Meditation Instructions for Sun., May 31, 2020

For this Sunday, May 31st, the focus for our meditation will be on Listening.  I watched that video last week and am sickened by what I saw.  Partway through the video I found myself hoping the police officer kneeling on the man’s neck would get up, and the horror would end.  But it didn’t.  I already knew the final result from the headline.  What I was watching was absolutely unbelievable to me as a former police officer.  It completely contradicted any police training I received regarding the use of force and physical restraint methods.  I was horrified by the thought that I had just watched a person die because of the callous and unprofessional conduct of someone who should not be a law enforcement officer.  The recitation of recent incidents involving racial disparities seems endless.  Many of us shake our head in disbelief at how some people will treat another simply because of the color of their skin.  So how do we reverse this disturbing trend?  One way is to begin to truly Listen to each other.  Look beyond the raw emotion accompanying some of the messages and try to take in what is being said.  Ask yourself why someone is feeling such anger or fear or sadness.  Really Listen without judgment or thinking of what you might say in rebuttal.  Fully absorb what the other person is saying.  Instead of tuning someone out because you may not initially agree with how they are communicating their message try to go beyond that and hear what they want to say.  Until people feel they are being given a chance to be heard there will be no way to bridge this racial divide that exists in our nation.  This week in our prayer and meditation time let us ask that people across this country be willing to honestly Listen to each other.  May the light of our prayers encourage people to take time to Listen without judgment and begin to reach some understanding of the other person’s position.  By truly Listening to what someone has to say may we get to know each other as individual human beings and move beyond the pervasive discrimination that continues to infect this 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 actively Listening to what someone else is saying?  How does it feel in my body when I can Listen without judgment and give someone a chance to be truly heard?  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., May 24, 2020

For this Sunday, May 24th, the focus for our meditation will be on Caring.  This week I had a chance to check in with a local friend who despite her geographical proximity is still very isolated because of the current restrictions.  It was a shock to hear her voice when she answered my telephone call; she was almost unrecognizable.  She sounded severely depressed and nothing like her normal, energetic self.  It hit home that while I am feeling perfectly fine during this period of self-isolation others are not faring as well.  It helps that I am an introvert and enjoy my own company.  I am blessed to be able to work from home which has kept me very occupied.  Having a dog to talk and play with and who provides me with an excuse to get outside several times a day also is beneficial.  My friend has none of these distractions and has run through the gamut of jigsaw puzzles and craft projects she normally enjoys.  She clearly craves human contact and is feeling very alone.  Speaking with her helped me appreciate the emotional toll this pandemic is having on people.  I am particularly concerned about those who live by themselves and who may not only be depressed because of being isolated but are also experiencing severe financial stress.  What about business owners who have had to close their doors and now may be feeling helpless with few or no options to keep their operations afloat?  As individuals we may not be able to do anything to help them financially, but we can still reach out and let the person know someone else is thinking of and Cares about them.  This week in our prayer and meditation time let us consider if there are members of our social circle who may be more fragile and in need of compassion from others.  May we all be encouraged to reach out to those who are struggling with feelings of isolation and loneliness and let them know someone Cares for them.  If you are concerned someone you know may harm themselves, please urge them to contact a professional resource, such as the help line below:

If you or someone you know may be considering ending a life via suicide please call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-8255 and speak with someone who wants to help.

