Labyrinth

 

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I came across this Labyrinth recently and practiced walking meditation. Although walking meditations can be done anywhere, a labyrinth reflects  wholeness, balance and coming back to oneself.   Labyrinths invite a person to practice taking steps with gentle awareness.  

Walking Meditation by  Thich Nhat Hahn

Take my hand.
We will walk.
We will only walk.
We will enjoy our walk
without thinking of arriving anywhere.
Walk peacefully.
Walk happily.
Our walk is a peace walk.
Our walk is a happiness walk.

 Then we learn
that there is no peace walk;
that peace is the walk;
that there is no happiness walk;
that happiness is the walk.
We walk for ourselves.
We walk for everyone
always hand in hand.

 Walk and touch peace every moment.
Walk and touch happiness every moment.
Each step brings a fresh breeze.
Each step makes a flower bloom under our feet.
Kiss the Earth with your feet.
Print on Earth your love and happiness.

Earth will be safe
when we feel in us enough safety.

 

Namaste,

Shobhna

Dance of Aliveness

I did my meditation outdoors today. With cool grass under my feet and a gentle warm breeze under the morning sun, tuning into my own inner self was a gift.

Todays meditation was a guided meditation by Tara Brach, an invitation to relax and awaken the body with an openness  to receive life as it is.

https://www.tarabrach.com/meditation-opening-aliveness/

Cultivating mindful awareness and compassionately viewing our experience is a way to step out of auto pilot.  Although meditations can be done at any time of the day, a morning meditation can set the tone for the day.  Words and phrases from a guided meditation can serve as reminders to bring awareness to our thoughts and actions.   From todays meditation, the phrase “Dance of Aliveness”  resonated from me.  To be aware and at ease in this world.  To be rooted in the present moment and be flexible in each moment.

 

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Hummingbird visiting the Bergamot

Namaste,

Shobhna

 

 

Break Open The Sky

We are not trapped or locked up
in these bones.
No, no. We are free to change.
And, love changes us.
And if we can love one another,
we can break open the sky.
– Walter Mosley

Stephan Bauman, in Break Open The Sky  encourages readers to choose faith over fear in daily life. Bringing relationship with God to the forefront, as the vehicle, to transform a fearful life to one of liberation, love and risk.  He brings his personal experience of working with people from all over the world.
Difficulties and hardships due to health, finances, relationships can all be transformative when courage, indispensable faith, trust and love are put into action.  Examples from modern day challenges and stories from the Bible, together provide a perspective on how to live a life that embodies grace.
We cannot be in the past or in the future, while genuinely being in the present.  This book is a reminder to let go of fears and worries in exchange for unshakable faith.

“Peace is expensive. It requires risk taking. Its personal. It makes you vulnerable. And peace always involves action. Resistance is part of the calling.”  ~ Stephan Bauman
I received this book from blogging for books.  The book review is based on my genuine opinion.

Namaste,
Shobhna

Down to Our Core

The mind does not comprehend

Words cannot explain

Yet deep in our soul

Down to our core

We can feel

Sorrow and pain

Of innocent lives lost in

Meaningless ways.

Sending forth today for all of us and generations to come

Under sunny skies so blue

Prayers for a love so deep that all may know peace

Regardless of color of skin, religion or heritage

No matter gender, age, occupation or location

May each one feel a love so deep that

down to our core we are Peace.

 

Namaste,

Shobhna