I think as adults.
Be.
Diminish play right as a reward versus a necessity.
For overall mental health and well-being.
To remember and reconnect to the impermanence of life.
And also playful side of life,
That we should be able to enjoy and be in our joy.
Along with whatever else that we may have to figure out.
As adults.
That doesn't need to be neglected.
It actually should be protected.
And cherished and on equal plane.
So this morning we'll be asking the heart a bit more about play and how that wants to show up.
Some of us are a bit more connected to play than others.
There's always room for expansion.
And we'll also connect to that childlike pure love.
So we always close with a bit of meta-kindness,
Meta-loving kindness.
But today we'll go through the full metta practice,
So the last 10 minutes or so.
We'll be going through a metta prayer and blessing.
For ourselves.
And others.
Allow your eyes to gently close.
Taking a deep breath in.
Settle into your body And on your exhale.
Settle your body.
Into your seat Now a low compelling breath in.
And allow.
That low breath to stretch your body out.
Stomach to expand as well as the lower back And with an exhale,
Allow it to contract.
Another low belly breath in.
And this time allow your body to expand upwards,
Vertically,
And downwards into the earth.
And on the exhale,
Release.
Another low belly breath.
And surrender anything that isn't serving you this morning.
Thoughts of yesterday.
Or tomorrow.
And on the exhale,
Arrive right here.
Continuing now to breathe at your own pace.
To your smile Bringing your awareness.
To this subtle curvature.
Have you known?
And becoming present to how it feels today.
Your body Does it happen effortlessly?
Is there?
Resistance.
Now thinking of.
.
.
Most recent smile you exchanged with another person.
And connecting to the intention mind.
The surface tension.
If it was a stranger or.
.
.
Someone you know quite well.
Was it to displace any discomfort.
To connect in or something else.
Still connecting to the smile.
How one smile can't ignite another.
I can lighten your mood and soften your disposition.
Now think of.
.
.
All of the smiles you've shared over your lifetime.
The moment came effortlessly.
The moment you couldn't stop smiling.
And maybe the moments where it was also contrived.
But just being present to your.
.
.
Relationship to your smile.
Without judgment.
And remembering that the power of your smile for yourself and those around you is rooted in the heart.
The heart's frequency the heart's intention consciousness or unconscious So now we breathe into the heart space.
And get acquainted with how the heart is.
Taking a deep breath in Just become present to how the heart is.
Witnessing it for a moment without judgment.
And allowing yourself to be right here.
And now.
Seeing the light in the shadow.
And everything in between.
Without judgment.
Now we ask the heart.
Question.
Dear heart.
In what ways do you want me to reconnect with play?
Again,
The question is,
Dear heart.
In what ways do you want me to reconnect?
We'll hold space too.
Listen.
To the heart's reply.
For just a couple of minutes here.
Continue to breathe through any resistance from the egoic mind.
And simply holding space.
For the heart to speak me Each one receive the wisdom.
With her heart.
With ease and grace.
Allowing it to Shift and support what is needed at this point.
Of the journey.
So now in gratitude and reverence for the heart's wisdom.
We close this practice by.
.
.
Shifting into.
.
.
Permit to loving kindness.
Blessing We'll offer this first to ourselves.
Than to someone that we care for deeply.
Then expand in loving kindness by offering it.
To someone that we have difficulty with.
And finally to all beings.
Everywhere Continuing to follow your breath at your own pace.
Repeat the following phrases.
After me.
May I be happy.
May I be healthy.
Body,
Mind.
May I be safe.
May I be.
Peaceful.
Now I want you to think of someone that you care for deeply.
Loved one,
Someone that it's very easy to love.
They may even bring a smile to your face.
And now we're going to offer them Sing blessing.
So see them in your mind's eye before you.
And as you repeat after me.
Place of the word you.
Say their name.
May you be happy.
May you.
.
.
Be healthy.
Body,
Mind.
Spirit.
May you.
Be safe and protect.
May you.
Be peaceful and at ease.
Continuing to ground through the breath.
We'll now practice expansion.
Of our capacity for loving kindness.
By offering it to someone that we have difficulty with This doesn't have to be the most challenging person in your life.
In fact,
It might be more beneficial to start with someone you have moderate difficulty with.
So taking a moment to see them in your mind.
And as you repeat after me,
Placing the word you with their name.
May you be.
May you be healthy.
Body,
Mind,
And spirit.
May you be safe and Meet you.
Be peaceful and.
.
.
At ease.
Taking a low belly breath in now.
To remain grounded.
Clear any resistance.
Release yourself of any judgment in that space We will now offer.
.
.
Loving kindness to all beings everywhere.
So hold in your awareness.
All souls in human form.
8 billion.
Holding your awareness.
All.
Souls in other animals.
All of the animals of land.
All of the animals in the scene.
And all of the animals with the gift of flight.
Now hold in your awareness.
All of plant life.
The grass we walk on every day.
Flowers of the field.
Trees in the forest.
And the vegetation that we.
.
.
Hold in your awareness all of the microorganisms that we will never see.
Bacteria.
Supports our daily processes.
And holding your awareness all.
Other souls,
Past,
Present and future.
And now I'm repeating these words.
May all being.
May all beings Be healthy.
Body,
Mind,
And spirit.
May all beings be safe.
And may all beings.
.
.
Be peaceful.
At ease.
Now taking another moment to.
.
.
Bask in our collective connection through loving kindness.
Honoring that.
The suffering of each one is the suffering of all.
Honoring that the joy of each one is the joy of all.
Another minute here to Set a conscious intention for your day.
The love,
Light,
And truth within me.
Honors.
The love,
Light and truth within you.
Namaste.