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 know someone else Cares about me and my wellbeing?  How does it feel in my body when I realize that telling someone I am thinking of and Care about them can help them feel supported?  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., May 17, 2020

For this Sunday, May 17th, the focus for our meditation will be on Discipline.  I don’t know about the rest of you but I have completely lost track of how long I have been in this period of social isolation.  My last business trip was about mid-February, and I don’t recall exactly how soon after that when the area where I live went into lockdown.  There are days when I have moments that I begin to wonder if this is all some wild dream, and I will soon find myself awakening to laugh about what my nocturnal brain imagined.  Unfortunately, that doesn’t appear to be the case.  Instead, this weirdly altered reality seems to want to persist for potentially quite a while.  Fortunately, I’ve worked from a home office for years, so when I’m not traveling, I have developed the Discipline of a routine to be able to get my work assignments done outside an office environment.  There is a different type of Discipline we all are called to master these days.  It is one that has to do with the patience to wait out this seemingly endless pandemic and have the Discipline to not rush to end social distancing too soon.  I am concerned a lack of Discipline and the rash acts prompted by those who are too impatient to abide by social distancing requirements will only delay our recovery.  This week in our prayer and meditation time let us ask that people find the Discipline to be patient and wait out the storm.  May the energy of our prayers help calm their fears and allow them to be willing to consider the impact of their conduct on others before acting in a rash or irresponsible 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 have managed to find the Discipline to be patient even under a trying situation?  How does it feel in my body when I am able to recognize the importance of how I impact others and exercise the Discipline needed to behave responsibly rather than selfishly?  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., May 10, 2020

For this Sunday, May 10th, the focus for our meditation will be on Continuum.  Can you think back to a time when you felt you were going through a crisis that could never be resolved?  Perhaps in your youth it was your first serious romantic breakup.  As an adult it may have been confronting significant health issues with an aging parent or the loss of a job.  Through the distant Continuum of time these ordeals can sometimes appear more diminished.  All of us can probably think back to 9/11 and the upheaval it left in its wake.  Although life Continued after 9/11, it would never again be the same.  I now find myself wondering how the current pandemic might end up leaving a permanent imprint on our society and lives.  As local restrictions are slowly lifted and we cautiously emerge out in public once again we want to appreciate that life will Continue to go on, even if it seems quite different at first.  Over the spectrum of time we will eventually be able to look back on this period and recognize much of the anxiety we felt could have been lifted sooner if we had only understood the viewpoint of the Continuum in life.  This week in our prayer and meditation time let us ask that people everywhere feel relief from the stress and fear so prevalent right now.  May we all come to see these brief, transient periods of time as part of a larger Continuum that helps place things in a better perspective.

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 can look back on a difficult period and see it from a better perspective thanks to the Continuum of time?  How does it feel in my body when I recognize how the Continuum of time can bring needed healing?  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., May 3, 2020

For this Sunday, May 3rd, the focus for our meditation will be on Perspective.  I will admit that by nature I tend to be an optimistic person.  I am confident this difficult period will eventually pass, and we will, with time, look back on it with the advantage of a very different Perspective.  Because of my natural sanguinity, I don’t always need to wait for time to gain a helpful Perspective.  For instance, right now I am very grateful that I have friends who stay in touch, there is a beloved dog in my life who keeps me company and makes sure I remain physically active, my health is good, and there is a roof over my head.  I keep thinking of people who have gone through periods of tragedy and turmoil and how they managed to survive.  Imagine, for example, what it must have been like for people in Puerto Rico after a devastating hurricane or the residents of Italy after a damaging earthquake.  In such catastrophic events people must contend with the loss of infrastructure, such as a disruption to power and water, lack of sanitation, and a total upheaval of the economy and people’s ability to find food or shelter.  By contrast, I feel blessed not to have to deal with the current situation while also trying to figure out where to sleep in safety or be able to eat clean food.  This is not to dismiss the tremendous losses of those in the present situation who have suffered the death of a loved one or the collapse of a business.  They, too, will hopefully find peace and respite as time passes and allows them the comfort of a different Perspective.  In the meantime, may we ask during our prayer and meditation to be aided in gaining a helpful Perspective on our current circumstances.  May we find a way to recognize the comfort Spirit always provides and allow ourselves to adopt a different Perspective that eases our current anxiety.

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 recognize a different Perspective that helps see me through a challenging period?  How does it feel in my body when I appreciate the Perspective that others have weathered similar difficulties?  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