Meditation Instructions for Sun., November 1, 2020

For this Sunday, November 1st, the focus for our meditation will be on Bonds.  I have neighbors who are well into their 80’s whom I check on regularly to make sure they are doing okay.  A couple of weeks ago they asked if I could come over to witness their absentee ballots and take them to the post office to be mailed.  Although I know they voted for a different candidate than I did I performed this favor for them and will continue to be a supportive resource going forward.  Because we share the Bond of being neighbors.  There are people I count as friends, some of whom I’ve known for years, who I know or suspect are voting for the opposite candidate.  I have no plans to “unfriend” them on social media and certainly look forward to the day when we can be together in person again.  Because we share the Bond of being friends.  Some of my coworkers, past and present, I know or suspect are voting for the opposite candidate.  I will continue to respect them as professionals and look forward to working with them to help further grow our business.  Because we share the Bond of being colleagues.  There are thankfully distant relatives in my family who voted for a different candidate than the one for whom I voted.  I will continue to encourage and support them.  Because we share the Bond of being family.  There is no reason for us to allow an election to polarize us and tear apart these important Bonds we share with others in our life.  We must learn how to see beyond the contentiousness of politics and recognize the far greater value of the Bonds that connect us to others and create a rich network of support that we all need.  Once the election is over and the dust has settled, we are left with each other in our personal lives.  No candidate is going to come by with a nourishing meal when you are sick, or offer to run an errand for you, or help you out when you are down on your luck.  We do this for each other because we cherish the Bonds we have in common, and those Bonds will be even more needed to help heal this nation going forward.  This week in our prayer and meditation time let us reflect on the diverse Bonds we share with others in our life.  May we recognize the importance of these Bonds in keeping our communities together and be willing to put in the effort to maintain them for our good and the good of our 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 value the Bonds I have that connect me to others?  How does it feel in my body when I realize how important Bonds are in helping to sustain my family and community?  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., October 25, 2020

For this Sunday, October 25th, the focus for our meditation will be on Commonality.  There is so much trying to divide into separate camps, and if we allow it to happen, we will only be weakened as a nation.  This time of national elections is proving to be especially polarizing.  It is easy to get drawn into debate and to want to take sides.  But we want to resist that temptation by focusing more on what we share in Common with each other rather than our differences.  See if there is anything at all you can find in Common with someone whose political views are different from yours.  It may be difficult at first, so try choosing topics that are easier and more benign.  Perhaps you both like the same color.  Maybe there is a performer whose music or acting you both really enjoy.  You might even both agree that all children should have enough to eat.  Then again, that last topic might be straying into delicate territory for some!  So, keep it simple, and really think hard about what you can identify that you both have in Common.  We are going to need this strategy once the election is over, for our bonds of friendship and family ties don’t need to be broken because we may have voted for different candidates.  We are going to need each other more than ever to heal our families, our communities, and our nation.  This week in our prayer and meditation time let us ask to be reminded of all the things we share in Common with those whose connection to us may be strained by political differences.  May the light and energy of our prayers help us recognize the importance of being united with Common interests so we may set aside any basis for division.

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 recognize that I share something in Common with someone who is different from me?  How does it feel in my body when I am able to set aside any differences and focus on what we have in Common?  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., October 18, 2020

