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 20th 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
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