Meditation allows our authentic self — our inner hero — to surface and safely guide us through the self-doubts and worries forming our “dark nights of the soul.” The courage required for these heroic acts is simply to sit with whatever is there —
Soldering On Toward Integration
A glimpse of possibility registers,
that proverbial carrot Life dangles,
and whispers, “Remember who you are.
Letting go of desire and ambition
is but one more step on the journey.”
Ever eager to chat, I counter with
“Am I crossing the final frontier?”
“Won’t know until you do so,” recounts Life.
Confronted with uncertainty,
a soft Inner Voice queries,
“What have you got to lose?”
“Only everything!” irrationally shouts Fear.
Life’s glimpses again remind,
“You have to give up everything
to know that you need nothing.”
I feel the serenity in these words.
I don’t know what the destination is!
And I ponder, “From where
does this impatience for the immediate grow?”
April 2011
Below is a lovely meditation* I work with to support my own journey into joyful integration.
Breathing into my heart, no one to be.
Breathing into my heart, nothing to do.
Breathing into my heart, just being.
On the inhale repeat “Breathing into my heart“, on the exhale repeat “no one to be” and so on for the entire series. Repeat this series for 5-10 minutes or for your entire meditation. If you feel so inclined, add the following passages —
Breathing into my heart, may I be healed of my difficulties.
Breathing into my heart, may I be aware in the present moment.
Breathing into my heart, may my awakened heart embrace all that is.
Again use the same process to inhale and exhale.
What fear have you been avoiding? Can you bring it into your heart and just sit with it?
*Source: Adapted from Zen teacher Ezra Bayda who considers this meditation to be one of the single most important practices he has encountered.
