Welcome to Be With Melinda,
A sacred space where body,
Breath,
And spirit reunite.
I'm Melinda,
Your guide,
Here to help you root deeply,
Open your heart,
And remember the Holy Spark alive within you.
This practice is open to everyone.
You may simply enjoy it as a playful breath to release tension,
Or you may journey more deeply with the imagery and mysticism.
Take it at your own pace and let it meet you where you are.
Today we practice Lion's Breath.
In yoga,
This breath clears tension and awakens fire.
In our Hebrew wisdom,
The lion is more than an animal.
It's a symbol of Judah's strength,
Sovereignty,
And divine inheritance.
Scripture says,
Judah is a lion's whelp from the prey,
My child,
You have risen.
The Lion of Judah represents courage,
Resilience,
And leadership,
The power to rise above struggle.
The mystics teach that the roar of the lion is like the voice of prayer.
Ascending through the Tree of Life,
Calling the Divine Presence,
The Shekhinah,
To dwell within us.
When we breathe as the lion,
We awaken the fiery life force within,
What yogis call Kundalini,
And what Kabbalah describes as the rising current of the Tree of Life.
Find your seat,
Kneeling or cross-legged.
Root yourself in the earth.
Let your spine rise tall.
Your shoulders soften.
Your heart open.
Close your eyes.
Notice your natural breath.
Feel a spark of light resting at the base of your spine,
Waiting to rise.
Now take a deep inhale through your nose.
Fill your belly,
Your ribs,
Your chest.
Hold it there for a beat.
Open your mouth wide with your tongue out and your eyes wide open.
Exhale with a strong sound.
Let's do that again.
Inhale fully through your nose,
Drawing energy up your spine.
Hold for a beat.
As you exhale,
Open your mouth,
Tongue out,
Eyes wide,
And let the words move with your breath.
The Lion of Judah lives.
You may let it sound out in your voice,
Or you may let it resound silently within.
However you declare it,
Feel it as truth in your body,
Your heart,
And your soul.
Let's repeat this breath cycle three to five times.
With each roar,
Imagine the fire of life rising through your body,
Like the Tree of Life.
Inhale deeply into the root,
Where sovereignty lives,
In Melchut.
Exhale,
Roar.
Feel the base of your spine rooted in the ground.
This is your sovereignty.
Imagine the deep red earth holding you steady,
Strong,
And safe.
Now inhale into your foundation,
Your creativity,
And your womb.
Inhale fully.
Exhale,
Roar.
Feel the deep red earth holding you steady,
Strong,
And safe.
Again,
Inhale fully through your nose,
Drawing energy up your spine.
Hold.
Sense the space below your navel,
The womb of creation,
The waters of life.
Imagine orange light shimmering like a flowing river,
Creativity stirring within you.
Defer it,
Radiant compassion.
Inhale deeply,
And exhale your roar.
Exhale,
Roar.
Feel your chest expand,
The center of your being.
This is your heart.
Imagine a golden green flame,
Radiant and generous,
Filling you with warmth and love.
Now move up to your throat,
Where truth and voice live.
Inhale fully.
Exhale and declare the lion of Judah lives.
Sense your throat,
The sacred gate of truth and expression.
Imagine a sky blue light shining through,
Clearing space for your authentic voice.
And now move up to your crown,
Where divine union lives.
Inhale deeply.
Exhale your roar.
Lift your awareness to the crown of your head.
This is your place of union with the infinite.
Imagine brilliant white light streaming upward,
Connecting you to heaven,
To eternity,
To the one.
Now return to your natural breath.
Place your hand on your heart,
And whisper softly within or aloud,
The lion of Judah lives.
Feel the courage of Judah alive within you.
Your voice is clear.
The current of life has risen.
The tree of life is awake in you,
Crowned with light.
May you walk in strength,
Speak in truth,
And know the Shekhinah rests within you always.
And so it is.
