Meditation Instructions for Sun., January 1, 2017

For this Sunday, January 1st, the first day of a new year, the focus for our meditation will be on Friendship.  Do you realize there is an entire generation of young people for whom the concept of “Friendship” means clicking a button on social media by the name of someone they may never have met and with whom they barely have a passing acquaintance?  Their entire experience of Friendship relies on a technological device to superficially connect with others.  For that generation, being Friends with someone often means having to pretend publicly that life is wonderful and enviable.  Real Friendship, however, takes work and often requires our attention as though tending to a seedling.  While you may have to put some effort into it, the rewards can be incredibly fulfilling.  It means you have someone you can reach out to when life lets you down or someone you can ask a favor of without feeling as though you are imposing on them.  Genuine Friendship involves trust, knowing someone is there who has your back and with whom a shared confidence will be maintained.  Generations don’t know and may never come to know what this form of Friendship entails, which I consider to be a sad prospect.  This first week of a new year let us take time in our meditation and prayer practice to deeply ponder the concept of Friendship in our life.  Let us ask whether we take sufficient time to nurture those important relationships that blossom into deep Friendships rather than casual acquaintances.  Let us find ways to express our appreciation for the presence of real Friends in our life.  Through the expansion of our ability to cherish true Friendship may others around us also come to recognize the immeasurable benefit that comes from investing in those relationships that help sustain us through life’s inevitable difficulties.

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 what do I feel in my body when I appreciate the presence of true Friends around me?  How does it feel in my body when I take time to nurture those Friendships that truly make a difference 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 kmiritello@gmail.com

Meditation Instructions for Sun., December 25, 2016

For this Sunday, December 25th, the focus for our meditation will be on Inspiration.  One thing I love about this holiday season each year is how stories proliferate about people and incidents that can Inspire us.  Tales abound of compassion, generosity, and kindness extended to others in unexpected ways.  For a change the evening news programs include coverage about the goodness of people and how they reach out to others in need this time of year.  In a period where there has been so much anger, hatred, and division the only way to relieve the oppression of that darkness is to increase our focus on the light that is always present.  It is easy to become distracted by all the negativity and forget that the option to choose what brings light and Inspiration to us is always the better choice.  This week in our prayer and meditation time let us try to find those things that most Inspire us in life.  Through moments of Inspiration may we be shown how to raise ourselves and our nation up.

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 what do I feel in my body when I feel Inspired by the goodness and light of others?  How does it feel in my body when I appreciate those moments that bring Inspiration and help raise me up?  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 18, 2016

For this Sunday, December 18th, the focus for our meditation will be on Solitude.  This time of year quickly becomes busy with numerous social obligations.  People gather at the workplace or in neighborhoods and communities to celebrate the holiday season, perhaps exchange gifts, and enjoy some merriment.  For those of us who tend to be more on the introverted side, this time can be stressful and draining.  While I can put on a game face and engage in chit chat with people I don’t know well I quickly reach saturation and find myself longing to extricate myself from these social events.  Sometimes all I want to do is curl up with a good book and my dog and enjoy the peace and quiet that comes with Solitude.  This morning I began my day with a long hike in the woods.  The temperatures were surprisingly nice, and I enjoyed the companionship of my dog, the chirping birds, and the rustling trees.  There weren’t any other hikers out on the trail, and I soaked up the calm that filled the Solitude of the woods.  We all benefit from periods of Solitude where we can take time to examine our thoughts, to dialogue with God, and connect with nature.  Such Solitude can help to center and ground us against the otherwise hectic pace of life.  This week in our prayer and meditation time let us consider how we may find occasional moments of Solitude even in a busy time of year that will help us recharge.  May we be gently reminded of the benefits of Solitude that bring an inner peace that help insulate us against the pressures of our world all year long.

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 what do I feel in my body when I am filled with the peace that comes with Solitude?  How does it feel in my body when I am still and appreciate a moment of Solitude that helps clear and recharge my energy?  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 11, 2016

For this Sunday, December 11th, the focus for our meditation will be on Building.  This past week John Glenn, the first American to circumnavigate the earth in space, passed away at the age of 95.  He was a courageous pioneer who not only served his country as an astronaut but also represented his home state of Ohio in the U.S. Senate for twenty years.  During his lifetime he saw a lot of changes in this country and our society, but he never lost his optimism.  He is quoted as saying, “Don’t give in to complacency and cynicism.  Don’t ignore what is bad, but concentrate on Building what is good.  Don’t take America and the values reflected in our form of government for granted.  And never forget that in our democracy, the government is not ‘them’ – it is ‘us.’”  At a time when cynicism and negativity seem rampant, there is much wisdom in his words.  I completely understand how people feel discouraged and seriously concerned about the future of this country.  Yet, if we only seek to tear down and criticize rather than Build up and make positive change our efforts do not contribute in a beneficial way and are simply a waste of our time and energy.  As Senator Glenn suggested this is not about passivity or apathy.  The government is our creation, and it is our responsibility to see that it acts in a manner that truly reflects the values and ethics of this great country.  However, the most effective way to shape this country’s future is to act with the intent to Build up rather than tear down.  This week in our prayer and meditation time let us ask to be shown how to help Build something that contributes to our society and nation in a constructive way.  May we be guided how to assist this country in a manner that brings positive change instead of more negativity and ask that this same energy spread across our entire land.

