Meditation Instructions for Sun., April 25, 2021

For this Sunday, April 25th, the focus for our meditation will be on Justice.  This past week I sat transfixed along with much of the country as the verdict was read aloud in the Derek Chauvin trial.  I was hopeful that the preponderance of evidence and the damning testimony by his peers and superiors would be sufficient to render a conviction of guilty, but I also sadly knew there were too many cases in the past where Justice was not served.  As much of a relief as it was to hear the result it reminded me that this was just one small drop against an ocean of inJustices.   Far too many times people of color have been treated very differently by our law enforcement and Justice systems because of their race or ethnicity.  I am immensely grateful for the courage of the young woman who filmed the arrest and death of George Floyd, for without that horrific video there may have been a very different outcome in the case.  It will also take courage for those in law enforcement to speak out against unprofessional conduct and police their own.  It will require courage and a belief in genuine objectivity for our Justice system to treat people of color equitably.  This week in our meditation time let us add the energy of our prayers to bring light that advances and balances our system of Justice in this country.  May the light we send create more integrity and courage for those in law enforcement to do the right thing and weed out the pervasive racism that exists as a hazard to their profession.  We will likely never be able to eliminate racism everywhere, but we can make certain people in the important positions of law enforcement and Justice recognize the need to carry out their duties responsibly and with fairness for all. 

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 observed Justice being carried out in a manner that holds to its highest and best standards?  How does it feel in my body when I see true Justice made available to all citizens, regardless of their color or ethnicity?  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., April 18, 2021

For this Sunday, April 18th, the focus for our meditation will be on Serenity.  This pandemic and resulting lockdown have not been that difficult for me personally.  I realize I am likely in the minority but not having to travel and to be required to be isolated at home has been quite enjoyable.  As I begin to resume some semblance of a social life, I am repeatedly finding my patience tested.  My tolerance for people who are inconsiderate or rude to others has significantly waned below what was even before a low threshold.  It takes much conscious effort on my part to exercise restraint when I encounter situations with people whose bad behavior pushes my buttons.  I do not want to emerge from this pandemic and go back out into the real world feeling grumpy all the time, so I have had to work on finding ways to carry with me the Serenity I experienced in isolation.  The oft-cited prayer by Reinhold Niebuhr provides inspiration on how to better manage as I go back into the world.  He wrote, “God, grant me the Serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference.”  As I encounter challenging situations I want to first ask if there is anything I can do about it.  If not, I ask Spirit for assistance in helping me accept it as it is.  There are circumstances when trying to force a change may result in more of an energy drain than it is worth.  Perhaps if we all adopt this approach, we will find ourselves feeling less frazzled by our return to the real world.  We may even discover we are able to be more patient and understanding of those who are not merging back into public life gracefully.  This week in our prayer and meditation time let us ask for help in retaining a sense of Serenity amidst disruption.  May the light and energy of our prayers help spread a feeling of Serenity around us that motivates others to adopt the same calming behavior. 

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 embrace a sense of Serenity no matter what is going on around me?  How does it feel in my body when I am infused with a Serenity that helps restore calming peace to any situation?  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., April 4, 2021

For this Sunday, April 4th, the focus for our meditation will be on Comfort.  One of my most memorable and enjoyable meals was had in the most unexpected of circumstances.  It was in a large general purpose tent set up by my Army Reserve unit to serve as a dining facility while we were on a two-week drill in the field.  The weather was absolutely miserable with a chilling rain that would not let up for days.  We were assigned to work 12-hour shifts, and mine ended at midnight.  On this particular occasion I was cold and exhausted but too hungry to go to bed, so I entered the sparsely occupied mess tent after I came off my shift to get something to eat.  In hindsight there should have been nothing remarkable about the meal.  It was Salisbury steak with mashed potatoes and gravy, but it was hot and began to warm my insides with the first bite.  To this day I remember the sensation of utter delight as I ate that ordinary meal seated by myself in a dimly lit tent that reeked of the kerosene heaters that vainly tried to keep the damp cold at bay.  There was something so viscerally Comforting about that food that I can still vividly recall how incredibly good it tasted to me at the time.  It reminds me that as we slowly emerge from this pandemic and our social isolation, we may find the things that brought us Comfort before are now too rich for our “diet.”  Perhaps instead of attending large social gatherings at clubs we would find more Comfort from a meal at a restaurant or in a home with only a few friends.  We may discover that our tastes are simpler than before, and we derive great Comfort from mundane activities such as going to the movies.  In any case we may want to resume normal life slowly and with conscious thought as to what we are choosing to do with our time and resources and how much Comfort that activity will bring.  This week in our prayer and meditation time let us consider how our interests may have changed over the past year and how that could impact what we find Comforting.  Let us ask to be given clarity in our prioritization of the gradually increasing choices that are opening up before us and be guided to choose wisely how we seek to find Comfort in our 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 elected to do something that has brought me a sense of Comfort?  How does it feel in my body when an experience fills me in an unexpectedly Comforting way?  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