Meditation Instructions for Sun., January 31, 2021

For this Sunday, January 31st, the focus for our meditation will be on Blessings.  Don’t we all long for Blessings to be showered on us in this life?  But there are times when we may be going through a situation that feels like the furthest thing from a Blessing.  The expression, “a Blessing in disguise,” reminds us that sometimes only in hindsight does an experience turn out to be exactly what we needed.  Blessings have the potential to alter us in ways we can’t foresee, and this process of change and transformation can seem painful at first.  When we are in the uncomfortable position of feeling swept along by the tide, we might be best served by avoiding the temptation to resist its flow.  Let us instead allow ourselves to be carried away and wait to see on which shore we are deposited.  There is a very good chance we will end up in a much better place than where we began the journey.  This week in our prayer and meditation time let us ask for assistance in recognizing and accepting all the Blessings that may come to us in our life.  May we be willing to be patient and wait to see how all Blessings ultimately bring us to a better state we could not have reached without that divine intervention.

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 appreciate how what initially appears to be an uncomfortable experience turns out to be a Blessing for me?  How does it feel in my body when I can see how a Blessing brought me a needed transformation?  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., January 24, 2021

For this Sunday, January 24th, the focus for our meditation will be on Light.  At last week’s inauguration ceremony, the nation became introduced to a bright and talented young poet named Amanda Gorman.  The first National Youth Poet Laureate Amanda was invited to write a poem especially for the ceremony.  Many of us across this nation were enthralled to watch her captivating performance.  I was struck by the beauty and power of her words and the lyrical fluidity of her expressive hands as she read the poem.  The closing lines, in particular, resonated with me.  Amanda wrote, “For there is always Light, if only we’re brave enough to see it.  If only we’re brave enough to be it.”  In times of darkness and strife it does take bravery to allow our Light to shine forth.  Doing so makes us stand out at moments when we might be more comfortable retreating into the shadows of the sidelines.  However, the best force to repel evil and darkness is Light.  It helps to hold onto the reassurance that showing our Light allows others to find their courage as well.  If you’ve ever been in a totally dark room, unable to see even your own hand before your face, it is remarkable how much illumination a single match provides.  We can become those single points of illumination spreading across our nation by being willing to show our Light in the face of darkness.  Perhaps we perform an act of kindness for another, particularly someone we may struggle to like or who differs from us in fundamental ways.  We can express our gratitude to those who have been working tirelessly during this pandemic and are likely feeling worn out from carrying the weighty burden of their responsibilities.  This week in our prayer and meditation time let us ask to be shown how to become sources of Light in the world.  May Spirit embolden us with the courage it takes to shine our Light into every dark corner around us.  Through the Light and energy of our prayers and meditation may we all work together to banish the forces of darkness that seem to threaten our 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 recognize the positive impact I have on others when I let my Light shine forth?  How does it feel in my body when I find the courage to step forward and allow my Light to come through against the presence of darkness?  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., January 17, 2021

For this Sunday, January 17th, the focus for our meditation will be on Leadership.  Doris Kearns Goodwin is a Pulitzer prize-winning author and historian with a particular focus on presidential history.  In her examination of past presidents, she has identified the traits our most successful Leaders had in common.  They share humility, specifically a willingness to learn from one’s own mistakes.  They convey empathy and are able to understand others points of view and feel a sense of connection to others.  They communicate in a way that people feel a sense of trust that inspires them to act.  Successful Leaders have the ability to control their emotions and remain cool in difficult times.  They also possess the self-confidence to surround themselves with people who can criticize them, question their assumptions and argue different viewpoints without becoming defensive. In other words, they welcome dissent, debate and discussion. I am confident we will see a return to these values that have been so eroded over the past few years.  Goodness, integrity, ethics, and morals have not been stamped out.  Examples of these characteristics may have been less prominent with the media focus on all the negative events that have occurred, but they still exist and even flourish at many levels of our society.  Under the right Leadership we can see these positive traits held in esteem once more.  Let us remember that all Leaders are human beings, and are therefore flawed, but with the highest intentions and the support of the majority of the nation behind them they will help us all achieve our greatest potential.  This week in our prayer and meditation time let us direct the light and energy of our prayers to foster true Leadership as we see the time-honored transfer of power take place.  May the power of our prayers help with a smooth and peaceful transition as this nation begins the healing process under a new and genuine Leader. 

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 inspired by someone who embodies all the positive qualities of a Leader?  How does it feel in my body when I recognize the importance of support for those in Leadership positions to enable them to achieve their goals for a better nation?  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., January 10, 2021

For this Sunday, January 10th, the focus for our meditation will be on Patriotism.  The perception of Patriotism has certainly become more challenging over the past four years and particularly this last week.  What we saw this week was not Patriots in action but rather blind, delusional followers of a demented demagogue.  The increasingly jingoistic flag-waving fanatism we have seen over the past few years sickens me and is an embarrassment to our nation.  We have skewed our understanding of Patriotism to blindly avow allegiance to an individual rather than to the principles on which this country was founded.  These events have caused me to question whether to even display the U.S. flag in front of my home right now after seeing how this symbol has been hijacked by violent extremist groups.  Presently, I do not have it on display.  But I intend to put it out on January 20^th and will continue to display it as a way to begin to restore the true meaning of Patriotism.  We can abhor the riotous behavior of a segment of our society without rejecting whole cloth the tenets our nation aims to foster – decency, integrity, honesty, and respect for all our fellow human beings.  This week in our prayer and meditation time let us ask to be shown how to be good Patriots in a way that represents only the highest qualities of our nation and ourselves.  May we use that time to deeply ponder what we love most about our country and what it truly means to be a Patriot in the world today.

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 despite all our flaws, we still have reason to be proud Patriots of our country?  How does it feel in my body when I aim to reflect in my own conduct the highest principles of this nation in an effort to restore a balanced sense of Patriotism?  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