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 what do I feel in my body when I have Built something that makes a beneficial difference in the world?  How does it feel in my body when I desire to contribute positively by Building rather than perpetuate the destruction of negativity?  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 4, 2016

For this Sunday, December 4th, the focus for our meditation will be on Shedding.  I’m sure it is more than mere coincidence that I know of many people right now who are going through possessions and Shedding what they no longer need.  Some are going through this process because of a relocation and trying to downsize with the move.  Others, however, have no plans to move but are simply feeling pulled to Shed the excess items around them to minimize and simplify their homes.  It seems paradoxical that at a time of year when so many people are adding to their material possessions through the mad dash of holiday shopping others are seeking to lighten their load of what they own. 

As we enter winter nature goes through this same process as the trees Shed their leaves.  It actually helps them better withstand the snows that will eventually come as New England learned a few years ago when an early snowfall made tree branches, still teeming with leaves, break under the extra weight.  Native cultures believe that the winter season is when many people who are nearing the end of their life cycle choose to Shed this life on earth and pass into the next.  There is a time and season for all things, including the need for loss and giving things up.  This week in our prayer and meditation let us ponder whether our life might be made less stressful by Shedding rather than accumulating more.  Let us take advantage of the spirit of generosity that hallmarks this season by considering others without enough who may benefit from that which we are willing to Shed.  May we also be moved to look beyond material goods and recognize the advantage that comes from Shedding habits or patterns in our life that are no longer helpful.

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 what do I feel in my body when I am able to minimalize my abundance of possessions and Shed what I no longer need?  How does it feel in my body when I lighten and simplify my life by Shedding that which no longer serves me?  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., November 27, 2016

For this Sunday, November 27th, the focus for our meditation will be on Laughter.  Today while returning from a trip to spend the Thanksgiving holiday with family I happened to mention to someone that it was the first time in years all my siblings had been together and what a great time we had.  She remarked I was the first person she’d heard say that and everyone else she knew was exhausted by having to spend time with family over the holiday.  I’m not quite sure what made our family gathering different other than how readily we all are prone to dissolving into Laughter when we are together.  We certainly have had our share of arguments, both growing up and as adults, but one thing we all love to do is Laugh.  We find humor in almost everything, and even managed to bring up the dreaded topic of politics without it dissolving into fighting.  Instead, we found ourselves Laughing at some of our observations about the recent election gauntlet this nation has been through.  We Laughed at tales told about each other and the goofy things we had done as kids and even told stories on ourselves and the dumb things we’d done as adults.  Nothing was sacred and nothing was taken too seriously.  All sorts of research studies have shown the physiological benefits of Laughter.  Norman Cousins even wrote a book, “Anatomy of an Illness,” about his experiences with a serious disease and how Laughter gave him relief from pain during his recovery.  As we move into the end-of-year holiday period and attempt to recover from the ordeal of our national election let us try turning to Laughter to help find healing.  May we recognize the benefits that come from good-natured humor and realize that taking ourselves and life too seriously often tends to drag us down rather than lift us up.  Through the gift of shared Laughter may we find the healing and unity this country so badly needs.

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 what do I feel in my body when I am willing to Laugh at myself and not take things too seriously?  How does it feel in my body when I am joined with others in Laughter that helps elevate our mood?  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., November 20, 2016

For this Sunday, November 20th, the focus for our meditation will be on Movement.  I don’t ordinarily pay much attention to Hollywood celebrities who feel compelled to spout off about politics.  But I will make an exception this week to quote someone who has the distinction of being not only a beloved actor but also an individual who is greatly respected for his character and integrity.  That actor is Tom Hanks.  Last week he attended an event to honor his career and rather than talk about himself he used that time to reassure his fellow Americans in this post-election frenzy that “we are going to be all right.”  As he put it, “We who are a week into wondering what the hell just happened will continue to Move forward. We have to choose to do so, but we will Move forward because if we do not Move forward what is to be said of us?”  It is that spirit of confidence and optimism that will help us all find a way to remain grounded and centered even when we feel there is a maelstrom trying to blow us apart.  If we can step back and try to take in the much bigger picture it may help us regain our perspective.  Ultimately, we will have to Move ahead in our own lives and also on the path set before this nation.  That path is not yet clear but will be made known as we Move through the mist in trying to find our way.  The key is we can’t allow ourselves to become stagnant or to give up.  By restoring our desire to Move forward our nation will regain its hope that the future continues to hold the promise of a better life for all.

