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

Meditation Instructions for Sun., July 10, 2016

For this Sunday, July 10th, the focus for our meditation will be on Sentience.  One of the key characteristics that separates us from other species is our ability to experience and understand the emotions of others.  While some species through close interaction with humans seem capable of perceiving our emotions the greater complexity of our ability to recognize and empathize with subtler or nuanced emotions is unique.  In considering the events of the past week that saw numerous innocent lives taken by violence one element of trying to bring healing to these communities is to try and feel what the people involved must be feeling.  We can never completely Sense nor understand what they feel, but if we are willing to try and comprehend their emotional states perhaps it can help us bridge what seems to be a growing divide.  For instance, can you try to imagine at least in part how it might feel for a woman to see her fiancé killed before her eyes as he sat next to her in their vehicle?  Can you grasp the emotions that might be felt by a 4-year-old child as she watched a lethal shooting unfold from the rear seat of that car?  What about the young police officer who suddenly realized he had made a terrible mistake and taken another person’s life?  If you were the newlywed bride of a police officer what would you be feeling if you received a horrific call informing you that your husband’s life had just been snuffed out by a lunatic sniper?  Really dig deep inside and try to imagine how you would feel if you were in their situation.  Perhaps if we were all more willing to pause and consider the emotions of others we would be much less quick to criticize and hate them.  This week in our prayer and meditation time let us ask that all people across this nation grasp the importance of acting as Sentient beings who appreciate the feelings of others before they act.  Let us ask that all human beings take time to truly Sense how others are feeling rather than rush to judgment and condemnation.  Through our greater willingness to act as fully Sentient beings may the healing that is so desperately needed sweep through this country.

In our efforts this week let us also continue to use the energy of our prayers and meditation to amplify the light that covers and fills this nation.  As we perform our meditation this week let us begin by re-energizing the brilliance and power of the light we create.  Just as before, begin by forming a concentrated ball of light that is so bright it is almost impossible to look directly at it.  Raise this sphere of light up high over the nation and then let its rays cascade down to create a solid, impenetrable dome of light that completely covers every inch of our country.  From shore to shore and border to border let the entire continent be filled with this brilliant, dense light that will serve to magnify the best and highest qualities of our country and the people who live across its vast lands.

Please follow the same practice as before: Get centered in your body, ask to bring in your guides and others who are there to assist us, and connect to the circle of others participating in this project.

Ask yourself what do I feel in my body when I am able to interact with Sentience and feel what others are feeling?  How does it feel in my body when I am Sentient by taking into consideration the feelings of others before I act?  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 3, 2016

For this Sunday, July 3rd, the focus for our meditation will be on Unexpectedness.  A couple of months ago I went on a spiritual pilgrimage to France with some friends.  Our itinerary was almost entirely focused on sacred sites in various parts of the country, and we eagerly planned for the trip for months in anticipation of the spiritual experiences that awaited us.  To our surprise, some of the most profound spiritual insights happened not at the famous, well-known locales on our list but Unexpectedly occurred at small, obscure out-of-the way places that we often just stumbled upon.  Life reminds us in this way that when we try to stick too closely to some plan we think we have mapped out for our life it can interfere with our ability to be spontaneous and experience the Unexpected.  To be open to the Unexpected may require us to let go of our need for control.  When you think about our obsession over planning our life it is mostly delusional anyway; it only occasionally fools us into believing we ever have control.  When we come to that realization it can free us from this compulsion and allow us to be more receptive to things that may be Unexpected but end up being even better than we ever could have imagined.  This week in our prayer and meditation let us ask to be gently shown how to welcome the Unexpected in our life.  Let us look at where we may be clinging to control and allow ourselves to relax and let go so experiences that are beyond our ability to envision can occur when we least Expect them but perhaps are most ready to receive them. 

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 something completely Unexpected that benefited me beyond what I may have imagined?  How does it feel in my body when I am able to let go of control and am willing to be more open to receive the Unexpected gifts and experiences life may bring 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