Meditation Instructions for Sun., February 22, 2015

For this Sunday, February 22nd, the focus for our meditation will be on Essentials.  Renowned neurologist Oliver Sacks, author of “The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat,” and “Awakenings,” sent an Op-Ed piece to The New York Times this past week announcing he has terminal cancer.  He speaks of the richness of his life and at age 81 how he has no regret at facing the prospect of his life ending in a few months.  Of particular inspiration is how he is facing this prognosis.  He writes, “I feel a sudden clear focus and perspective.  There is no time for anything inessential.”  As Kevin Kline’s character in the movie, “Life as a House,” says, “We’re all dying from the start.  I just got pushed to the head of the line.”  While we all face this inevitable prospect, there is something about a terminal diagnosis that adds a sense of urgency and clarity to the time remaining.  Rather than wait for such a situation and perhaps not have sufficient time to address all that one wants to do in life, let us consider what we believe to be most Essential to us.  If we knew beforehand the time limitation imposed on this life, how would we spend those precious hours and days?  Are there ways we are focusing our energy and resources that could be better directed to something more Essential to our spiritual well-being?  Might we want to think about using our time to enjoy friends and family, be more kind and thoughtful, or do something productive that enriches our world?  Let us ask this week in our prayer and meditation to be guided toward what is truly Essential and what we may want to discard instead.

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 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 of what is most important and Essential in my life?  How does it feel in my body when I have a clarity of purpose that helps me focus on what is truly Essential?  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., February 15, 2015

For this Sunday, February 15th, the focus for our meditation will be on Optimism.  A recent study examining factors that contribute to cardiovascular health found that people with a more positive outlook on life had lower levels of heart problems.  Even when controlling for a multitude of other factors such as age, race, and socioeconomic status those who have a more Optimistic disposition are twice as likely to have better cardiovascular health than their more pessimistic counterparts.  Optimists also tend to have significantly better blood sugar and cholesterol levels suggesting that their rosier outlook on life impacts not only their mental well-being but also their physical health.  This week in our prayer and meditation let us consider how we approach life and whether we are able to see the glass as half full instead of half empty.  If Optimism is something we find hard to achieve, let us ask to be shown how to appreciate all the positive potential our life holds.  Through our prayer and meditation may we be led to recognize how a genuinely Optimistic outlook brings far greater benefits to our 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 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 feeling genuinely Optimistic about my life?  How does it feel in my body when I am willing to consider the more Optimistic side to an issue before the negative aspect?  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., February 8, 2015

For this Sunday, February 8th, the focus for our meditation will be on Complexity. When I was in graduate school I was frustrated by the presentation of research on the workings of memory in the brain.  One study would be presented that appeared to give evidence to support its theory, but there would always be parts that somehow didn’t quite fit or couldn’t be explained.  The professor would then present a different study, one that seemed to better explain the missing pieces from the first one but that still had gaps of its own.  My frustration grew with each successive presentation of research studies that dismissed all of the successive theories and evidence to claim theirs was the right one.  For me, I could see there were parts to each of the studies that made sense and provided an elegant explanation for some portion of how memory works in the brain.  Why couldn’t they collectively be accepted instead of being forced into the stance that only one could be right and the rest wrong?  Why couldn’t most of them be correct in some small contributing way?  This readiness to reject binary thinking and accept greater Complexity extended far beyond graduate school – it is how I often approach much of life.  Our world does not exist in the clear contrast of black and white.  Yet time and again I see conflict arise in our country because people try to force others into a “this or that” decision.  Why can’t the choice be that I both agree with some parts of what you are saying and disagree with other parts?  Life is more Complex than simple binary choices, and if we are willing to open our minds to receive this perhaps there will be greater acceptance of the diversity and Complexity our world represents.  This week in our prayer and meditation let us ask that our nation come to accept the Complexity of life and be willing to find a middle way that does not force people into taking sides that oppose others.  May we ask that by embracing greater Complexity we may ease the tensions and conflicts that seem to permeate this country.

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 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 able to see the validity to all sides of a Complex issue?  How does it feel in my body when I realize I do not need to make “either/or” decisions but can instead choose a position that has more Complexity?  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