Welcome.
We all breathe,
But we experience breath differently.
And each of us experiences breath differently at different times in our day.
Our breath has sound,
From a gentle hum in our noses to loud panting.
It has texture,
Rough and jagged,
Almost cutting,
To smooth and slick.
The movement of breath is a physical movement.
Our diaphragm lowers and pulls our lungs open,
Creating the suction of our inhale.
It rises and squeezes our lungs to expel air.
We'll start simply.
How do you know you're breathing right now?
What physical sensations do you experience?
You might feel your body expanding and contracting.
Maybe the air moving in your nostrils,
In your throat.
What do you enjoy about breathing?
Have there been times in your life when you have found yourself appreciating the action of breathing?
Maybe walking in cold air and seeing your exhales turn into mist.
Maybe yawning.
Maybe a breath of relief,
A sigh.
Maybe the strong breath that comes with exercise.
Maybe the deep and intentional breath of a yoga practice.
Allow yourself to begin with your breath and just see where it takes you.
I'll offer a few signposts along the way and provide you with a way back to this world.
But beyond that,
You are free.
There's time and space here for you to find whatever you need from today's practice.
Whatever you need for your own experience.
At any point you can choose to ignore me and seek that experience.
Maybe you will find that breath can be a way to foster compassion for yourself.
There is nothing else you need to do.
There are no demands placed on you here.
This time is just for you.
This is all for you.
There is time for you to feel.
There is time for you to be.
There is time for you to let go of anything you might need to let go of.
To hold on to what you want.
There is time for you to make an inner connection.
A compassionate link.
An intimate link with yourself.
Just as you are,
Allow yourself to become more aware of your breath.
Just as it is.
This movement of life we call breathing.
Notice how breath flows without any will or effort on your part.
From the air around you into your body and then back out again.
This natural rhythm.
Let it establish itself.
There is no need to change it in any way.
Though you may if you wish.
Perhaps your breath today is shallow or perhaps deep.
It may be extremely slow or maybe rapid.
It may pause as if forever has come before you exhale.
Let yourself continue to settle.
Letting your eyes close if they're open and that feels right.
Letting them stay open if that seems better.
Invoke the space to be.
Conjure the space you need with no demands on yourself whatsoever.
This time is just for you.
Time to feel.
To connect.
To let go.
There is nothing to make happen.
You're not here to accomplish anything.
Not here to fix anything.
No need to change yourself for the rhythm of breathing in any way.
Just allow yourself to be.
Simply to be with an awareness of breath.
With compassion for yourself.
Perhaps you might let your attention rest on the texture of your breath.
How soft it is.
Feel the tenderness brushing your nose and throat.
The gentle swelling inside you.
An accepting touch.
How soft can it be?
Allow yourself simply to feel that tender touch.
The tender accepting touch of the breath.
Intentionally surrender to tenderness.
Surrender to receiving the inhalation.
Surrender to the gentle flow of your exhalation.
Allow this tender touch to dissolve any judgment.
To dissolve any pain.
That soft tender touch coming to meet any place where you have been hard on yourself.
A place that is calling for more attention.
Surrender to the tenderness.
Know the abiding movement of breath as the spirit of acceptance within you.
Receive the blessing.
Breathe with a compassion for yourself.
Each breath can be a celebration.
Each exhale a chance to let something go.
Each inhale a chance to start over.
To begin anew.
All some more time to just sit with your breath.
Letting go and starting anew.
Again and again and again.
This is from Sutra 1 from the Radiance Sutras.
The way of experience begins with a breath.
Such as the breath you are breathing now.
Reality may dawn in the momentary throb between any two breaths.
Exhaling.
Breath is released and flows out.
There is a pulse as it turns to flow in.
In that turn you are empty.
Enter that emptiness as the source of all life.
Inhaling.
Breath flows in.
Filling.
Nourishing.
Just as it begins to flow out there is a flash of pure joy.
Life is renewed.
As the air flows in through your nose or mouth,
Notice its touch.
A kiss.
A kiss of acceptance.
Of love.
Of compassion for yourself.
Letting go and starting anew.
Renewed.
With a few more breaths before we end,
Perhaps you might find a bit more love.
A bit more peace.
An ample measure of compassion for yourself you can bring back with you as you slowly,
Tenderly begin to transition from your inner world to the outer world.
Gently let more of that outer world back in through your senses.
Sounds.
Colors and shapes that resolve into the objects around you.
Open more and more to that world.
To this world.
Drink in some air.
Come back.
