Meditation Instructions for Sun., November 29, 2020

For this Sunday, November 29th, the focus for our meditation will be on Tradition.  This is a year when many normal Traditions have been set aside.  For most of us the Thanksgiving holiday took a different form than in the past.  Gatherings were smaller, if they occurred at all, and the huge feasts with extended family and friends were just a memory of what took place before.  This does not mean all Tradition is abandoned – I still spent the day watching the Macy’s parade (done with masked performers and no live crowds lining the streets) as I set out my Christmas decorations.  Some Traditions have simply changed a bit but will still gamely carry on in a new form.  The purpose of many Traditions is to honor our connection to those who came before.  We feel comforted when we follow long-standing Tradition as it helps us feel the presence of those who are no longer with us.  The memories of loved ones come flooding back with the practice of Tradition and strengthen our identity through ancestral ties.  That sense of reassurance and connection is not lost even if the way Traditions are carried out are different from before.  Just research any country’s holiday Traditions and you will find they have changed significantly over the years.  They are not carved in stone but adapt to the times.  As we enter the countdown to Christmas and New Year’s we will need to find ways to modify those Traditions we want to embrace once again.  In doing so perhaps we will discover new ways to honor the past.  Let us not be tempted by the hollow comfort that comes from mindless repetition of actions that may have become meaningless.  Instead, let us thoughtfully consider how we may create new Traditions that restore a deeper connection to others.  May we ponder the meaning behind some of our past Traditions and find new ways to represent those intentions.  This week in our meditation and prayer time let us ask that those who are feeling stressed by the events of the year recognize the importance of still honoring Tradition.  May we all find a way to acknowledge the past by establishing new Traditions that bring renewed hope for the future.

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 willing to change cherished Traditions?  How does it feel in my body when I am able to invent novel ways to honor the past and create new Traditions?  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., November 22, 2020

For this Sunday, November 22nd, the focus for our meditation will be on Appreciation.  Years ago, I came across a research study that examined what motivated public servants to work in roles that demanded considerable sacrifice.  To my surprise, they weren’t driven by the potential for financial bonuses or extra time off.  What public workers most wanted was to be given acknowledgement by their supervisors and peers that expressed Appreciation for their efforts.  They simply wanted others to recognize their hard work and the contributions they made.  I’d like to think this is still true and also extends to other environments.  In a week when we celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday this is a challenging time for many to try and feel thankful.  So many people are struggling financially, mentally, spiritually, and physically.  But this is also the perfect time to reach out and let others know they are Appreciated.  We can do this in small ways.  Leave a notecard for your mail carrier saying you Appreciate what they do.  Tell the UPS driver or leave them a card that expresses your Appreciation.  Call a neighbor to tell them how much you Appreciate having them in your community.  Reach out by phone or email to tell a friend you haven’t spoken with or seen in a while to let them know you Appreciate their friendship.  Find a way to let others know you are acknowledging their contributions.  This week in our prayer and meditation time let us be guided to identify those who are most in need of being shown Appreciation.  May we all take the time to reach out and express our Appreciation in a way that sustains those who may be struggling.

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 felt Appreciated for my hard work?  How does it feel in my body when I recognize what it means to others to be shown Appreciation for what they do?  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., November 15, 2020

For this Sunday, November 15th, the focus for our meditation will be on Bridges.  Research by the Pew Institute shows our country is as polarized now as we were at the time of the Civil War.  The political left and political right have become more radicalized moving further and further toward their extremes, and the moderate middle appears to be shrinking.  Facing a similarly divided nation, President Abraham Lincoln wrote, “We are not enemies, but friends.  We must not be enemies.  Though passion may have strained, it must not break our bonds of affection.  The mystic chords of memory will yet swell the chorus of the Union, when again touched, as surely they will be, by the better angels of our nature.”  Four years ago, after a very divisive election, a bipartisan group of people formed an organization called, “Better Angels.”  They did something no one thought they could do – they held workshops all over the country and brought together Trump supporters and Clinton supporters to engage in civil discourse.  Each side explained why they held the opinions they did, and the other side listened.  Earlier this year the group changed their name to “Braver Angels” because they recognized the need for even more courage to Bridge the expanding divide.  To quote from their website, “To meet the current moment, at this time of national crisis, we need more than civility.  We need to challenge ourselves to work together when we disagree.”  I believe organizations like Braver Angels are needed to help heal this country.  We must find a way to build Bridges that allow us to remain connected and have open and honest channels of communication.  I believe we can do that with the help of organized grass-roots efforts such as the ones this organization has fostered.  Please check out their website at braverangels.org, and may we all be inspired to build Bridges in our own communities.  This week in our prayer and meditation time let us recognize the importance of establishing Bridges to reconnect across a divide.  May the light and energy of our prayers help spread a wave of Bridge-building across this nation that will bring the healing we so desperately need.

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 worked to create Bridges with those who differ from me?  How does it feel in my body when I appreciate the importance of Bridge-building in not allowing divisions to widen?  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., November 8, 2020

For this Sunday, November 8th, the focus for our meditation will be on Elevation.  This past week as emotions have wavered between hope and despair for all citizens of this nation, I felt determined not to let the outcome of an election significantly alter my outlook on life.  I am greatly relieved that we have finally a conclusive outcome, but I also recognize that a good portion of this nation is not celebrating.  We simply cannot shut them out or demand they go away.  We must figure out a way to heal the pain and anger that have only widened the divide in this country.  My intent is to make a positive impact on my local sphere of influence in my neighborhood and community.  We don’t need to donate huge sums of money or turn our lives upside down to make a difference.  We can each take small actions that collectively Elevate our nation.  Let us seek to identify those who are hurting, those who are in need, those who feel rejected, and help Elevate them with our support.  Let us seek to listen better, think before speaking, and be kind in our communication with others.  Let us set aside selfish interests and ask how those around us may be struggling and what we can do to help relieve their burden.  If we all take steps that might seem small and simple with the intent of improving our immediate surroundings our greater communities and nation as a whole will likewise be Elevated.  This week in our prayer and meditation time let us ask to be shown where we can contribute to improve and Elevate our local environments.  Through the actions we take may our neighborhoods, our cities, and our country begin to be Elevated, and may we all heal the divisions that have torn us apart.

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 action that Elevates those around me?  How does it feel in my body when I have sought to improve and Elevate those with whom I come in contact?  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