Today is a glorious spring day where I live.

I marveled, on my morning walk, how blessed I am to be able to step out of my home and access a myriad connection of pathways through meandering green spaces and parks.

And yet, I am also very aware of the many tribulations we are facing in the world. Still, to commit to seeing beauty and goodness in the midst of all that is not well, is for me - a choice, a need, and an imperative.

I also know that many of us live in difficult and challenging circumstances, fording a constant stream of anxiety and fear.

How could we not?

Just look around...

And yet, there is more to see as well...

We can focus on the fear and the steady diet of negativity the media feeds us - or we can choose other staples for our diet.

We must also feed our souls...

But, how to do that?

I can only share with you some of the things I am currently doing.

For example, I am limiting the content of news I am consuming. Recently, a dear friend of mine and I spoke of becoming "a headline kind of girl." It does not mean you totally shut out everything that is going on, but if your buttons are being pushed and your anxiety is peaking, perhaps rethinking your consumption is warranted.

I am also doing this practice which calms me in just a few breaths. Let me share it with you:

I place my hands over my heart, and begin taking deep breaths, in and out - making sure that my abdomen expands as I inhale, and draws in as I exhale.

I do this for a few moments or minutes until I literally feel myself relax. Then I say:

I breathe.
I release.
I am calm.

I repeat this mantra several times.

It reminds me of my connection to the earth, to all beings, and my heart, which is the seat of the soul.

Try this and let me know if it helps you! You can even turn it into a Lovingkindness practice. Just thing of someone who needs your love, your prayers, and your energy right now:

May you breathe.
May you release.
May you be calm.

This is my offering for all of you, today, and every day.

www.meditationsimple.com

One of my favorite morning practices is Lovingkindness, which is very powerful and is sourced from ancient Buddhist teaching and practices.

There are many things I like about this practice.

​First of all, it is SIMPLE.

Secondly, it is TRANSFORMATIVE. The more you do it, the more you will notice things shift around you - only because the shifts are occurring within you first.

If we CHANGE, the world also CHANGES. 

Yes, it is as simple as that.

But the thing is, we have to constantly work at changing ourselves. It is the essence of human nature, and of Buddhist teachings as well. Buddhists teach about the impermanence of all things. Nothing lasts forever. Many of us have heard the old adage, "The only constant in life is change."

But in order to change, we must be willing to open our hearts first, and then subsequently our minds. But I believe all change begins in the heart.

We could become disillusioned by all the violence in the world - the constant mass killings, the instances of war - and its displacement of of people - creating millions of refugees, the political strife present in so many places and the impossible battle between opposing philosophical systems and beliefs.

Or, we can resolve to change ourselves. In doing so, we change our little corner of the world, as I used to tell my students.

But first - we must open our hearts - ALL of us - everywhere.

And so, now I begin my Metta - or Lovingkindness practice with the phrase: "May my heart open."

Let us resolve to open our hearts - to what is - and then to what could be. Let us open our hearts to each other. We CAN make a difference - you and me - together. One person and one place and one situation at a time.

And let us ask: 

MAY ALL BEINGS EVERYWHERE,
OPEN THEIR HEARTS.

 I bless you.

Yes, you...

We ALL can use a blessing.

This is the second practice that I wanted to share with you.

Start with someone you love, someone who matters, someone you care deeply about or are grateful for. That one will be easy.

Maybe there are a few people you want to send blessings to - people you know who may need it right now.
Then, I am going to suggest you move on to people in your life that are most challenging. Start with one. And maybe add on another person tomorrow.

Maybe you will have to stay with the first person for a few days. Or a week. Or a longer while.

But do so. You might just find your hard feelings toward that person melting away. You may become more compassionate towards them and their circumstances. Keep working at it.

Then, consider people you read about or hear about who may need a blessing.

You will change over time. And you may also find that the ones you are blessing change as well .

Are you willing to give it a try?

Let me know how it goes and be willing to share this practice with others!

And here is a 90 second video on this topic:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4pWmvQXFk4c&t=10s
​
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#meditationsimple #mindfulness #spiritualpractice #blessings

Let me let you in on a little secret:

I begin each day with a blessing...

After opening my eyes, I give thanks for another day of living. And then I bless the day. It is gift that is denied to many. And so, I begin my day with gratitude as well. And that gratitude leads to my blessing the day and thus it informs and colors how I experience and process my day.