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 what do I feel in my body when I realize the importance of striving to make Forward progress in my life?  How does it feel in my body when I am willing to keep trying to make Forward movement even when I am facing headwinds?  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., November 13, 2016

For this Sunday, November 13th, the focus for our meditation will be on Healing.  In November 1932, Franklin Delano Roosevelt won the national election to become the 32^nd President of the United States.  The victory over his opponent, Herbert Hoover, was resounding, with FDR carrying 42 out of the then 48 states, taking the popular vote with 22,821,277 to Hoover’s 15,761,254 and carrying the Electoral College by a landslide of 472 electoral votes to Hoover’s 59.  By contrast, the incredibly close margins of our most recent election only speak to the widespread division within this country.  In 1932 people had plenty of reason to be discontent for the nation was in the midst of the Great Depression.  Our nation certainly does not appear to be in such dire straits as it faced all those decades ago.  And yet there are many today who obviously feel angry and disenfranchised.  I firmly believe our nation is resilient and strong enough to overcome any of the obstacles in our path.  We managed to survive a four-year civil war that set family members, neighbors and friends against each other and resulted in the total loss of human life far greater than all other U.S. wars combined.  We pulled ourselves out of the depression.  This country survived a devastating terrorist attack on American soil that forever altered our society.  We are capable today of Healing the divisions that plague our nation along the lines of race, gender, ethnicity, age, sexual preference, socioeconomic status, and so on.  But, we can only bring about this Healing if we are willing to accept our differences and set them aside in order to work together.  For our nation to overcome the tremendous adversity we now face we must sincerely desire to end the fracturing discord by asking that this country be fully Healed.  This week in our prayer and meditation time let us ask that Divine intervention assist this country to find a way toward Healing its ills.  Through the energy and power of our prayer may we seek to promote genuine Healing that unifies this nation and allows us to mend the schisms that would otherwise diminish our strength and resolve.

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 what do I feel in my body when I have experienced the miracle of true and complete Healing?  How does it feel in my body when I am aware of how Healing can mend all wounds?  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., November 6, 2016

For this Sunday, November 6th, the focus for our meditation will be on Prayer.  My wonderful sister, Lisa Marie Pane, recently posted on her Facebook feed a photograph of a signboard outside a church that read, “No matter who wins the election we will Pray for them.”  How refreshing!  Rather than spouting rancor and discord and trying to make a candidate appear sainted or demonized, we all need to learn this lesson that we must support with our Prayers whichever candidate is elected.  We may not like them, we may not always agree with their decisions, we may be more quick to see their flaws than their strengths, but we as a nation have no choice but to throw our support behind the victor.  If we continue to denigrate and criticize we only weaken this nation.  This doesn’t mean that we blindly allow them to do whatever they wish while in office; we still need to make them accountable for their actions, but we should respect the position they hold and be supportive accordingly.  So, how do we provide that support?  Through the power of our Prayers.  Whatever faith you hold, whatever deity or Supreme Being or Universal Spirit you believe in, call upon that divine assistance and ask that the next leader of this nation be guided in their role.  Pray for your community, Pray for your town or city, Pray for your state, Pray for this entire country that it be lifted up by our Prayers and made capable of all the greatness it is destined to achieve.  This week through the light and energy of our Prayers may we lend our support to our nation as a whole no matter the outcome of this election. 

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 what do I feel in my body when I have experienced the support of Prayer in my life?  How does it feel in my body when I am connected to the energy of Prayer that makes a positive change in my life and the life of others?  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., October 30, 2016

For this Sunday, October 30th, the focus for our meditation will be on Leadership.  Like it or not, one of the two major party candidates running for national office will be elected our next President in a little more than a week from now.  For those holding that esteemed office for the first time, there is a steep learning curve; no one comes to the job fully prepared.  One of the most important characteristics that individual needs to have is Leadership.  Leadership comes from a place of authenticity and is about setting one’s own ambitions aside for the greater good of the group.  Leadership requires letting go of ego and pride in favor of working toward compromise and bipartisanship.  Leadership is about firm but compassionate decision-making.  True Leaders monitor and modify accordingly their conduct and statements to best represent this nation as a global power with high ethical standards to the rest of the world.  Genuine Leaders rely on power and wisdom instead of force and domination.  If you look at the major party candidates and find these qualities lacking, now is the time to begin some serious prayer work.  I am thoroughly convinced people can change, and that process of transformation is facilitated with the presence of supportive energy.  This week in our prayer and meditation time let us ask that both candidates be assisted in their preparation to assume national office.  May the light and energy of our prayers transform them into better people who will take the reins of Leadership responsibly and help guide our nation through the challenging times ahead.

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 what do I feel in my body when I am in the presence of someone who has the qualities of true Leadership?  How does it feel in my body when I know people are capable of being transformed into real Leaders?  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., October 23, 2016

For this Sunday, October 23rd, the focus for our meditation will be on Responsibility.  Our national election is only a little more than two weeks away.  Thankfully we are spared from any further televised debates, and candidates are in their final push to garner votes.  I am one of those voters who is not enthralled with either candidate this election, and there are many others who feel similarly.  It is hard to know how to cast one’s ballot with so much rancor and apparent deception rife in the campaigns.  These points are being raised not to foster a greater sense of discouragement but to recognize that because of their impact many voters are feeling especially apathetic this election year.  We must come to the realization there has never been a totally perfect political candidate who has run for office, nor will there ever be in the future.  Our politicians are human beings complete with flaws, strengths and weaknesses.  These are the only choices we have this election, and if we fail to exercise our right to vote it does not help our country at all.  Our populace forgets how privileged we are as a nation to have a democratic process of government that affords each citizen the right to vote.  There are other countries where that right is not extended to all or elections are mere public shams whose outcome is already fixed by those in power.  As we advance to the November 8^th election let us contribute the light and energy of our prayers to help stem the spread of apathy that may prevent people from voting.  Let us ask that through our meditation this week that we come to accept the Responsibility we have as citizens of this great nation to cast our votes.  May all our citizens recognize the privilege we have of being able to vote freely and be willing to take on that task in a Responsible manner.

