Hi,
My name is Mike Langlois and I'm a clinical social worker and psychotherapist.
Many folks are dealing with increased isolation because you're either quarantining or on lockdown or unable to visit with people that you normally would during COVID-19.
So I wanted to put together a quick and dirty meditation for you all to use in times that may be difficult.
This includes a guided visualization as well as some breathing and hopefully it will be of benefit to you.
These are bewildering times for so many of us.
It can be so hard right now to be in the moment when the moment is loneliness,
Anger,
Grief,
Or confusion.
So many of us are spending more time alone and without the physical presence of people who know us and care about us.
We feel so much fear.
So breathe with me now.
Breathe with me.
Knowing that I am here,
Present,
In this very moment with my voice.
Hear my voice as you breathe in and out.
In and out.
Voices are echoes of attachment.
They remind us we are not alone in our day.
Remind us that we can connect with others even when they are not physically present through the expansive power of the breathing mind.
Voices give us power to change the world and breath is what gives voices their power.
With that power,
With that breath,
Allow yourself to become even more fully present to whatever feelings arise in this moment.
As you allow yourself to deepen your breathing and your presence,
I want you to imagine a well.
What does this well look like?
As you approach it,
Allow it to come more clearly into focus.
If you want to,
You can look into the well.
What do you see?
A well can be deep and scary,
But also can be a resource.
It can nourish a whole community with life-giving water.
It can be a spring that bubbles up and surprises us,
Cool and refreshing when things feel stifled,
Hot and close.
Our deepest creativity lies here,
Arriving from mystery.
Give yourself permission to stay in that mystery.
Be present for it for a moment.
If there are times when you feel too much alone,
Return to my voice and remember I am here in this moment with you,
And allow your voice to be present,
And allow it to speak to your fear or sadness or anger.
Say to it,
I will allow myself to breathe.
I allow myself that I am going to feel whatever I need to feel.
This moment,
Regardless of what I am feeling,
I am breathing.
This moment,
I am walking on the path of breath,
Walked by all beings.
This very moment,
All beings are breathing.
Breathing in,
Breathing out,
Together.
I am never alone in breath.
And I can always return to the breath.
Now,
Begin to return to your day with each breath in.
And each breath out.
In out.
Knowing you can always return to walk the path of breathing.
Knowing that you are never alone in breath.
And when you are ready,
Open your eyes and return to your surroundings.
Burning calmer,
Refreshed,
And mindful of your connection to all beings.
