In Between + Meditation Recording N.9
thoughts, food recipes, books, a breathing practice and all in between
Hi, there!
This month instead of the q+a, I’m feeling like sharing in a different format: a few thoughts, book recommendations, recipes and whatever else comes up. The meditation recording bellow is really great, the first part is a guided practice and in the second part we do an active imagination exercise to continue the dialogue with the unconscious. I hope you enjoy it!
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Free Community Gathering is happening next Friday, February 23, at 9am/pst. We’ll explore our relationship with Guilt. Join here
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I’ve been listening to this on repeat:
1- It’s important to remember from time to time: we don’t know what we don’t know. This might seem obvious but you might be surprise how assumptions and projections run the show. A good approach to life is the “I don’t know” route. It keeps us curious, engaged, and open. This Buddhist Fable expands on it.
2- When we isolate, it might be an indication that somewhere inside of us we feel the need to figure things out alone. We might don’t believe others can take on our load. We are afraid to be a burden and/or be perceived the wrong way. Asking for help, sharing with others, and showing our wounds can be very challenging. If this is happening for you, just notice it internally: “Oh, yeah… it makes sense you want to keep it to yourself!” Observe what happens when you acknowledge and include it in your experience.
3- “Discernment is a process of letting go of what we are not” - Father Thomas Keating (sighhh!)
4- If you didn’t have to manage other people’s needs or expectations, if you didn’t worry too much about what others think of you, if money/resources weren’t a problem, if you embodied all of who you are without wishing it to be different or fixed. What would you experience? What would you do? How would you be? What would you feel?
5- Sometimes all we need is to continue. To continue is good enough.
BODY + BREATHING PRACTICE
In the middle of the day when I feel the crash coming on I do a combination of this body and breathing practice (let me know if this is helpful and I can share more). This takes less than 5 minutes and it can be so powerful to shift any stale feeling during the day. Allow for the movements to be intuitive and let your body tell you how it wishes to move.
Standing up, begin with a few jumps (3 to 4, inhaling through the nose and out of the mouth as if blowing out the air, filling up a ballon)
After, begin to tap the body vigorously (from top to bottom but you can go in any direction you prefer)
Then ground your feet, keep your knees bent and swing your arms from side to side, 3 to 4 times (you can begin to close your eyes here, if that feels alright)
Pause the movement and move the attention to the breath. I like to keep my hands on my heart and belly, but you can let them be however it feels natural and at ease for you
Take a deep and slow inhale, open your mouth, and say the letter r as you exhale (do this 3 to 4 times).
Lastly, inhale for a count of 4, hold for a count of 2, exhale for a count of 6 all through the nose. You can do this 5 times or how many times you wish. Notice your body and any shift. Take your time going back to your day.
Books