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 what do I feel in my body when I realize how fortunate I am to be given the Responsibility to freely cast a vote?  How does it feel in my body when I am willing to act Responsibly and vote for the candidates of my choice who are running for office at all levels of government?  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., October 16, 2016

For this Sunday, October 16th, the focus for our meditation will be on Consideration.  A while ago I stumbled across a blog by a freelance writer who spoke about the valuable lessons she learned from having worked in a McDonald’s restaurant for four years while in school.  Her family and friends were baffled by her willingness to work there and continually made comments that she was “better” than the sort of people one thinks of being employed by the fast-food industry.  However, over time she began to see things differently and actually came to feel some pride for her employer.  As she put it, “At McDonald’s, there were people with disabilities, overweight people, people who weren’t conventionally attractive, people who couldn’t speak much English, young teenagers and a lot of racial diversity. These people made up the backbone of the store. They were respected as some of our best workers.”  She realized she was not better than the others and instead acquired a sense of respect or Consideration for all the positive contributions they were making in the workplace.  It can be so easy in our society where people seem programmed to denigrate those they consider to be less skilled to overlook all the great qualities they may possess.  Some may never be college graduates, but they are hard-working, conscientious employees who routinely go the extra distance to do their job right.  Perhaps not only we but also our politicians would be better served to have greater Consideration for people regardless of any perceived lack of status in job or station in life.  Instead, let us ask if they try their best, if they are kind to others, and if they go about their daily life wanting to improve the world around them even in the smallest of ways.  This week in our prayer and meditation time let us think of others we encounter who might be easily overlooked and instead develop a level of Consideration for them that allows us to see them as individuals making a positive contribution.  Let us ask that the energy of our prayers help this nation grow in its willingness to have respect and Consideration for all its citizens, regardless of status.

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 what do I feel in my body when I recognize that I have Consideration for others around me?  How does it feel in my body when I feel respect and Consideration for people who may appear to be of a different status from me in society?  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., October 9, 2016

For this Sunday, October 9th, the focus for our meditation will be on Transition.  We all experience periods of Transition in our life.  For instance, these Transitory phases occur when we have graduated from school but not yet found career employment; we are no longer students but can’t yet identify ourselves in a particular job or profession.  They happen when we are engaged to be married; we are no longer single but are not yet the legal spouse of another.  There are many such stages in life that are considered in-between periods in which we have left behind one identity but haven’t officially donned the mantle of the next.  Transition can be unsettling for the reason that we may feel unanchored by that in-betweenness.  Another way to look at Transition is to consider ourselves now freed from labels and obligations which then opens up an even greater realm of possibilities.  We have the ability to be anything we want without being constrained by a particular identity that defines who we are or how we are to behave.  Rather than struggle against the Transitional phases that we will all encounter at one time or another, let us instead consider them for the opportunities they present.  This week in our prayer and meditation let us ask for guidance to show us how to best use these periods of Transition in our life to gain the most benefit for our higher self.  May we be shown how to navigate these in-between times of Transition and to recognize the freedom they represent to discover new possibilities for 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 what do I feel in my body when I am in a period of Transition in my life?  How does it feel in my body when I realize Transitions can be filled with opportunity rather than surrounded by what seems instability?  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., October 2, 2016

For this Sunday, October 2nd, the focus for our meditation will be on Homecoming.  Years ago it was typical for someone to grow up and spend their entire adult life in the same state or even town where they were born and raised.  One of the changes unique to modern life is the greater mobility enabled by our vast highway system as well as affordable access to planes and trains.  People are no longer limited geographically and find it much easier to relocate great distances.  I grew up in Connecticut and yet am amazed at how dispersed my high school classmates are with many of them scattered across the entire nation and some now even residing in foreign countries.  I’ve lived in only five states in my lifetime but have traveled to almost 40 different countries and find it interesting how some places immediately feel like Home and others never lose that foreign feeling no matter how much time I’ve spent visiting.  What is it about a place that the moment we set foot there it tugs at our heart in a way that makes us feel as though we are being embraced and welcomed Home?  It is as though the land itself holds an energy that resonates with our physical body and makes us instantly feel “in tune.”  Fortunately, once you have ever experienced that sensation you can reconnect with that energy even from far away locations.  There was a place where I grew up that I loved to spend many hours taking long walks or runs.  It was a wooded park that let me connect to nature and made me feel completely at peace.  To this day, when I call upon the memory of that place I feel grounded and at Home no matter where I might be at the time.  This week in our prayer and meditation time let us consider what makes us feel at Home.  Let us ask to be shown how to connect with the energy of a place that offers us a sense of Homecoming that is always accessible and helps us feel grounded and at peace.

