Hi and welcome to this meditation on compassion and hope during these difficult times where we're experiencing fear,
Uncertainty and just change.
During the meditation we will work with some compassion phrases towards ourselves.
And to close we will do a reading of an edited version of the poem written in 1800 by Kitty O'Meara during an epidemic.
Right now I invite you to find a comfortable sitting position.
Let me take a deep breath with me.
Inhale,
Exhale.
We connect with our feet on the ground.
Our body sitting here,
How our body feels against the surface that we're sitting.
We relax the shoulders,
Relax the belly,
Relax the face.
And if you haven't yet closed your eyes,
I invite you to do so.
And you may also lower your gaze and find a point of focus in a very relaxed,
Gentle way.
To allow our mind and body to be here in the same place,
We're going to connect with our breathing for a few seconds.
I invite you to start observing the breath as it comes in and goes out.
Inhaling,
Exhaling.
If it helps you can repeat the words as you notice you're inhaling or exhaling.
And slowly we start to introduce compassion by repeating in silence these phrases and trying to connect to the meaning and the support that we're offering towards ourselves during these difficult times.
May I be safe.
May I be safe.
May I be healthy.
May I be healthy.
May I be healthy.
May I be at ease.
May I be at ease.
One more time and this time I invite you to bring a hand to your heart or bow however feels better for you as a sign of support and comfort.
May I be safe.
May I be safe.
May I be healthy.
May I be healthy.
May I be at ease.
May I be at ease.
I continue to carry this support and attention as I read this poem to you.
The people stayed home and read books and listened deeply and connected with the state of being rested and remember to exercise and return to their childhood by making art,
Playing and learning new ways of being.
We learned how to listen more deeply.
Some of us meditated.
Some of us prayed.
At times we danced,
At times we connected with family and friends virtually.
Some people start to meet their shadows and we all start to think a little different.
And then we start to see how people start to heal.
We start to notice an absence of people living ignorant,
Dangerous,
Mindless,
Heartless in heartless ways.
We see as how the earth begins to heal.
And as all danger starts to pass,
We all come together again.
We come together to grieve our losses.
We start to make new and better choices.
We have to dream of new images and visions.
We start to create new ways to live and heal our earth as all of the sick have been healed.
Thank you for listening and I invite you to connect for a few seconds to your breath and to this compassion for yourselves and for others.
Inhaling,
Exhaling.
And when you're ready,
You may open your eyes and return your attention to the room or the place where you are at this moment.
Namaste.
