Meditation Instructions for Sun., September 29, 2019

For this Sunday, September 29th, the focus for our meditation will be on Hope.  I recently finished reading a book titled, “Alexander’s Journey.”  It is about a British boy named Alexander Goodwin and his battle with a rare form of childhood cancer known as Ewing sarcoma.  Alexander developed cancer at age 9 and after being misdiagnosed for six months could finally put a name to the source of his pain and suffering.  For those who think nationalized healthcare such as they have in the U.K. is an ideal model you should read this book to understand how such a system can so badly go wrong.  To properly treat his condition Alex and his family had to seek medical care in the U.S.  He is now 12 years old and continues to deal with the aftereffects of chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery to replace a cancerous right femur.  Every few months he has to return to the U.S. to have the artificial femur lengthened to accommodate his growth.  He regularly has to endure tortuous physiotherapy to help him recover full use of his muscles and enable him to walk properly.  Despite the ordeal he has been through, what is most astounding about Alex is his caring for nature and other people and particularly his optimism.  Even at his sickest, Alex would post videos of himself on social media encouraging others not to give up and to do their best.  His family adopted the motto, “Dum spiro spero,” which is Latin for, “While I breathe, I Hope.”  Just before his first surgery in December 2017 he received a visit from Santa Claus in the hospital, and when asked what he wanted, Alex replied that he would like everyone to be happy and for him to be able to help others.  His response brought Santa and onlookers to tears and was very characteristic of his selflessness.  If a young man like Alex, who has gone through so much, can still retain Hope, it inspires the rest of us to similarly remain positive.  This week in our prayer and meditation let us ponder how we might perpetuate Alex’s message of Hope in our own families and communities.  May we be shown ways to demonstrate Hope in the face of difficulties and encourage others to persevere.  Through the light and energy of our meditations may the spirit of Hope spread across this land and give us optimism that the future can be better.

[Please consider giving Alex a “follow” on social media:  @alexs_journey (Twitter), Alexander’s Journey (Facebook), alexsjourneydumspirospero (Instagram), or check out his website at www.alexanders-journey.com ]

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 hold on to Hope in the face of overwhelming odds?  How does it feel in my body when I can set aside my fears and worries and remain optimistic and Hopeful about the future?  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 22, 2019

For this Sunday, September 22nd, the focus for our meditation will be on Quests.  Today’s Google Doodle reminds us it is the birthday of the first woman to successfully climb Mount Everest.  A Japanese mountaineer named Junko Tabei made the climb against impossible odds in 1975.  Her all-women climbing club faced many difficulties in having to overcome the bias of male climbers and to scrape and fight for funds to make the expedition.  Twelve days before the summit Tabei and her team were buried in an avalanche at an overnight camp.  Fortunately, Tabei was saved by a Sherpa who managed to dig her out in time.  She is quoted as saying, “Do not give up.  Keep on your Quest.”  A Quest is defined as a long or arduous search.  When I think of “Quest” what comes to mind is the fictional character Don Quixote who traveled in search of those in need of his assistance or the Knights Templar who sought to protect the Holy Grail.  To be on a Quest suggests there is something noble about the path you are pursuing.  It is not a journey where you merely collect as many check-ins as possible, but there is a passion behind your pursuit that spurs you on and leads you to achieve more than you perhaps thought possible.  As a motivational sign in my gym reads, “It isn’t about the destination, it’s about the journey.”  This week in our prayer and meditation time let us consider whether we are aimlessly wandering or in need of a Quest in our life.  Let us ask whether we might want to take on a Quest that benefits us and others.  If we believe we already have accepted the challenge to be on a Quest let us ask for continued support and guidance in our pursuit of something nobler than our own interests.  May the spirit of our willingness to be on a Quest spread across this land and inspire others to look beyond what they think they can do so we all are ultimately taken to greater heights.