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 what do I feel in my body when I am in a place that makes me feel comfortable and immediately at Home?  How does it feel in my body when I can recall the sensation of Homecoming no matter where I may be?  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., September 25, 2016

For this Sunday, September 25th, the focus for our meditation will be on Appreciation.  A schoolteacher in Florida named Chris Ulmer begins every day spending several minutes one-on-one with his students just to shower them with praise and let them know how much he Appreciates them as individuals.  Over time he found this practice modified their behavior with each other.  Soon he noticed students spontaneously complimenting each other and showing more patience with their fellow classmates.  By feeling Appreciated they more readily wanted to interact with others in a loving way rather than with anger.  The power of being acknowledged and Appreciated was transformative and helped his students to blossom as individuals.  This week when we look across this nation at all the strife that has resulted in acts of violence, in protests, and in anger and hatred let us consider how to help our country be transformed through the power of love and praise.  Find opportunities over the next week to let others know how much you Appreciate them for who they are.  Reach out to someone who may be different from you and acknowledge them in a way that makes them feel valued.  Let those in law enforcement who truly want to serve and protect know that they, too, are Appreciated for the difficult work they do.  By modeling our readiness to express Appreciation for others may we generate a wave of change that extends far beyond our communities and helps this nation ease the struggles that appear to want to consume us. 

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 what do I feel in my body when others express Appreciation for who I am?  How does it feel in my body when I see the impact that can change someone else when I relate how much I Appreciate 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., September 18, 2016

For this Sunday, September 18th, the focus for our meditation will be on Priorities.  Last week saw the release of the movie, “Sully,” about the US Airways pilot, Captain Chesley Sullenberger, who successfully landed a plane in the Hudson River in New York City after losing both engines to a massive bird strike.  The incredible emergency landing in water was not attributed to mere luck but was very much a result of his hours of experience and preparation for just such a moment.  In his book, “Highest Duty,” Captain Sullenberger writes, “I had read enough about safety and cognitive theory.  I knew about the concept of ‘goal sacrificing.’  When it’s no longer possible to complete all of your goals, you sacrifice lower-Priority goals.  You do this in order to perform and fulfill higher goals…I knew instinctively and intuitively that goal sacrificing was paramount if we were to preserve life on Flight 1549.”  This lightning-fast Prioritization helped him realize he had to sacrifice the plane in order to save lives.  While hopefully most of us won’t ever be in a position of having to make such life or death decisions, we all can benefit from the wisdom he shares.  Some of us are held back from accomplishing as much as we are capable of because we cling to the need to perform everything on our list with perfection.  Perhaps we lack flexibility and feel that we must perform a sequence of actions in just the right order, but if we get hung up on the early tasks and are reluctant to set them aside undone, they can hinder our progress on the more important activities.  This week in our prayer and meditation let us examine the goals we have set for ourselves and the steps we believe we must follow to achieve them.  Are there intermediate steps that perhaps could be set aside or skipped that might interfere with how much we ultimately are able to do in the end?  Let us ask this week to be gently guided in the need to Prioritize our lives so we more clearly can see what truly matters and what may be sacrificed that would otherwise 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 what do I feel in my body when I am able to Prioritize what really matters and shed those things that are preventing me from making progress?  How does it feel in my body when I recognize I get so much more done when I am willing to sacrifice lower Priorities to focus on those that are more important?  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., September 11, 2016

For this Sunday, September 11th, the focus for our meditation will be on Togetherness.  This Sunday marks the fifteenth anniversary of the September 11^th terrorist attacks on our nation.  It was a cataclysmic moment that forever altered our lives.  One of the survivors, Michael Benfante, wrote a book about his experiences titled, “Reluctant Hero.”  He and a coworker were in the North Tower of the World Trade Center and on their long, grueling journey down the stairs from their office came across a woman in a wheelchair.  Together they carried her down sixty-eight floors and out to safety just moments before the building collapsed.  He didn’t think of himself as doing anything particularly heroic.  In his mind, the real heroes were all the firefighters he passed on his way down as they grimly made their way up toward the fires knowing it was likely to be an impossible task ahead of them.  After the event he was repeatedly interviewed and asked why he did what he did.  He said it was because he knew the only way they were going to make it was to help each other and stick Together.  In his book he wrote, “The message of 9/11 that desperately needs remembering is no more complicated than We’re in this together.  The this means this office, this classroom, this street, this town, this country, or wherever you find yourself standing.  And we need not wait for the next fire, the next explosion, or the next tragedy to find that out or to act that out.”  Fifteen years later our nation faces so many challenges most of which are internally generated and not from some external threat.  As we reflect this week on the tragedy that took place on September 11^th let us remember that we are so much stronger if we face our problems not in a spirit of divisiveness but in Togetherness.  In our prayers and meditation let us ask that the feeling of Togetherness that briefly knitted the wounds created by 9/11 be restored, and may we all come to realize the importance of being united Together as a nation to successfully overcome the challenges ahead.

