Meditation Instructions for Sun., December 28, 2014

For this Sunday, December 28th, the focus for our meditation will be on Clearing.  Franciscan friar Mychal Judge served as chaplain to the New York City Fire Department and was killed when the World Trade Center tower collapsed in the September 11^th attacks.  He had entered the tower lobby to minister to the injured and dying, and a documentary film of the event shows him with a calm but concerned look on his face, his lips moving in continuous silent prayer.  One of my favorite prayers is attributed to him.  He wrote, “Lord, take me where You want me to go; Let me meet who You want me to meet; Tell me what You want me to say; and keep me out of Your way.”  It is simple but so complete a prayer.  I especially like the last line where he asks to be kept out of the way of the Divine.  All too often we resist giving over control of our life, and it can interfere with our ability to see and accept the path we are meant to take.  If we are able to Clear ourselves from getting in the way it opens up a realm of limitless possibility.  As another new year approaches let us consider this week in our prayer and meditation how we might be better served by Clearing our life in some way.  Let us ask to be gently shown if we are clinging to material things, habits, or people in a way that is holding us back.  May we be given the strength and discipline to Clear these obstacles from our life in order to have revealed an even better way of being.  In the new year may we ask that by Clearing out what does not serve us that it draws to us what is needed for us to progress.  Additionally, let us begin the new year by asking that this country as a whole embrace the concept of Clearing and let go of all that has held us back so we may fulfill our tremendous potential as a nation.

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 aware that I create more space for miracles in my life when I am able to Clear out what I do not need?  How does it feel in my body when by Clearing any obstacles that remain I am able to better see the right path and move forward?  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 kmiritello@gmail.com

Meditation Instructions for Sun., December 21, 2014

For this Sunday, December 21st, the focus for our meditation will be on Playfulness.  So far I have owned three greyhounds in my life.  The first two were retired racers and were very serious dogs in personality who barely showed any interest in the multitude of toys I bought them.  My third greyhound never raced owing to her wisdom during her schooling phase to show “no interest” (as noted on her training records) in chasing a mechanical rabbit around an oval track.  I don’t know for sure if that was the reason, but her personality was significantly more Playful than the other two dogs.  She loved her toys and would run to get one whenever a visitor would come to the home and bring it to them.  Initially I wasn’t certain if this was a sign of insecurity and asked an animal communicator to find out why she did this.  The response was that she was so happy to see a guest that she was bringing them a present as her way of greeting them.  I recently had to put this third dog to sleep, and the other morning just before I awoke she came to me in a dream with a stuffed toy in her mouth.  She was happy and pain-free and filled with joy and Playfulness.  It was a wonderful reminder of all that I loved about her but also prompted me to not take things too seriously, as I am often wont to do.  In the evening after a long day when I would be sitting in the family room relaxing she would come to me with a mischievous look in her eye and entice me to Play with her.  It was a fun game we had where I would pretend to chase her through the house, and she would scamper just ahead of me always carrying a favored toy.  As hard as it was to say goodbye to another cherished animal companion I love the lessons we gain from them.  This week in our prayer and meditation time let us consider whether we need to include more Playfulness in our life.  Are there times when we take ourselves too seriously and need a sense of humor to more gracefully navigate life’s challenges?  Let us think about ways in our life where we may benefit from being more Playful with ourselves, with Spirit, and with others.

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 fully embrace a sense of Playfulness in my life?  How does it feel in my body when I allow myself to relax and be Playful in a way that brings a healthy release of tension?  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 kmiritello@gmail.com

Meditation Instructions for Sun., December 14, 2014

For this Sunday, December 14th, the focus for our meditation will be on Exploration.  In 1962 President John F. Kennedy gave a speech during a visit to Rice University in Texas in which he spoke about his interest in advancing our country’s space Exploration program.  He stated, “This country of the United States was not built by those who waited and rested and wished to look behind them.  This country was conquered by those who moved forward—and so will space.”  His speech served to motivate an entire generation to accept the challenge of space Exploration, knowing it would come at a price and with great risks.  It is hard to imagine now, with visits to an orbiting international Space Lab so routine that they are no longer covered on national television and barely garner a mention in the news, that at one time our nation was mesmerized by each successive feat as we sought to conquer space.  I still remember watching, awestruck, a grainy black-and-white live television feed as Neil Armstrong first set foot on the moon.  Although space Exploration may not hold the same attention it once did, there are still important lessons for us from that program that extend beyond science and astronomy.  The lessons have to do with being willing to go beyond what is known, recognizing that each uncharted step brings risk as well as tremendous gains.  By daring to chart undiscovered territory we are able to broaden our horizons and fulfill our potential beyond what we may currently expect.  This week in our prayer and meditation let us consider if there are ways in our life that we can step beyond the comfort of what we presently know and seek instead to Explore uncharted territory.  By being willing to take on the risks of Exploration may we discover more about ourselves and go beyond what we believe are our limitations.

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 willing to take on the risks of Exploration in areas of my life I have not visited previously?  How does it feel in my body when I find that what I thought were barriers and limitations were removed through the daring of Exploration?  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 kmiritello@gmail.com

Meditation Instructions for Sun., December 7, 2014

For this Sunday, December 7th, the focus for our meditation will be on Responsibility.  Back-to-back rulings by entirely separate Grand Jury proceedings in the deaths of two black men by police officers have escalated tensions in many cities around this country.  The cases are more complicated than they initially seem, hugely controversial and terribly polarizing.  I lack any dogmatic commentary as to what I believe was right or wrong about either case.  Instead, they simply leave me feeling sad.  I am sad for the mothers of young black men around this country and the fear they must face every time one of their sons walks out the door to their home.  I am sad for our law enforcement officers and the incredibly difficult job they are tasked to do, knowing that many good officers are likely to feel hesitant and criticized as to their actions.  I am sad for people of color around this nation who daily must deal with prejudice and unfair judgment by others merely because of their appearance.  I am sad for honest, hard-working business people whose shops have been vandalized and looted by those who would take advantage of a terrible situation.  The only thing I can think to do is to pray that change be brought about to help heal our nation.  My prayer this week is that people everywhere across our nation take more Responsibility for their actions.  May those who are charged to “protect and serve” take that Responsibility to heart and be willing to carry out their duties with patience, understanding, and fairness.  May those who break laws accept Responsibility for their actions without resorting to unnecessary defensiveness and victimization.  May our community, religious, and political leaders all take Responsibility for calming rather than inflaming the anger that has rippled through cities around the country.  Let us ask that a greater willingness to accept Responsibility lead this nation to a more equitable enforcement of our laws that makes it possible for all to live in peace and harmony. 

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 have accepted Responsibility for my actions, particularly if I feel they have fallen short?  How does it feel in my body when I am able to take Responsibility not only for my successes but also my failings?  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 kmiritello@gmail.com