From Šampiňada,
I'm Colleen Thomas.
This is Everyday Magic for Ukraine.
Today we send rest to decision makers and advocates.
Welcome to the Circle.
Welcome to Everyday Magic for Ukraine where we honor Ukraine and we also practice self-care to stay strong as allies.
If you're new here,
Welcome.
I'm so glad you've joined us.
So as we land together today and we begin our Circle,
I invite you to notice what would be calming for your body and your system right now.
Would it maybe be taking a few breaths?
Might it be doing a little shaking?
Doing a little stretching?
Perhaps feeling down into the earth,
Finding your connection to the earth,
Remembering you're in a body.
Just see what calls to you.
Our goal is to come into this moment.
So we're going to have a bit of a shorter meditation today and that's to give you a chance when we're finished to just take a rest.
Just allow your body to settle and calm.
We're going to do a little resting in Circle of course,
But if you can give yourself maybe three or four minutes after the meditation to just collapse,
Whatever that means for you,
Just collapse on your bed,
Just collapse in your seat,
Just collapse in your mind.
See how rest can come to you.
See how you can invoke and create rest,
Deep rest,
Even in the middle of your day.
So what we want to do today is to center the decision makers who are figuring out what to do day to day in Ukraine,
People on the front lines,
People in the centers of power,
People dealing with their children,
People teaching the class of students,
People deciding what they're going to offer next at their business,
Everybody who's making decisions every day in or about Ukraine,
And also centering the advocates,
Which means you and me,
People who really care about Ukraine and who are continuing to do this work,
Who are donating our time,
Our love,
Our funds,
Whatever we have that feels appropriate to offer in this moment,
Whatever our way is of showing up.
So our meditation today is very simple.
We want to imagine these decision makers and these advocates in the middle of a circle,
And we want to provide rest for them.
So what would that look like to you if you were going to send that out as your bit of magic today,
If you were going to do that bit of magic and circle with us to honor these people and send them deep rest?
What would that look like for you?
Well,
What would that look like for you who are an advocate for Ukraine?
What would deep rest look like in your day today or in your night tonight,
Wherever you are day or night?
Perhaps instead of mindlessly scrolling social,
You could read a really great book.
Perhaps instead of talking to somebody who keeps your brain going or listening to podcasts that keep your brain going,
You could disengage.
You could attend to your physical body.
You take a bath.
You could take a walk.
You do a puzzle.
You do something that you don't normally do that might bring a level of restorativeness and rest to you.
So just think about where you are in your day or night and see if any little sparkles come up for you of what would feel genuinely restful and restorative to you.
And I invite you to imagine yourself doing that thing.
Give yourself permission to take care of yourself.
Imagine yourself going for that walk or doing that puzzle or starting that project you've been waiting for or just doing nothing.
Looking out the window,
Watching the light change,
Allowing your mind to wander,
Allowing yourself to digest life.
Just slowly move into that space of feeling what that would feel like.
And notice if that's a something you would like to bring into your real life.
Is that a something you might like to do after this meditation?
And now let's presence all the other advocates,
Those in our circle,
Those in many other circles,
Those working for Ukraine around the world,
As well as decision makers in Ukraine.
So let's together offer our love,
Offer our support,
Offer our magic to these decision makers and these other advocates wishing that they have time today to do something to restore themselves,
To find a few moments of deep rest.
We're going to begin to gently,
Gently come back into our space.
Gently,
Gently begin to open your eyes if they've been closed.
And I invite you to decide as the meditation ends,
If you would like to take a few minutes to rest,
To do that fun thing or just let yourself collapse for a few minutes after this meditation.
Do what feels right.
May we remember how incredibly powerful we are when we give ourselves just a little bit extra time to rest and recharge.
May it be so.
Thank you so much for being with us today.
Your presence,
Your energy,
And your heart make all the difference in healing our world.
Remember to breathe today,
Breathe and expand.
And I hope you join us again next time.
Please consider inviting a friend.
