Meditation Instructions for Sun., September 1, 2019

For this Sunday, September 1st, the focus for our meditation will be on Self-Care.  The world recently and suddenly lost a shining light in the form of Sean Stephenson.  I’d written about Sean previously – he was a therapist, author and motivational speaker who lived a challenging life after coming into this world with a congenital condition that made his bones so fragile, he experienced over 100 fractures by the time he was in his teens.  He was small in stature but enormous in spirit, and his motivational talks and videos brought much joy and optimism into the world.  One of his last projects, proposed just days before his death, was to promote the concept of Self-Care as an antidote for insecurity.  I’d like this week’s meditation time to help further Sean’s goal of raising awareness of the problems created in the world by insecurity and the means to alleviate this issue.  After all, it is insecurity that causes us to commit theft or violence against others because we believe they have something we covet.  It is insecurity that leads a bully to torment another child.  It is insecurity behind political posturing, and the potential for aggression, that leads to war.  Sean’s view was that if we took the time to love ourselves through the actions of Self-Care we might not feel so insecure, and the world would have less strife and conflict as a result.  He did not believe Self-Care was in any way a selfish behavior, but one that we all were worthy of in terms of doing things that cultivate our love for ourselves.  Self-Care might be sitting in meditation, going for a walk, reading poetry, or doing whatever feeds your soul and makes you feel better about yourself.  We all sometimes need help recognizing our intrinsic worth, and if we engage in more Self-Care activities, we come to realize we are deserving of this attention for it makes us stronger and better in the end.  This week in our prayer and meditation time let us ask what we do as an act of love for ourselves that fosters the concept of Self-Care?  How do we gain an appreciation for who we are that nurtures us on a physical, emotional, mental and spiritual level through the actions of Self-Care?  Through our willingness to shower ourselves with loving actions may the feelings of insecurity throughout this country be negated, and may we find ourselves more at peace instead. 

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

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

Ask yourself what do I feel in my body when I appreciate my own worth and take the time to nurture myself through Self-Care activities?  How does it feel in my body when I invest in myself by tending to my own Self-Care and consequently reduce any feelings of insecurity?  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 25, 2019

For this Sunday, August 25th, the focus for our meditation will be on Effort.  I’ve been puzzled in recent years by the popularity of what are referred to as “life hacks.”  These are presumed shortcuts to tasks and ways to make things you are trying to do easier.  While aiming for efficiency might seem admirable, there is an aspect to the hack mentality that I find amusing.  It presumes everything can be shortcut, yet we are deluding ourselves by entertaining this notion.  Also, the impetus behind the hack is often not to be more productive but to simply not have to expend as much Effort.  Unfortunately, there are many aspects to life that cannot be simplified or reduced down to the bare minimum of steps.  You can’t “hack” your way through a relationship.  Trying to “hack” your way through college or a job with a great deal of responsibility also probably wouldn’t work very well in terms of the outcome.  Instead of promoting ways to “hack” your way through life perhaps we would be better served learning how to gain the patience and discipline needed to fully apply ourselves to the goals we try to achieve.  We have become an impatient culture, and it robs us of the fuller richness of life.  When we devote ourselves with total dedication to a task we come out with a greater sense of accomplishment.  We probably also learn a great deal more in the process when we put in a full Effort as opposed to trying to find shortcuts.  This week in our prayer and meditation time let us ask for the willingness to make a sincere Effort to accomplish what we have set out as goals in life.  Let us learn how to understand that all things come to those who wait and not try to circumvent the process of life that often requires patient Effort on our part. 

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 applied the Effort in life to achieve something I have never done before?  How does it feel in my body when I appreciate the rewards that come from putting in the needed Effort to accomplish a task well?  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 18, 2019

