness in order to make helpful shifts in our thinking.  If more people in this nation were willing to have an Open Mind perhaps we would find our society less divisive and more willing to reconcile differences.

In our efforts this week let us also continue to use the energy of our prayers and meditation to amplify the light that covers and fills this nation.  As we perform our meditation this week let us begin by re-energizing the brilliance and power of the light we create.  Just as before, 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 entire 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 am Open-Minded and willing to consider views that differ from mine?  How does it feel in my body when I am able to remain Open-Minded and receptive to new information that may contradict what I have come to believe?  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., June 15, 2014

For this Sunday, June 15th, the focus for our meditation will be on Clarity.  When there is Clarity in our life it helps us in making good decisions.  Have you ever tried to make a decision in the midst of chaos?  I’ve had to do it many times, particularly when traveling.  It isn’t easy.  Finding yourself stuck in a crowded airport during the bedlam that severe weather issues can create can really test your ability to establish Clarity.  You are surrounded by a stew of anxious travelers, wailing children, honking carts, garbled PA announcements that you barely comprehend, wall-to-wall people struggling with bags, and so on.  Oh, and let’s add a little jet lag to the mix just in case it isn’t already enough of a challenge.  Been there, done that, I’m sure many of you are saying.  Can you recall how difficult it was to make decisions in that environment?  Simple issues such as do I take a chance and try to wait out the storms or rebook my flight now?  If I wait to see what happens with this flight and it becomes canceled, will there be any hotel rooms left so I don’t have to sleep in the airport overnight?  I’ve faced those decisions numerous times, and the good news is it does become easier with practice to gain needed Clarity.  For me it entails getting really well grounded first.  I focus on feeling my feet and my legs gradually sink into the earth, drawing on its energy.  I then center myself into my spine and hips by following my breath there which greatly helps bring about a sense of inner calm.  Once that inner state of solid calm is attained I find I have the Clarity to consider available options.  It makes it easier to even figure out what choices may exist.  You don’t have to be a stuck traveler to use this technique.  We all have moments in our life when we could benefit from having additional Clarity to help in making good choices.  This week in our prayer and meditation time let us consider how we attain Clarity when needed.  Are there decisions facing us that we would be better served choosing from a state of Clarity rather than anxiety?  Let us ask to be guided as to how we might find greater Clarity in our life to help us in making those key decisions.

In our efforts this week let us also continue to use the energy of our prayers and meditation to amplify the light that covers and fills this nation.  As we perform our meditation this week let us begin by re-energizing the brilliance and power of the light we create.  Just as before, 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 entire 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 experience a deep, profound Clarity that helps remove confusion and chaos from the moment?  How does it feel in my body when an instant of Clarity helps me see the right choice to make?  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., June 8, 2014

For this Sunday, June 8th, the focus for our meditation will be on Dissolving.  I used to suffer from terrible writer’s block that prevented me from beginning (never mind finishing) papers for school or reports for work.  It was when I was confronted with having to write a senior project for the Crucible Program, an esoteric training program in energy healing offered by the Healing Light Center Church, that I knew I had to Dissolve this block.  I was bound and determined not to let my inner anxiety about writing impede my ability to complete this program of study.   The solution that ended up working for me was realizing it didn’t have to be a linear process where the text had to flow perfectly onto the page from first to final sentence (and in that order).  Instead, I began to jot down bits of ideas and phrases that would come to me (sometimes at the oddest times) and captured them on a software version of yellow sticky notes.  These seemingly random thoughts could easily be rearranged, grouped and ordered, and thus cobbled together into a detailed outline of what I wanted to write.  With that structure before me it was relatively easy to fill in any remaining details or winnow down rambling sentences.  Voila!  A well-written, cohesive paper gradually appeared before my eyes.  The interesting part of this process was I had figured out how to Dissolve the block by coming up with an alternate approach to the problem.  Previously, I would sit in front of a computer screen or terrifyingly blank sheet of paper and force myself to remain there until I could produce something.  The process was often interminable and painful.  It was as though I had run into a brick wall and kept backing up to ram my forehead into it time after time thinking with the next blow I could force my way through the barrier.  By trying a different route I was able to sneak around that brick wall, and before I realized it the barricade had Dissolved with much less effort.  Life can sometimes seem full of such hurdles that prevent us from believing we can accomplish something.  They hold us back and keep a door frozen shut that we so desperately want to pass through.  If we only realized the block was not impenetrable and could be Dissolved we might merrily fling the door open and proceed on our path.  This week in our prayer and meditation time let us consider whether there are obstacles in our life that do not need to remain and can be Dissolved.  Let us ask to be guided on how to easily remove these barriers so we are not held back from accomplishing all that we are meant to do in this life.

In our efforts this week let us also continue to use the energy of our prayers and meditation to amplify the light that covers and fills this nation.  As we perform our meditation this week let us begin by re-energizing the brilliance and power of the light we create.  Just as before, 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 entire 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 something is Dissolved that has been an unwanted barrier?  How does it feel in my body when I am able to find an alternate approach to a problem that helps Dissolve it with less effort?  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