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 what do I feel in my body when I recognize the importance of being Together with others in facing a challenge?  How does it feel in my body when I realize we are stronger when aligned in a spirit of Togetherness than divisiveness?  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., September 4, 2016

For this Sunday, September 4th, the focus for our meditation will be on Infusion.  This Labor Day weekend I would like to draw attention to a skilled artisan in Singapore, a man named Heath Yeo.  Mr. Yeo abandoned a successful career as a clothing fashion designer to spend the next several years being tutored by an elderly woman in how to create “sulam,” a traditional form of embroidery known in that region.  His handiwork commands steep prices in comparison with mass-produced clothing that often involves a great deal of computerized fabrication.  For his customers, what distinguishes the quality of the delicate flowers and petals that ornament his fabrics is they appear more “alive” than their commercial counterparts.  His human touch Infuses the work with what the local people call “hidup,” meaning it comes alive.  I believe this is what captivates us with many art forms.  The artist’s energy and spirit Infuse their work and give it a vitality that draws our attention.  As we celebrate Labor Day this weekend let us consider what we produce in the world through our labors, whether vocational or avocational, and how much of ourselves do we put into the end result.  Do we Infuse ourselves in our work so the fruits of our labor come alive for others, or are we simply on autopilot going through the motions?  If we feel we have lost that zest for what we do let us ask to be assisted in regaining our enthusiasm so that we may be motivated to leave an Infusion of our energy and spirit in the product of our work.

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 what do I feel in my body when I appreciate how something comes alive through an Infusion of the person’s spirit and energy?  How does it feel in my body when I am aware I am Infusing the product of my labors with more of myself to share with others?  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., August 28, 2016

For this Sunday, August 28th, the focus for our meditation will be on Humility.  There’s a video of a musician I recently saw on social media that totally captivated me with the Humility as well as the amazing talent of the performer.  A folk musician named Ted Yoder who plays the hammered dulcimer had his son videotape him while he performed his version of an iconic song by the popular band, Tears for Fears.  He was shown in his backyard, his wife and children sitting nearby, and their menagerie of pets including kittens and a raccoon romping in the background.  The video almost overnight became an Internet sensation and in just a few days had been viewed more than 30 million times (and climbing) and earned him a write-up in The Huffington Post.  All he wanted to do was share his music and his love of this ancient instrument with others.  He had no idea it would turn out as popular as it did, and the public reaction reduced him and his wife to tears.  What is it about this performance that clearly resonated with so many people?  For one, it was totally unpretentious in nature – no fancy sound system or lighting, barefoot and dressed in a t-shirt and jeans – just him and his instrument which he played so beautifully.  I also think it was the genuineness of how he presented himself.  He seemed completely authentic in who he was, and his love of music was the focus, not himself.  For me, this example stands in sharp contrast to the spectacle that our national election has become.  Rather than bringing attention to the important issues and needs of constituents, it seems instead to be all about the ego of those invested in running for office.  This week in our prayer and meditation time let us ask that the spirit of Humility and authenticity begin to infuse our political system.  May the same Humility shown by this skilled musician encourage our politicians to be more genuine and willing to present their true selves to the public rather than the artificial image created by public relations staff.

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 what do I feel in my body when I recognize and appreciate the presence of Humility in others?  How does it feel in my body when I see the authenticity of Humility in how others behave?  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., August 21, 2016

For this Sunday, August 21st, the focus for our meditation will be on Place.  For those displaced by homelessness or the wildfires in Southern California or the floods in Louisiana, not having a secure Place to live can seem to put one’s life on hold.  I’ve fortunately never had to evacuate a home owing to a financial or natural disaster and can only barely imagine what it must be like.  The first thing that probably goes through most people’s thoughts is what would they take with them, presuming they had some forewarning.  Family members and pets, obviously, but what then about any material possessions?  I hope and pray none of us ever has to experience this, but in more of a mental exercise what would you put a priority on wanting to have with you to help establish your Place in a new location?  What would you consider to be essential to creating your identity in a new Place where you had to live?  If you lost all your possessions owing to a sudden disaster such as a fire or flood, what would you want to have to try and reestablish your Place?  Having the security and stability of a Place to call our own is something so many of us take for granted in this country.  Every now and then we have these sort of catastrophes occur that shake us up and make us think about the “what if’s.”  This week in our prayer and meditation time let us express gratitude for having a Place in our life that we can call our own.  Let us also use the light and energy of our prayers to send strength, protection, and assistance to those facing disasters that threaten to rob them of their homes or businesses. 

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. 

Additionally, let us please direct this light to help cover those areas being threatened by wildfires or flooding, especially in Southern California and Louisiana.  May all living beings find comfort and relief as they seek to find a Place of refuge.

