Welcome to Between Breath and Sea,
And Kimberley's Escamilla,
And I'm glad you're here.
As your day unfolds,
You can often get set on autopilot and not pay attention to the messages in your mind.
You're worried about the future,
You're replaying a shameful event in the past,
Or the way you were hurt by another's comment or action.
These might be the thoughts from yesterday or 20 years ago,
But these thoughts served a purpose at some point to protect you.
Now,
Without realizing it,
You're allowing this inner critic,
These thoughts,
To buy up a lot of real estate in your mind.
This in turn releases stress into your body and impacts your well-being.
These negative thought cycles are not who you are.
So today I want you to not quiet your mind by trying to stop all thought,
Which isn't realistic.
Instead,
I want you to slow the thoughts down,
Observe them,
And replace them with breath,
Words,
And images that you inherently know from your heart,
Your heart print.
The magic of poetry will help you.
So find a comfortable position either sitting or lying down.
Close your eyes or lower your gaze,
And let's take a deep inhale together and an audible exhale,
And then repeat.
Inhale and exhale,
And let these words of poet Joy Harjo wash over you.
Remember.
Remember the sky that you were born under.
Know each of the stars' stories.
Remember the moon.
Know who she is.
Remember the sun's birth at dawn.
That is the strongest point of time.
Remember sundown and the giving away tonight.
Remember your birth,
How your mother struggled to give you form and breath.
You are evidence of her life and her mother's and hers.
Remember your father.
He is your life also.
Remember the earth whose skin you are.
Red earth,
Black earth,
Yellow earth,
White earth,
Brown earth.
We are earth.
Remember the plants,
Trees,
Animal life who all have their tribes,
Their families,
Their histories.
Talk to them.
Listen to them.
They are alive poems.
Remember the wind.
Remember her voice.
She knows the origin of this universe.
Remember you are all people and all people are you.
Remember you are this universe and this universe is you.
Remember all is in motion,
Is growing,
Is you.
Remember the language comes from this.
Remember the dance language is,
That life is.
Remember.
As you take in these words,
Pause for a moment and notice your breath,
Your body,
Where you might be holding tension.
Focus on that place for just a moment and let's take a deep inhale into that spot and then release exhale.
Now place both hands gently over your heart and repeat after me.
I inhale peace.
I exhale struggle.
I inhale tenderness.
I exhale doubt.
I inhale love.
I exhale love.
I inhale love.
I exhale love.
I inhale love.
I exhale love.
You are love,
Dear one.
Not your sprinting thoughts.
You are love,
Not your to-do list.
Say to yourself one last time,
I am love.
Thank you for practicing with me today.
Be well.
