Welcome to Meditations with Hanya.
Here's a meditation for when you first wake up in the morning.
Maybe you are still lying in your bed,
Or maybe you are sitting somewhere comfortable.
Allow yourself to find stillness and close your eyes if that's right for you.
And let's begin.
A dear friend and poet used to say,
No matter how dark the night,
Morning always wins.
You are here,
Free from the darkness of the night,
And ready to move into the light of the day.
How do you want to meet today?
Can you take a moment to simply observe your morning body?
Do you feel areas that might be achy and tight?
Maybe areas that feel energized and ready to move?
What are the first thoughts of your day?
Notice what type of thoughts are occupying the space in your mind.
Have you carried thoughts and messages from the sleep to this moment?
Are you clear and open and ready for whatever thoughts arise?
But even when fear-based thoughts arise from the night before,
Or even years before,
You can simply allow them to enter your morning light.
Those negative thoughts are part of you.
We often think we need to push them away.
But actually,
Thank them for being there.
They are just trying to protect you.
And remember that the counter to fear is trust.
Trust what's already here.
Now take a deep breath in.
Can you breathe in the morning light and breathe out?
Can you release the darkness of the night before?
Breathe in light.
Breathe out dark.
Breathe in the morning.
Breathe out the night.
Let your breath be natural and just observe it.
The beauty of the morning is that it presents a clear slate,
An opportunity to start again.
What is needed for you in this morning and in this moment?
The Buddha said to remember your true nature for that is your home.
Imagine beginning your day from a place of open awareness and trust.
Noticing what's arising here and trusting your deeper intention that it will guide you.
Allowing the light of the day to carry your intention forward with mindful thoughts,
Words,
Actions.
And as the day unfolds,
As it will allow yourself to meet the moment with openness,
Trust,
Compassion,
And clarity.
This is where you begin.
Let's close this practice with a deep breath in through the nose filling up the body with light and love and a long exhale through the nose releasing and letting go.
Thank you for practicing with me.
Namaste.