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 what do I feel in my body when I am able to feel secure and stable in a Place I can call my own?  How does it feel in my body when I recognize the value of having a Place that shelters and comforts me?  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., August 14, 2016

For this Sunday, August 14th, the focus for our meditation will be on Objectivity.  As human beings we are naturally predisposed to various cognitive vulnerabilities.  One of these, confirmation bias, has been written about a great deal because of the tremendous impact it has in critical decision-making processes in many diverse fields.  Confirmation bias refers to the phenomenon that once you have made your mind up about something your brain tends to filter out or disregard any new information that contradicts that viewpoint and will only take notice of new information that matches what you’ve already decided is the right answer.  The scary thing about confirmation bias is that just being aware we are all prone to this does not completely eradicate its effects.  I’m certainly seeing reflections of confirmation bias in what is circulated on professional as well as social media forums regarding our political candidates.  It seems daily I shake my head in wonder at what I see people post as “fact” when the information is so evidently distorted or biased in its presentation.  This is by no means the singular domain of any particular political party.  I see information presented for and mostly against both political candidates that regularly is debunked, but the debunking unfortunately tends to be given less attention.  People would much prefer to trumpet what they already want to believe and what matches or confirms what they think they already know.  It astounds me that otherwise intelligent people actually want to believe some of what they are presenting as “fact” when it clearly a distortion that is often aided by being taken out of context.  This is only going to continue in the run-up to the November election, and the only answer is to hope that people acquire the ability to process information with greater Objectivity.  The next time you read an article ask yourself if there are any weaknesses, gaps or loopholes in the story that may be purposely omitted in order to slant what they want to say.  Often it isn’t so much what they report but what isn’t being reported that is most important to seeing the truth.  In our prayer and meditation time this week let us ask that a spirit of greater neutrality and Objectivity spread across this nation.  May people develop the willingness to remain open-minded and try to process all the information being presented on an issue before making an important decision.  We will all ultimately have to come to a final decision about how to use our vote, but in the meantime let us seek to consider all sides to a story, even the untold version that may try to remain hidden, in our pursuit of the truth.

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 what do I feel in my body when I am able to remain neutral and Objective in considering all available information before making an important decision?  How does it feel in my body when I reach a state of Objectivity that allows me to see more than one side to an issue?  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., August 7, 2016

For this Sunday, August 7th, the focus for our meditation will be on Interest.  Nobel Peace Prize laureate Elie Wiesel, who survived the Holocaust after being imprisoned in two concentration camps and went on to author numerous books, traveled the world to lecture and speak out against oppression, passed away last month at the age of 87.  In one interview he was quoted as saying, “The opposite of love is not hate, it's indifference.  The opposite of beauty is not ugliness, it's indifference.  The opposite of faith is not heresy, it's indifference.  And the opposite of life is not death, but indifference between life and death.”  Now that our two primary political parties have selected their candidate for election this fall citizens who perhaps remain dissatisfied with both nominees have a choice to make.  They can opt to learn as much as they can about the positives and negatives of all candidates, research where they stand on various issues, pay attention to all of their communication and analyze it with objectivity, or they can simply withdraw in resignation and choose not to even bother exercising their right to vote.  It doesn’t matter to me whether someone ends up voting for a different candidate from the one I ultimately will have to choose.  They presumably have assessed that candidate and truly believe them to be the best qualified.  The greater harm comes from someone who is apathetic and fails to participate at all in the election.  When we cast a vote we are contributing our energy to the nation, and I firmly believe whichever candidate ends up being selected will be supported by that cumulative energy that is amassed for the nominees.  When people withdraw entirely from the process they fail to contribute any energy, and their criticism from afar may actually sap the energy the nation needs to gather to see us through this important process.  As Elie Wiesel so wisely noted, the greater harm to the world comes from indifference.  This week in our prayer and meditation let us ask that all citizens across this nation cultivate a genuine Interest in educating themselves about the nominees for political office.  May all our citizens develop a serious Interest in casting their vote and contributing their energy to the entire country as they do so.  May the energy of sincere Interest in our political process ripple across this country and help keep at bay the more insidious movement of apathy and indifference that will only weaken us 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 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 what do I feel in my body when I am able to summon the necessary Interest to participate rather than withdraw?  How does it feel in my body when I become genuinely Interested in learning more about an issue?  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., July 31, 2016

For this Sunday, July 31st, the focus for our meditation will be on Unity.  Now that the political conventions are concluded the race to national office begins in earnest.  One sad offshoot however, is the underlying tone of personal attack and criticism so prevalent in the messages from our candidates that is also being replicated in our common discourse.  It seems to be occurring with increasing frequency that I see people outright rejecting those with whom they supposedly are “friends” on social media because they hold disparate views.  The polite exchange of opposing views seems to be a lost art.  Too readily such dialogue dissolves into heated argument with neither side appearing to take time to listen to what the other is trying to say or why they hold that opinion.  I imagine those groups who would love to see our nation descend into chaos are ecstatic at seeing us do this to ourselves.  Why bother assembling, training, and equipping an army of terrorists when we can do such an effective job of inflicting our own damage?  Let’s face it, whatever the outcome of the fall election, there are going to be those who voted one way and those who are in utter disagreement and voted the opposite.  Both sides will be best served if they can come to acceptance with the final result and agree to move on in Unity for the good of the country.  Let’s try practicing this now with our social interactions.  The next time someone posts something you find you disagree with take a moment to really consider that person before rushing to reject or publicly criticize them.  Is there any aspect to that individual that you find you can admire or respect?  Is there anything at all about that person you may share in common?  Let us make a conscious effort over the next few months to try and find Unity with others more eagerly than differences.  This week in our meditation and prayer time let us ask to be shown how to establish common ground with others that will help bridge those times when we disagree.  May the energy of Unity begin to spread through this nation that will ultimately help ease our differences and strengthen us against those who would want to see us fail.

