Meditation Instructions for Sun., September 27, 2020

For this Sunday, September 27th, the focus for our meditation will be on Respect.  With the recent passing of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg numerous stories have emerged regarding the genuine yet unexpected friendship between her and fellow Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia.  They often held very different opinions on the important issues that came before them for deliberation which made their relationship even more surprising.  Even when Scalia argued against her position Ginsburg noted how he strengthened her argument by helpfully pointing out the flaws she had initially overlooked.  There existed between them a sincere Respect that enabled them to set aside their differences.  Because they were able to still admire and Respect each other they didn’t allow themselves to remain fixed as mere polar opposites to each other.  Over the years both noted it didn’t matter that they weren’t able to convince their colleague to agree with them.  It was their enduring friendship that they valued more.  I like to believe this level of mature thinking has not perished with their passing.  Finding a way to maintain Respect for those with whom we differ can keep open channels of communication.  We don’t even need to initially discuss the thorniest of issues where we fundamentally disagree; we just need to be willing to listen to the other and engage in honest dialogue rather than heated debate.  This week in our prayer and meditation time let us ask that all be shown how to find Respect for those with whom they have differences in thinking.  May we all come to embrace the willingness to listen openly and engage in communication that maintains Respect for those who may disagree with 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 able to maintain Respect for another individual even when we disagree with each other?  How does it feel in my body when I am able to communicate in an open and Respectful manner with someone who thinks differently from 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

Meditation Instructions for Sun., September 20, 2020

For this Sunday, September 20th, the focus for our meditation will be on Disconnection.  After months of isolation at home as this pandemic has taken hold, I finally took the brave step of fleeing the nest for a few days.  This past week I went from being by myself at home to being by myself at a spiritual retreat center.  It made a world of difference.  I returned home feeling renewed in spirit and energy and with my sense of calm and equilibrium fully restored.  The retreat center has no Wi-Fi and very poor cell phone reception, so I literally was unplugged for several days.  It felt wonderful to be Disconnected from all the drama occurring on social media.  The campus is located in a wooded setting about a 3-hour drive from my home and has an intimate glass-walled chapel surrounded by trees and nature.  I spent several hours there in prayer, looking out at the woods and listening to the steady rain from the remnants of Hurricane Sally pounding the roof.  Gradually all the angst and discord so prominent in the swirl of politically-valenced discussions that seemed to surround me melted away.  Disconnecting from the outside world can help us gain needed clarity and a better perspective on the issues that seem to constantly clamor for our attention.  I am very grateful for the people I know who take an active stance on political and social justice matters.  However, I also know other people who appear to have so much of their ego defined by their affiliation to a particular party, platform or politician that they are completely consumed by this focus.  In the process, they lose sight of the bigger perspective and often become quite rigid and intolerant in their views.  I’d like to think that if we could Disconnect our ego from our belief system perhaps we could engage with each other in real conversation that is not so emotionally charged.  When we don’t allow our ego to be so entirely invested in a cause it lets us see things in a clearer light.  We can better prioritize the issues and recognize whether they are out of balance in their impact on our life.  This week in our prayer and meditation time let us ask to be shown where we may need more equilibrium to restore our objectivity and sense of peace.  May we be guided how to Disconnect from those ego attachments that are creating an unhealthy obsession with issues that are only fleeting events in the larger scheme of life.

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 able to Disconnect from issues that want to dominate my attention in an unbalanced way?  How does it feel in my body when I am able to Disconnect from ego attachment and emotions and become more at peace with the world?  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 13, 2020

For this Sunday, September 13th, the focus for our meditation will be on Unity.  This past week we observed the 19^th anniversary of the 9/11 tragedy.  Social media has been noticeably populated by posts and memes longing for the sense of Unity that filled our nation immediately after that incident.  That feeling of “togetherness no matter what” seems to have been lost over the years.  However, it was exactly by appreciating our Unity that we were able to recover after a devastating national event.  We would be well served to find that same sense again to help us through the current period of upheaval.  In embracing our Unity we may let go of the discord and the readiness to find fault or place blame.  This week in our prayer and meditation time let us seek to foster a desire for Unity that spreads across this land and calms the flames of disagreement.  May we all come to recognize how much stronger we are when we are together in Unity than when we allow ourselves to be separated by our differences. 

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 a member of a Unified group?  How does it feel in my body when I am able to let go of disagreements and embrace the Unity that makes us all stronger?  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 6, 2020

For this Sunday, September 6th, the focus for our meditation will be on Labor.  How ironic that this weekend we celebrate Labor Day when the financial solvency of so much of our workforce is at risk.  I personally know several independent business owners whose livelihoods are in peril right now because of the impact of the pandemic on the global economy.  Small business owners and entrepreneurs may have poured their life savings into growing and sustaining what is more than just a means of making a living; it often represents their passion.  It saddens me to consider what my local area will look like when this is all over.  Numerous restaurants, boutique shops, independent entertainment venues, and so much more are probably not going to be around.  Other vendors will eventually take over the physical space they once occupied, but there will be a noticeable void with the absence of these cherished businesses.  It is also concerning that so many workers are on unemployment, or worse yet, nearing the end of their benefits.  Our culture has always led us to believe if you work hard you can succeed.  I do believe hard work helps, but one also has to have the attributes or assets to achieve one’s goals.  These times are unprecedented, and the stress so many people are experiencing right now is indescribable.  Despite their hard work, people feel they may never reap the reward of their Labor.  Beyond supporting small, local businesses the other way we can help is to focus the light and energy of our prayers and meditation time on Laborers everywhere.  May business owners and workers who are struggling right now feel buoyed by our support and develop the confidence that they will somehow get through this.  They might emerge very different in terms of how they make a living, but our prayers can provide them with the hope that they will be able to go on. 

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 rewarded for my Labor, especially if I had to struggle at the time?  How does it feel in my body when I am grateful for the Labor of so many workers who help sustain our economy?  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