This day will never come again.

It is irrepeatable. Unique. It has never been before and will never be again.

This day will come wrapped in other blessings and gifts and challenges. If you are open to whatever the day brings and you know that it is for your highest good, you will be able to get it through it. If you are indeed open and accepting of the fruits of this day, you may find that it flows with ease and grace.

So the question is:

How will you meet this day?

How you do, will determine its outcome.

The choice is ours to experience it as a miracle or something else.

​How is this so?

Because in the end, we choose to see things as they are, or as we are.

How we show up for this day makes a difference and will determine how we see it and experience it.

So bless this day!

If you want a little more reason to explore this practice, check out this meditation. Just 90 seconds!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGVaLviMDg4&t=26s

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Blessing others, yourself, the world, events and situations - is a practice.

You can bless just about anything that you think of. You can focus on someone you love or someone you are having difficulty with, or someone at work who is challenging.

And it is powerful.

It can change you slowly, from within and transform others as well.

In the next few days we are going to explore the practice of blessing EVERYTHING.

Because you can't bless and judge at the same time according to Pierre Pradervand.

He should know. He has practiced blessing for decades and taught others how to do so as well.

Are you ready to give it a try?

Here is a short, 90 second meditation on the practice of blessing that I made just for you.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t6L2_hkr1kg&t=10s

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#meditationsimple #mindfulness #spiritualpractice #blessing

For years, actually for decades - a man has worked at my Costco checking the receipts of departing clients.
Every time he checks a receipt he pauses. and looks into the eyes of the customer on his or her way out and simply says "GOD BLESS YOU!"

I don't know anything about him. I guess from his name tag, that he may hail from a Middle Eastern country. Over the years his accent has soften and blended more into its surroundings.

It is always a treat to see him and be in his line because he is so present, and genuine, and I know he has spent a lifetime offering blessings. I often wonder how this simple and humble practice began in his life. Perhaps I will know in due. time. But probably not. It doesn't really matter.

As I watched him bless the person in front of me, on this January 6th, which many celebrate as the Feast of Epiphany, when the Magi brought their gifts to a humble child they had been lead to seek, I decided I would give this man a gift. The same gift that he had given many. I waited for my turn, and then he took my receipt. Before he looked up and before our eyes met, I said to him:

GOD BLESS YOU!

He looked up, paused for a fleeting second and replied back:

GOD BLESS YOU!

Here we were, two beings, perhaps from opposites sides of the planet and experiences, but we stopped for a moment to acknowledge each other and offer blessings.

Today, and really - every day - stop for a moment and offer someone a blessing. Send it far and wide. You never know who may need it today. It might change their life forever.

​#inspirational #inspirationalquotes #spirituality #love #compassion #kindness #healing #wellness #yoga #meditation #transformational #blog
#meditationsimple #mindfulness #spiritualpractice #meditationsimple #blessing

I know it has been some time since I have written here. It has not been for a lack of desire. I simply felt without words...

It has been a difficult last two years. I don't need to tell you this. YOU know!

It has been a time to reassess. It has been a time to question EVERYTHING! It has been a time of journeying deeply within, realizing what is important and what is not. It has been a time of simply SO MUCH!

And it is not over...

Just when we might have imagined turning a corner, things change. The world is up in flames. And yet, even in the deepest darkest despair, I can manage to see the seedlings of HOPE.

The arrival of spring and every sunrise invite us all to remember that no matter how dark or desperate things may be, everything changes and growth is always possible.

Today, and every day, let us go deeply into our hearts, and connect with the SOURCE of all LOVE. Let us send that love wherever it is needed.

Here is a simple practice I have been using:

Sit comfortably. Close your eyes. Connect with your breath.
Place the fingertips of your left hand on your heart.
Place your right palm on your thigh, turned up towards the sky.
Imagine DIVINE LIGHT and LOVE pouring into you through the crown of your head.
Let that LOVE and LIGHT envelop you.
Then send that beautiful energy wherever it is most needed today, right now - in this moment...
And then sit in stillness for a few moments. Let go.

Know that you have made a difference.

How could you not? You are magnificent. Made in the imagine of Divine LIGHT and LOVE. Know that you matter always. Together we can be the change we want to see. Let's be that.