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 what do I feel in my body when I am able to look beyond differences and establish some sense of Unity even with disparate groups?  How does it feel in my body when I am willing to seek Unity before discord?  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., July 24, 2016

For this Sunday, July 24th, the focus for our meditation will again be on Light.  As we began to do last week we will focus the Light and energy of our prayers and meditation on the upcoming election.  This year’s election will require a great deal of our attention in order to manifest the qualities that will make possible whatever outcome is in the nation’s highest good.  If, indeed, our aim is to serve our nation’s highest good we must engage in this prayer and meditation work with as much neutrality as possible.  While as individual citizens we certainly will have to make our choices in order to ultimately cast our ballot, in our prayer work we are asked to lift up our intentions in a more selfless manner.  Rather than focus our prayers on the goal of assisting any specific candidate to attain elected office, our petitions are better directed at bringing as much Light as possible to bear on the process.  By using Light to foster greater integrity, honesty, and ethics in our political system we all will be best served in the end.  Last week we sent Light to the city of Cleveland where the Republican National Convention was held, and this week we want to shift our focus to send the Light and energy of our prayers and meditation to the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania where the Democratic National Convention will be held from this Monday, July 25^th through Thursday, July 28^th.  May this Light fill the entire city to keep it safe and to serve as a calm and thoughtful venue as delegates make their decisions.  May all who attend be protected, and may they be consumed with the desire to best serve those they represent. 

In our efforts this week let us 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 nation 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 addition, let us create a sphere of Light centered over the city of Philadelphia.  Rather than focus just on the particular convention hall let us fill the entire city with Light as there will be many meetings and discussions held throughout the week.  Once we have lifted up our ball of Light and used it to create a Light-filled dome over the city let us also add to that Light the energy of honesty, integrity and ethics.  Let all of Philadelphia, known as the City of Brotherly Love, be filled with the energy that makes for honest and polite discourse, behavior that is of the utmost integrity, and a desire for ethical decision-making.  Let the Light that rains down on this venue elevate all thoughts, speech, and action that occur there so that they may be for the highest good of all. 

Ask yourself how do I feel when I am bathed in a brilliant, liquid Light that feels so dense that I am completely saturated by it?  How does it feel in my body when I am surrounded by a dome of Light that fills all the space around me?  How do I feel when I know I am acting with honesty, integrity and ethics?  What does it feel like when I recognize people around me are behaving with honest, integrity, and ethics in how they conduct themselves with others?  Then send the energy and intention of those feelings to the nation and to the city of Philadelphia.

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.

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., July 17, 2016

For this Sunday, July 17th, the focus for our meditation will be on Light.  As is our quadrennial tradition we will begin to focus the Light and energy of our prayers and meditation on the fall election.  Two cities will soon host the upcoming political conventions, and each party will formally nominate a candidate to represent them in the bid for the Presidency.  I can’t recall a time when I have seen a more contentious political field.  No candidate is going to be adored by all, but at least in my history I find myself questioning if it was ever this bleak in terms of the percentage of people who dislike both reputed contenders for the national office.  This year’s election will require a great deal of our attention in order to manifest the qualities that will make possible whatever outcome is in the nation’s highest good.  If, indeed, our aim is to serve our nation’s highest good we must engage in this prayer and meditation work with as much neutrality as possible.  While as individual citizens we certainly will have to make our choices in order to ultimately cast our ballot, in our prayer work we are asked to lift up our intentions in a more selfless manner.  Rather than focus our prayers on the goal of assisting any specific candidate to attain elected office, our petitions are better directed at bringing as much Light as possible to bear on the process.  By using Light to foster greater integrity, honesty, and ethics in our political system we all will be best served in the end.  Let us begin our work this week by focusing the Light and energy of our prayers and meditation on the city of Cleveland, Ohio where the Republican National Convention will be held from this Monday, July 18^th through Thursday, July 21^st.  May this Light fill the entire city to keep it safe and to serve as a calm and thoughtful venue as delegates make their decisions.  May all who attend be protected, and may they be consumed with the desire to best serve those they represent.  Next week we will shift our attention to the city of Philadelphia for the Democratic National Convention.

In our efforts this week let us 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 nation 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 addition, let us create a sphere of Light centered over the city of Cleveland.  Rather than focus just on the particular convention hall let us fill the entire city with Light as there will be many meetings and discussions held throughout the week.  Once we have lifted up our ball of Light and used it to create a Light-filled dome over the city let us also add to that Light the energy of honesty, integrity and ethics.  Let all of Cleveland be filled with the energy that makes for honest and polite discourse, behavior that is of the utmost integrity, and a desire for ethical decision-making.  Let the Light that rains down on this venue elevate all thoughts, speech, and action that occur there so that they may be for the highest good of all. 

Ask yourself how do I feel when I am bathed in a brilliant, liquid Light that feels so dense that I am completely saturated by it?  How does it feel in my body when I am surrounded by a dome of Light that fills all the space around me?  How do I feel when I know I am acting with honesty, integrity and ethics?  What does it feel like when I recognize people around me are behaving with honest, integrity, and ethics in how they conduct themselves with others?  Then send the energy and intention of those feelings to the nation and to the city of Cleveland.

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.

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