Hello and thank you for being here.
It's an intense and confusing time in the world these days.
This is being recorded in late 2023 and that statement feels especially true lately,
But it's just as likely to resonate whenever you may be listening to this.
Whenever you may find yourself here and due to whatever circumstances,
It's okay to feel angry,
It's okay to feel confused,
And it's okay to feel scared.
I'm here to remind you that you're never alone and we're going to see if we can soften that and make space for these feelings today with this meditation.
It's been said that angry hearts only create more anger in the world while peaceful hearts create more peace.
So today we're going to engage in a meditation to cultivate inner peace.
So finding a comfortable position for yourself and if you'd like you can close your eyes or simply soften your gaze,
Releasing any tension that you may be holding in the head and face and the neck.
Letting go of any tension in the shoulders,
The chest,
And the upper body.
Letting go of tension in the abdomen,
In the lower back.
Letting go of any tightness or tension you may be holding in the buttocks,
In the legs,
All the way down to the feet,
Allowing the entire body to soften here.
Bringing awareness now to this present moment,
Feeling where the body is making contact with your seat or the floor,
And becoming aware of the sensation of breathing wherever that's most present for you.
Perhaps it's at the tip of the nostrils or upper lip,
In the chest or abdomen,
And allowing breathing to take place naturally here as you make contact with the physical sensation of respiration,
The natural inflow and outflow of the breath.
And now that we've contacted the breath let's add a small note to our practice.
On each inhale inwardly and silently say the word inner,
And on the exhale inwardly and silently say peace,
So that we are still so that we are silently expressing the words inner peace with each cycle of the breath.
We are paying a gentle attention first to the breath,
Then to the words inner peace,
To help us maintain our center.
Inner peace.
Inner peace.
And now at your own pace.
When the mind wanders we gently guide it back to the breath in the words inner peace.
Inner peace.
Inner peace.
Right here.
Right now.
This peace is always with us in the midst of any circumstance.
No one and no thing has the power to take it away.
Come home to that peace now.
Inner peace.
And if your eyes have been closed you can slowly start to open them and become familiar again with your surroundings.
Despite the turmoil and conflict that may exist in the world we always have the power to nurture our inborn peace.
From this place we can conduct ourselves in the world in ways that are friendly,
Kind,
And loving.
If each person did this,
Imagine the kind of world we could have.
Thank you for being here my friends.
May peace prevail on earth.
