The Guest House: A Rumi Meditation For Acceptance

Find a comfortable position.

You can sit on chair with your feet flat on the floor or cross-legged on cushion.

Keep your back straight but not rigid.

Rest your hand gently on your knees.

When you are ready,

Gently close your eyes.

Take a deep,

Slow breath in through your nose and exhale slowly through your mouth.

Let go of the tension in your shoulders.

Let go of the tension in your jaw.

Now,

Visualize your body and mind as a house.

A large,

Spacious house with the front door wide open.

Rumi once said,

This being human is a guest house.

Every morning,

A new arrival.

Imagine that every thought,

Every emotion and every sensation you feel right now is a guest with it in this house.

A joy,

A sadness,

A worry or a moment of peace.

They are all visitors.

Notice who is knocking at your door right now.

Is it anxiety?

Is it calmness?

Is it a busy thought about tomorrow?

Don't lock the door.

Don't try to push the guest away.

Just as Rumi suggests,

Welcome and entertain them all.

Even if they are crowded of sorrows,

Treat each guest honorably.

Imagine opening the door to whatever you are feeling.

Invite it in.

Offer it a seat.

Sit with it for a moment.

You don't need to change it or fix it.

Just observe it.

Remember,

Be grateful for whoever comes because each has been sent as a guide from beyond.

Perhaps this feeling is here to clear you out for some new delight.

Breath into this feeling.

Give it space.

Say silently to yourself.

I see you.

You are welcome here.

Now,

Slowly bring your attention back to your breath.

Feel the air entering your lungs.

Feel the stability of the ground beneath you.

Now,

That the guests will come and go.

But the house,

Your awareness,

Remains stable and strong.

Take one last deep breath in and let it out.

When you are ready,

Gently wiggle your fingers and toes and open your eyes.