For this Sunday, August 18th, the focus for our meditation will be on Equanimity.  Not too long ago I made an online comment on a social media site.  It was both humorous and positive in nature, and there was little, if any, room for misinterpretation as to its nature.  Shortly after I noticed that a person I did not know posted a critical response.  It puzzled me for a brief moment until I realized what was happening.  This was an online troll, or someone who purposely tries to stir up trouble on the Internet by instigating debate or arguments.  Do you know what most annoys a troll?  Being ignored.  They relish the uproar that ensues and the knowledge that they have emotionally distressed others as it plays out in the ensuing back and forth attacks and counterattacks.  Nothing is ever accomplished through these exchanges, for the troll is not seeking to become informed, nor do I believe they are even trying to inform others.  They simply thrive on turmoil.  I recently had a discussion with a family member about the troubling issue of violence in our society.  They made the sage comment that a contributor to the problem is the inherent knee-jerk reaction in our society of seeking revenge when someone feels wronged.  We become enraged at the slightest provocation and reactively want to lash out.  Somehow our society has lost the concept of turning the other cheek.  Retribution never brings a lasting solution to the situation.  It might make us feel temporarily satisfied, but then begins the cycle of needing to be vigilant against the ricochet response and the potential for escalation.  We need to relearn how to shift away from this counterproductive reaction and acquire a mental calmness and Equanimity.  Initially it may require conscious practice but over time I believe we can restore the emotional balance that is needed to reverse this trend of violence.  We can proceed in that direction through the use of meditation, prayer, or other spiritual practices that make us feel more connected to each other and the divine.  Those in roles of mentorship or leadership need to model this for those they influence.  We all need to contribute and through intentional changes in our behavior help spread the energy of calmness, balance, and Equanimity throughout this nation.  If we can fill our communities with a greater sense of Equanimity through the energy of our presence we have a chance of eliminating the troubling tendency toward violence that wants to destroy our 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 respond to an emotionally distressful situation with calmness and Equanimity?  How does it feel in my body when I can resist the desire for retribution and instead find emotional balance by nurturing a state of Equanimity?  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 11, 2019

For this Sunday, August 11th, the focus for our meditation will be on Stretching.  In physical conditioning practices strength will only get you so far.  It must be complemented by flexibility so as not to become rigid and more prone to injury.  To gain flexibility one must Stretch muscle fibers.  If you Stretch with too much intensity it can cause injury by creating microscopic tears in the muscle.  But when you Stretch gently it helps gradually lengthen the muscle and make it more resilient.  There is a parallel in life in that to become more adaptable we may need to Stretch ourselves beyond where we have already gone.  When we reach for a goal that may at first seem too far away it can be discouraging, particularly if our initial attempts result in failure.  With each effort, however, we gain useful experience.  We gradually learn how to Stretch ourselves and before we know it, we have made real progress that we never thought possible.  If we choose to be rigid and static and accept our current status, we will never accomplish all that we are capable of doing.  However, once we become willing to take a risk and Stretch for a goal that seems unattainable, we end up surprising ourselves.  The same can be true for our nation.  We can choose to languish in the status quo and give up on goals that seem impossible, or we can make a conscious effort to Stretch ourselves and become something even better than what we are in this moment.  This week in our prayer and meditation time let us ask to be shown how to encourage ourselves and our nation to Stretch for goals that seem beyond our present reach.  Let us find a way to move forward even if we feel as though we are Stretching beyond our limits.  By being willing to Stretch may we all find we achieve the full potential of our capabilities.

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 taken a risk by Stretching for a goal I didn’t think I could reach?  How does it feel in my body when I allow myself to gently Stretch by reaching further than I ever have 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., August 4, 2019

For this Sunday, August 4th, the focus for our meditation will be on Commitment.  After the unspeakable horror of tragedies such as occurred at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut or Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida one would think we as a nation would require no additional incentive to do something about the issue of gun violence.  Yet these heart-breaking disasters continue to infect our society.  Once again people clamor for something to be changed to help prevent these horrible incidents from recurring.  The problem is there is no simple answer.  However, that should not stop us from doing our best to come together and figure out a viable solution.  This is a pervasive societal disease that will require a multi-faceted approach to ultimately find a resolution.  What is needed is a lasting Commitment in the form of bipartisan cooperation and the support of ordinary citizens and law enforcement to make it happen.  It is not as easy as banning guns.  Timothy McVeigh didn’t need the use of guns to inflict his distorted desire for violence by bombing the Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma.  Those who are mentally ill and seek violent retribution for their twisted perceptions will find some way to do so.  I completely agree that access to guns likely tends to increase the number of victims and enables the cowardly aspect of such an act.  But I do not believe that banning guns is the whole solution.  I believe we all need to be Committed to make sacrifices, such as placing greater restrictions on gun ownership and even making certain types of weapons illegal.  I believe we all need to be Committed to funding mental health resources that can better identify and treat those with mental illness and violent tendencies.  I believe we all need to be Committed to being willing to speak out when we observe someone who is disturbed and in need of intervention.  And mostly I believe our elected officials must be Committed to coming together, shedding party rivalries, and working with unprecedented dedication to legislate changes that will support the diverse solutions needed.  This week in our prayer and meditation time let us with tremendous devotion petition those divine resources that are there to aid us and ask that they help guide us to become Committed to solving this issue once and for all.  Through the sincere and collected energy of our prayers may we as a nation come together and be fully Committed to healing this blight that continues to wreak havoc and jeopardize our future potential.

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 the will to make a sincere Commitment to fixing a problem?  How does it feel in my body when I not only have desire but also the dedication to follow through on my Commitment 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