This meditation uses words, images, and feelings to evoke a lovingkindness and friendliness toward oneself and others. With each recitation of the phrases, we are expressing an intention, planting the seeds of loving wishes over and over in our heart. With a loving heart as the background, all that we attempt, all that we encounter will open and flow easily. You can begin the practice of lovingkindness by meditating for fifteen or twenty minutes in a quiet place. Let yourself sit in a comfortable fashion. Let your body rest and be relaxed. Let your heart be soft. Let go of any plans and preoccupations. Begin with yourself. Breathe gently, and recite inwardly the following traditional phrases directed to your own well-being. You begin with yourself because without loving yourself it is almost impossible to love others. May I be filled with lovingkindness. May I be safe from inner and outer dangers. May I be well in body and mind. May I be at ease and happy. As you repeat these phrases, picture yourself as your are now, and hold that image in a heart of lovingkindness. Or perhaps you will find it easier to picture yourself as a young and beloved child. Adjust the words and images in any way you wish. Create the exact phrases that best open your heart of kindness. Repeat these phrases over and over again, letting the feelings permeate your body and mind. Practice this meditation for a number of weeks, until the sense of lovingkindness for yourself grows. Be aware that this meditation may at times feel mechanical or awkward. It can also bring up feelings contrary to lovingkindness, feelings of irritation and anger. If this happens, it is especially important to be patient and kind toward yourself, allowing whatever arises to be received in a spirit of friendliness and kind affection. When you feel you have established some stronger sense of lovingkindness for yourself, you can then expand your meditation to include others. After focusing on yourself for five or ten minutes, choose a benefactor, someone in your life who has loved or truly cared for you. Picture this person and carefully recite the same phrases: May you be filled with lovingkindness. May you be safe from inner and outer dangers. May you be well in body and mind. May you be at ease and happy. Let the image and feelings you have for your benefactor support the meditation. Whether the image or feelings are clear or not does not matter. In meditation they will be subject to change. Simply continue to plant the seeds of loving wishes, repeating the phrases gently no matter what arises. Expressing gratitude to our benefactors is a natural form of love. In fact, some people find lovingkindness for themselves so hard, they begin their practice with a benefactor. This too is fine. The rule in lovingkindness practice is to follow the way that most easily opens your heart.

Meditation for Light and Bliss www.radicallyloved.com

This Time of Year Can leave us Feeling Anxious and Disconnected This is a grounding practice to drop you deeply into your body and connect you with the earth. You may want to use this meditation any time you feel disconnected or anxious and it's particularly good for post travel and post holiday and in our case post election. It’s so easy to become overwhelmed and undergrounded.. This practice is essential The idea of “the air out there” is about disconnecting from the Chaos and connecting to a deeper, more essential place inside. Think about the electricity in your house doesn’t work unless you are grounded… Part of this meditation will be breath focus + visualization.. don’t worry if you trail off its ok.. come back to the breath. Pranayama for the first 10 minutes then guided meditation for the final 10. Feel Into Your Body… (Body Awareness) Tongue resting at the back of the front lower teeth Identify: Current State Dwelling or Presence Inhale is energizing.. exhale is relaxing.. Move Breath Spinal Kriya : Trunk of A Tree Connect to Root System … more and more established in the earth.. Anchored… stable.. Think about a place you go to outside to feel FULLY ALIVE Where You can seek Adventure Where You FEEL Connection This is where you can feel At HOME in Your Body, Reside On Your Breath, Refrain from Dwelling in thought.