Welcome to today's edition of Word and Breath.
Today's meditation is about the word frostwork.
We'll begin by finding our breath,
And then we'll explore the quiet beauty of this word together.
Sit comfortably and let your body rest.
Close your eyes or soften your gaze.
Notice where your hands are resting,
Maybe on the legs or in your lap.
Notice the way the ground or the chair supports your body.
Just settling in a little,
And then gently bringing the attention to your breath.
And we'll take a slow inhale together,
And exhale.
Again,
Inhale,
And exhale.
One more time,
Inhale,
And exhale.
We'll do a light body scan,
Just checking in to feel how your body is today.
Rest your awareness at the top of the head,
And move slowly down through the face,
Shoulders,
Through the arms,
To the hands,
Down your back,
Down through your chest and stomach,
To the hips,
Through your thighs,
The knees,
Down through your calves,
Down into your feet.
Just checking in,
Grounding your body,
And breathing naturally and with ease.
Our word today is frostwork.
Frostwork refers to the delicate,
Lace-like patterns of frost that form on windows or leaves.
It's like nature's filigree,
Spun in silence,
Intricate and fleeting.
This word was especially popular in the 19th century,
When people admired these icy patterns as if they were works of art.
The beauty of frostwork is made in stillness,
And it vanishes at the first touch of warmth.
Frostwork reminds us that impermanence can be exquisite.
Imagine that you are standing in front of a tall window that has been touched by frost.
Rather than focusing out the window,
Look at the pane of glass itself.
Visualize the fine patterns of frost spreading outward,
Like feathers,
Like lace,
Fractal beauty shimmering in soft light.
Let your mind's eye trace these patterns.
Begin to notice your breath within this visualization,
Picturing the cool clarity of frostwork as you breathe in,
And an appreciation of its beauty as you breathe out.
Continue this gentle breathing.
If thoughts arise,
Just let them pass across your awareness,
Like breath against glass,
Revealing and then fading.
Take a moment to appreciate how even fleeting things can be important and beautiful and can enrich your life.
As you imagine the frostwork in your mind's eye,
Take a moment to remember to observe that kind of beauty in other aspects,
In the real world.
Think about the beauty that we might find in stillness,
The detail in quiet moments.
You can rest here now,
Holding onto the image of your frostwork,
Or just let your focus rest gently on your breath.
Just gently bringing the attention back if it wanders.
Now,
Just let the image of the frostwork,
Or the attention that you've placed on your breath,
Fade away,
Like sun warming the glass.
Let go of any focus.
And now,
Return your attention slowly to your breath,
To your body.
Coming back to yourself in this room.
Feeling the places of contact where your body is touching the chair or the floor,
Where your hands or your arms are resting.
Noticing any sounds or smells around you,
The temperature of the room.
And when you're ready,
Gently opening your eyes.
And as you get ready to go back into your day,
Just carrying that feeling,
The delicate stillness of frostwork with you.
Thank you for joining me with this meditation.
Check back again for another word to explore together.
.
