Meditation Instructions for Sun., March 26, 2017

For this Sunday, March 26th, the focus for our meditation will be on the Present.  I was recently talking with a group of neighbors, one of whom has lived all over the world.  Someone asked her where was her favorite place to live, and she replied, “Wherever I was at the moment.”  She went on to explain that her philosophy is you make your own happiness wherever you happen to be, and I couldn’t agree with her more.  I’ve known other individuals who never seemed content or satisfied with what they had or where they were.  The grass always looked greener on the other side of the fence, but once they changed jobs or moved or found a new relationship before long they found themselves feeling unhappy with their new circumstances.  If we focus instead on being fully Present in our environment it can help us appreciate the blessings we currently have.  Our pets teach us this valuable lesson.  They are so capable of living totally in the moment and being Present with us.  They don’t get caught up in replaying the hurts or disappointments of the past.  They experience something and then they move on from it.  Additionally, how many of us put off doing something now because we think we have to wait for some future time when circumstances will be just right?  Rather than enjoy the Present we believe those periods of time that lay ahead will be even better and therefore withhold allowing ourselves any sense of gratification or satisfaction until the right time comes.  The joke is on us, however, for sometimes in waiting for the “right” moment we discover it has slipped us by.  As the saying goes, “There’s no time like the Present.”  This week in our prayer and meditation time let us consider what may be holding us back from fully appreciating the Present circumstances in which we find ourselves.  May we come to recognize the value of living in the moment and being fully Present with ourselves and those around 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 I am living completely in the moment and feeling Present in my environment?  How does it feel in my body when I am able to let go of the past or the future and settle fully into the Present moment to find contentment?  Then send the energy and intention of those feelings to the nation.

Be sure to disconnect from the circle at the end and express thanks for those who have helped us in this effort.

If you have feedback or experiences you would like to share please let me know via e-mail to kmiritello@gmail.com

Meditation Instructions for Sun., March 19, 2017

For this Sunday, March 19th, the focus for our meditation will be on Exploration.  The first successful attempt to summit the top of Annapurna, a Himalayan mountain peak in Nepal, occurred in June 1950 by a French expedition.  The team consisted of experienced alpine climbers, but it still took about two months from when they began their trek toward Annapurna before they reached the top.  Since they were the first team to make the attempt they operated with limited foreknowledge of how to make the best approach.  Maps that had been roughly sketched of the area were often inaccurate, and the climbers had to break into groups to perform lengthy reconnaissance just to determine which face of the mountain showed the best route and even how to approach the base to begin a climb.  Many attempts were made that were unsuccessful before they finally chose the route that eventually led them to the top.  Before then, the vast majority of the expedition’s time was spent in failure and disappointment.  In many ways life reflects their adventure in that we often need to try things with an attitude of Exploration that presumes if we are not successful we will still gain valuable knowledge from the experience.  Sometimes, though, the fear of failure can hold us back from even being willing to Explore an unknown direction.  As a result, we never take that first step.  We cling instead to what is comfortable and known, but that prevents us from achieving growth.  This week in our prayer and meditation time let us ask to be given the courage to Explore what we may have hesitated to try in our life.  May we recall the intrepid Explorers who have gone before us and learn from their experiences how to succeed in the face of the unknown.

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 been brave enough to Explore unfamiliar territory in my life?  How does it feel in my body when I have attained success through Exploration of things I was hesitant to try before?  Then send the energy and intention of those feelings to the nation.

Be sure to disconnect from the circle at the end and express thanks for those who have helped us in this effort.

If you have feedback or experiences you would like to share please let me know via e-mail to kmiritello@gmail.com

Meditation Instructions for Sun., March 12, 2017

For this Sunday, March 12th, the focus for our meditation will be on Lessons.  Beverly Sills, the American opera singer of fame, had the rather un-opera-like nickname of “Bubbles.”  Although given to her at birth, the name Bubbles was also thought to have reflected her ever-present cheery outlook.  Most might assume given her unparalleled popularity as a performer that her life was always filled with success and happiness.  Ironically, however, her two children never heard her sing on stage.  Both were born with severe physical and mental challenges that led Sills to purposely limit her international appearances so she could attend to them.  More tragedy was introduced to her life when she lost her husband after nursing him through years of illness.  Yet, she insisted in an interview, “I’m not happy, I’m cheerful.  There’s a difference.  A happy woman has no cares at all.  A cheerful woman has cares but has learned how to deal with them.”  What could have been devastating life experiences were instead turned into life Lessons that allowed her to rise above these difficulties.  This week in our prayer and meditation time let us take inspiration from this renowned woman and ask ourselves what Lessons might we gain from the challenges we have confronted in life.  Let us ask to be shown how to convert disappointments or failures into Lessons that help us overcome whatever else life may throw at 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 I learn a valuable Lesson from a difficult life experience?  How does it feel in my body when the challenges I am given help me learn Lessons that make me a stronger person?  Then send the energy and intention of those feelings to the nation.

Be sure to disconnect from the circle at the end and express thanks for those who have helped us in this effort.

If you have feedback or experiences you would like to share please let me know via e-mail to kmiritello@gmail.com

Meditation Instructions for Sun., March 5, 2017

For this Sunday, March 5th, the focus for our meditation will be on Cooperation.  Have you ever heard of the Prisoner’s Dilemma?  It refers to a problem-solving or strategy game that is often used as the basis for a corporate team-building exercise.  The gist is that opposing team members have a choice – they can act in their own self-interest or they can decide to coordinate their behaviors to act Cooperatively.  When selecting the latter option both parties reap the greatest benefit.  Yet research has shown time and again that rational individuals will act irrationally in this circumstance and choose to follow their own self-interest, regardless of how short-sighted that may prove to be.  To “win” the Prisoner’s Dilemma one must come to understand and accept that sacrifice and Cooperative behavior will ultimately bring the biggest reward.  If only our elected officials could follow this model.  Too often politicians act in favor of their own agendas rather than consider the greater good.  Consequently, when the majority and thus those in power change hands there is a tendency to want to strip away any vestiges of the policies and regulations enacted by their predecessors.  Admittedly such a system helps provide some balance to ensure rules that do not benefit the majority do not have to remain forever in place, but it also can readily lend itself to abuse.  I saw this time and again over my years of government service when a newly-appointed senior official would step in and introduce drastic changes to leave their legacy.  Often those changes would have disastrous long-term consequences and would require years of unwinding to mitigate the damage.  Our nation faces similar choices today, and in our prayer and meditation time we want to encourage the spirit of Cooperation that enables those in power to act in the highest good of all people they represent.  This week may we contribute the energy and power of our prayers to encourage a broader willingness toward Cooperation rather than self-interest, and may this trend be spread across our entire 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 willing to behave Cooperatively with others rather than follow my own self-interest?  How does it feel in my body when I recognize the greater value that comes from Cooperation even if it may require some sacrifice?  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