For this Sunday, October 18th, the focus for our meditation will be on Patience.  Not everyone is good at waiting for something.  Social researchers claim the prevalence of instant gratification is making the trait of Patience even more rare.  Unfortunately, when people rush to get somewhere or wish for time to accelerate, they squander the potential value that interval of time contains.  If we are consumed with crossing off the days or counting the minutes that go by, we are unable to take full advantage of that passage of time.  We purposely let it slip through our fingers convinced something better awaits us when the hourglass is empty.  I see a lot of Impatience these days.  People express their fatigue and frustration with the ongoing pandemic or they anxiously count down to the election.  Certainly no one wishes the pandemic would continue, but the lack of Patience in not recognizing only time will allow it to run its course means people abandon the discipline needed to keep themselves and others safe.  Similarly, whatever the outcome of the election there will be no waving of a magic wand that overnight transforms our world to one we wish to see.  Some are already predicting there will not be a clear outcome on Election Day, and we will have to wait some time until ballots are checked and re-checked before the results are official.  The world is going to demand a lot of Patience from us in the coming weeks and months.  We can choose to chafe against this reality or we can accept it with grace and savor the opportunity to cultivate better Patience.  If we are willing to be Patient, we can let go of our obsession with the future and focus more on what is needed in the present.  Opportunities to improve the immediate moment are less likely to slip by unnoticed.  Whether that means reaching out and helping someone else or just pausing to be filled with appreciation for what we have, we can take full advantage of the current period of time.  This week in our prayer and meditation time let us recognize the importance of Patience in helping us navigate these turbulent times.  May we be given the ability to find more Patience and accept the passage of time with a grace that allows us to honor every moment we are given. 

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 be Patient and wait for something rather than wish for time to accelerate?  How does it feel in my body when my Patience allows me to more fully honor the present moment?  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., October 11, 2020

For this Sunday, October 11th, the focus for our meditation will be on Self-Honesty.  There is a thought-provoking quote from Lutheran minister and Holocaust martyr, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, in which he asked, “Will our inward power of resistance be strong enough, and our Honesty with ourselves remorseless enough, for us to find our way back to simplicity and straightforwardness?”  For me this statement invokes an image of tremendous courage – the courage to engage in Honest reflection and self-appraisal.  Genuine Self-Honesty can be challenging, but when we allow that examination to occur without judgment it helps us see more clearly where we need to work on ourselves.  Today we seem surrounded by too many examples of superficial piety and hypocritical sanctimony.  So many are convinced they are right and everyone else is wrong, and unfortunately it creates closed minds that are unwilling to sincerely consider differing opinions.  Before we can become receptive to the views of those who disagree with us, we would first benefit by searching our own soul and realizing we are not always right.  By engaging in Honest examination that suspends self-criticism we may feel safer acknowledging our flaws.  Once we realize we are not perfect beings perhaps this will enable us to also be more charitable in our judgment of others.  Imagine being able to hold a straightforward and civil conversation with someone who holds very different opinions from your own.  Until we reach that state, we will never be able to hold Honest discussions that consist of a true exchange of ideas rather than devolving into a debate or critique.  This week in our prayer and meditation time let us ask for the ability to reflect internally with Self-Honesty.  May we be willing to let go of false notions of perfection or righteousness and accept our own failings without remorse so our mind may remain open.  

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 engage in Self-Honest reflection that encourages objectivity and openness?  How does it feel in my body when I have the courage to be truly Honest with myself in examining where I fall short?  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., October 4, 2020

For this Sunday, October 4th, the focus for our meditation will be on Benevolence.  It is tempting to relish in the misfortune of those we may not like.  However, wishing others ill thoughts only hinders our own progress.  It is also not up to us to demand a reckoning for another person’s misdeeds; we all eventually will have to face our mistakes and failures.  When we suspend the desire for retribution it elevates us instead of lowering us to their level.  This can be a difficult lesson to accept.  There are bound to be inevitable conflicts and disagreements, and it is how we deal with them that provides a true measure of our character.  Rather than becoming consumed with resentment or a desire for revenge, if we can summon genuine feelings of forgiveness and Benevolence, we are all better off.  We don’t need to ignore their failings or pretend they didn’t happen; we simply want to refrain from feeling glee at their predicament.  This week in our prayer and meditation time let us ask to be shown how to be more willing to extend feelings of Benevolence to others, especially those with whom we disagree.  May the generosity of our spirit of Benevolence extend to all and present a true reflection of our higher selves to the world.

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 be Benevolent rather than recriminatory, particularly to people I may not like?  How does it feel in my body when I can suspend critical judgment and extend feelings of Benevolence to those who have failed 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