Prayer to begin
With peace and love I walk today
Content to follow in Your ways.
Health and strength abide in me
One in hand and heart with Thee.
The energizing effects of meditation, laughter and prayer harmonize every aspect of our being - body, mind, heart, soul, spirit.
Following are these 3 holistic methods of healing ourselves, and by multiplication, our world-wide family.
Guided Meditation
Preparation: Recline in a chair, hands resting in your lap, or lie on your back in a deep relaxation pose - arms down and slightly away from your sides, legs slightly apart. Close your eyes.
Begin even and regular breathing: breathe in 2 counts; breathe out 2 counts; breathe in 2 counts and continue this pattern throughout the meditation.
Now visualize yourself walking along a warm stretch of beach next to a peaceful tropical ocean. The sun is shining bright over the ocean halfway up toward the noon zenith. As you walk along, feel the warm squishy sand massaging the soles of your feet. Your arms are swinging at your sides - as your left foot steps forward, your right arm swings forward and vice versa.
You are walking into a mild wind that caresses your face, neck, torso and arms. Looking toward the horizon on the far stretch of beach you see a few friends calling you to join them.
You feel warmth in your body and happy anticipation in your thoughts. As you reach your friends, all embrace in a group hug, glad to feel the warmth and comfort of each other's love. You all sit in a large circle sharing stories, everyone taking turns, each feeling valued and loved. All one of the parts and part of the One.
Now, once again notice the regular patterns of your breathing, like waves lapping in and out at the shore. Come back to your everyday self, open your eyes, stretch out, refreshed, renewed.
You could record this guided meditation in your own voice for later listening while relaxing.
Laughter
I have found when I laugh I let go of tension in my mind and body. Attitudes, preconceptions, plans for action or non-action, grudges, blame, everything dissipates during the period of laughing. In those moments of release all holds melt down into a large cauldron of harmony - much as raw ingredients dropped into a cooking pot and simmered become nourishing soup. Food for thought!
Healing Prayer
Lord, may all that I can be
Align with what is Thee.
May your love and light
Shine always in my life.
***
For offline reading
Meditation Lessons for AdultsMore than 70 offerings, from guided meditation techniques to on-the-go stress relief and relationship meditations interspersed with verse, and a section of special occasion prayers. 114 pages.
Meditation for all KidsSitting, walking, dance and group circle meditations, along with positive affirmations, verses and benefits of meditation for kids of all ages and abilities in a 100 page book with illustrations.
***
Article and photo by Susan Helene Kramer. Painting by Vincent van Gogh, Country road in Provence by night, 12-15 May, 1890, Kroeller-Mueller Museum, The Netherlands
