Meditation Instructions for Sun., March 29, 2015

For this Sunday, March 29th, the focus for our meditation will be on Bridges.  Many spiritual traditions believe that we are always connected to our ancestors.  They may be present in our lives to continue to look over us and even come to our assistance when asked.  However, the Bridge between us goes in both directions.  Just as our ancestors can be a resource for us, we can be of assistance to them.  When family patterns that may be viewed as unhelpful or destructive are finally broken, the healing that results ripples back across generations.  The progress that we are able to make in our lifetime can release a family lineage from past mistakes and failures.  This can not only heal past generations but may also free future generations from having to contend with these same issues going forward.  For many of us, one of the spiritual reasons we are brought into this lifetime is to become more conscious of these family patterns and to serve as a Bridge to help heal them.  This week in our prayer and meditation let us think about the issues that tend to repeat themselves in our family lineage and be ask to shown how to best resolve them.  May we be guided to better ways to live our life so that future generations may be freed of old patterns that tend to hold us back.

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 the presence of my ancestors in my life and the Bridge that exists between us?  How does it feel in my body when I realize that by more consciously living my life I may serve as a Bridge to bring healing to past and future generations?  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., March 22, 2015

For this Sunday, March 22nd, the focus for our meditation will be on Influence.  The other day I was driving in my local town when I saw a police vehicle stop in a major intersection to block traffic so a funeral procession could go through.  The procession was a mix of motorcycles and automobiles and its length was impressive.  In fact, it has to have been the longest funeral procession I have ever seen in person, and I began to wonder who the honoree might have been.  Perhaps they were an elder statesman who held some elected position in the area, or the wise patriarch or matriarch of a local important family, or a prominent business person.  It was none of those.  The longest funeral procession I have ever witnessed was held for a 16-year-old girl named Emily Elkins.  She died after battling cancer for almost four years, but what makes her so special is what she did with that time.  A couple of years ago her story made national news when a reprobate stole a donation jar placed on a store counter to collect money to help Emily’s family pay for her medical expenses.  Donations subsequently poured in from around the country as people learned of Emily’s misfortune.  The amount ended up being a significant multiple of what sat in that countertop jar, yet Emily stunned everyone by giving it all away to others she felt were in greater need.  She especially loved to collect toys for other children, and worked tirelessly to make sure they were able to have a Christmas each year.  In the process she forged a lasting bond with local motorcycle groups who helped with her campaign.  This past Christmas, when the cancer was finally wearing her down, she still managed to collect two truckloads of toys for children.  As I read about this amazing teenager in the local paper it occurred to me that she had likely had greater Influence on vastly more people than any of the adults in her brief life.  The seemingly endless cortege of people whose life she had clearly touched spoke volumes about the extent of her Influence on them.  This week in our prayer and meditation time let us consider her example and seek inspiration from what she achieved.  Let us ask what Influence we have on others around us and may we be shown ways to have a more positive and lasting Influence throughout our communities.

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 consciously aware of the Influence my presence has on others around me?  How does it feel in my body when I recognize that my way of engaging with others in my life can have a positive Influence on them?  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., March 15, 2015

For this Sunday, March 15th, the focus for our meditation will be on Deeds.  A few years ago I happened to meet a documentary filmmaker named Thomas Morgan on a flight from New York to Charlotte.  We started chatting across the aisle from each other, and he told me about his work and family, including a “game” he and his wife had taught to their children called, “100 Good Deeds.”  The game goes like this – each member of the family was challenged to complete 100 good Deeds for other people with the caveat that they had to all be done anonymously, i.e., the recipient had to be completely unaware of the identity of their benefactor.  It was Tom and his wife’s very effective way of teaching kindness and generosity to their children.  After I met Tom he subsequently crossed paths with a woman who was inspired by hearing of this family game to create the 100 Good Deeds project (see www.100gooddeeds.org to learn more).  The group sells a bracelet made by indigent women around the world which gives them a means to support themselves and their families.  The beaded bracelet is worn as a reminder and mechanism to track the good Deeds the wearer achieves.   A couple of months ago Tom was traveling through an airport when he watched a man in line ahead of him who was wearing one of these bracelets purchase an upgrade to first class and then turn around to give it away.  It must have been a surreal moment to see first-hand the positive impact your life can have on others.  This week in our prayer and meditation let us think about the Deeds we want to be known for in our life.  How do we spend our time and resources, and are there more positive ways we can impact the world around us through our Deeds?  Let us ask that projects such as 100 Good Deeds help spread across this land the spirit of compassion and generosity through the energy of our meditation.

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 have done a good Deed for another without their knowing?  How does it feel in my body when my sense of compassion and generosity grows by having done a good Deed?  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., March 8, 2015

For this Sunday, March 8th, the focus for our meditation will be on Sparks.  When I was growing up teachers were far more than just educators in my life.  They served as role models, encouraging mentors, friends, and instilled a lifelong Spark in me to continually keep learning.  I consider myself to have been extraordinarily blessed to receive an education in a school system that at the time was one of the best in the country and was filled with teachers who loved what they did.  Unfortunately, the teaching profession has drastically changed.  Enrollments in teacher training programs have significantly declined in less than a decade.  Not only are we turning out fewer new teachers than ever before but those who have been teaching are leaving the profession in droves.  Mounting frustrations over politicized school administrations, budget woes, and having to “teach to test” so students can pass mandatory standardized examinations are demoralizing our teachers.  The teaching profession desperately needs the energy and light of our prayers to help re-ignite the Spark in these professionals to instill a love of learning in our young people.  This week let us ask that the Spark to teach be fed by the energy of our prayers and meditation.  May all those who support the teaching profession, to include administrators, counselors, and any who hopefully Spark a desire to learn in others be filled with the energy to continue to serve in this noble profession.

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 a Spark to learn has been ignited by those who have served as my teachers?  How does it feel in my body when I have a burning desire to learn as a result of being Sparked by those who love to teach?  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., March 1, 2015

For this Sunday, March 1st, the focus for our meditation will be on Interest.  A 2013 documentary titled, “The Lady in Number 6,” was about a woman named Alice Herz-Sommer who at the time of the filming was the oldest living survivor of the Holocaust.  Born and raised in Prague, she grew up to become an accomplished violinist, and this talent saved her life.  Removed from Prague by the Nazis, she was sent to Theresienstadt where she was allowed to join the orchestra and perform for their captors.  One of the officers in charge was so captivated by her playing that he told her she would never be sent to the other camps so he could continue to listen to her music.  The camp was ultimately liberated, and Herz-Sommer returned to a life of music.  At the time of the documentary she lived in a small apartment in North London and despite her 109 years of age played the piano every day.  Her eyes shone clear and bright, and her face almost continually held a charming smile.  Asked about the secret to not only her longevity but also the remarkable absence of resentment about her Holocaust experience, Herz-Sommer spoke of how she still fully enjoyed life by having a sincere Interest in everything around her.  When meeting new people, she always found something Interesting in their conversation and loved to learn about them and their background.  This ability to sustain her Interest in others is likely what kept her healthy and alert up to the age of 110 when she finally passed of old age, one week before the documentary featuring her received an Academy Award.  Her story serves to inspire the rest of us and prompts us to consider what captures our Interest in life.  This week in our prayer and meditation let us think about what we still find Interesting about the life around us.  If we are able to change our focus from ourselves to others and find genuine Interest in their stories perhaps we, too, may discover it sustains us over a long and productive 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 have a deep and sincere Interest in learning about new experiences and people?  How does it feel in my body when I am more Interested in listening to others than in being solely focused on myself?  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