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 on a Quest that brought me to achieve more than I thought possible?  How does it feel in my body when I am willing to take on a Quest to pursue goals that are nobler than just my own interests?  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 15, 2019

For this Sunday, September 15th, the focus for our meditation will be on Tenacity.  Studies looking at the aging process have discovered several key factors that appear to be predictive for healthy aging.  A rich social network of connections with family or friends, a spirit of optimism, having a sense of purpose, and, surprisingly, stubbornness.  Since this latter one perhaps hits too close to home for some of us, I prefer to think of this trait as Tenacity.  Being Tenacious often can insulate us against the pressure to “go with the flow,” particularly if it means compromising our own principles or desires.  It removes any concern over the judgment of others as we, I mean, those who are Tenacious tend to choose their own path regardless of what others think.  As a result, it is believed that being Tenacious tends to make us happier because we aren’t compromising ourselves to please others.  Additionally, having Tenacity can help us be more resilient in overcoming the inevitable curve balls life likes to throw at us.  We find a way to bounce back and not dwell in victimhood but just get right back to aiming for where we were going.  Unfortunately, being pegged as stubborn certainly comes with its own negative connotation.  Sometimes this may be deserved, particularly if it involves not being willing to ever concede a point to someone else.  But I believe it can be appropriate and even beneficial in many situations.  Perhaps the distinguishing factor is whether the presence of Tenacity hurts someone else or instead simply protects us from harm.  In the latter case, it may be entirely justified.  We’re not trying to stubbornly force our will on someone else and make them conform to our expectations so much as standing our ground and not giving in to another’s demands when we know it isn’t the right direction for us to take.  This week in our prayer and meditation time let us consider whether we have a healthy level of self-respect that allows us to be Tenacious when we need to be.  May we gain the courage to stand up for ourselves and not be swayed by others when we know our Tenacity to stick to our beliefs is the correct course of action.  May we also ask that the tendency to be Tenacious be balanced by discernment to understand when it serves us well and when some measure of compromise may be in order. 

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 Tenacity and stand up for myself against the pressure of others?  How does it feel in my body when I am able to remain clear in my convictions and be Tenacious by not compromising myself?  Then send the energy and intention of those feelings to the nation.

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

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

Meditation Instructions for Sun., September 8, 2019

For this Sunday, September 8th, the focus for our meditation will be on Freedom.  As a nation we strongly identify with the Freedoms guaranteed by our U.S. Constitution.  Unless you have been exposed to other parts of the world where such rights are not assured it can be easy to take them for granted.  Real Freedom, however, is not something bestowed upon us by any formal document or legislative body.  Sometimes we ourselves can be the biggest impediment to attaining true Freedom in our life.  Every time we engage that seemingly endless loop of negative thinking, we inhibit our ability to feel Free.  When we confront a challenge and shy away out of a lack of confidence, we diminish our own Freedom.  In circumstances where we defer to others out of a sense of wanting to be loved rather than being genuine, we lose some of our personal Freedom.  For us to experience an authentic sense of self we must examine how we might be diminishing our own Freedom through accumulated bad habits or weaknesses.  It can be easy to want to blame others for circumstances that are far from ideal, but perhaps we want to first look inward and identify how we sabotage ourselves.  Finding a way to experience personal Freedom by modifying our own thoughts and behaviors can bring a valuable release from any dependency on external factors for our happiness.  When Nelson Mandela was finally released after 27 years in South African prisons, he realized, “As I walked out the door toward the gate that would lead to my Freedom, I knew if I didn’t leave my bitterness and hatred behind, I’d still be in prison.”  Real Freedom came when he was able to let go of blaming others and reach within to create the serenity he needed.  This week in our prayer and meditation time let us consider how we might be holding ourselves back from experiencing genuine Freedom in our life.  May we find the ability to go deep within and generate the only Freedom that lasts in the form of release from the constraints we create for ourselves or allow others to impose on us.  In finding our own sense of Freedom may we also Free others from any unreasonable expectations we may have set that are holding them 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 have experienced a genuine sense of Freedom in shedding my self-imposed worries and doubts?  How does it feel in my body when I appreciate my ability to create my own Freedom rather than rely on external factors?  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