Daily Meditation For Natalia
In support of the brave Natalia Rae in her dance and journey with life.
This is a daily Community Encouragement & Compassion Meditation.
You're invited to set aside 10-15 minutes each day in meditation/dedication to benefit Natalia. When you can, log on to this site during one of two scheduled meditation times. By practicing online we have a sense of each other and we can support one another in our dedication to Natalia. You can do this by checking in at the Meditation House and clicking "Announce Yourself" .
This is a silent, sitting meditation. You can start with basic awareness practice - noticing what you are in touch with/aware of, noticing your breathing and body sensation. Then move to a tonglen-like practice where you bring your awareness to your heart. Tonglen is a receiving/accepting (on inhale) and sending out/letting go (on exhale) practice. On your inhale, breathe in difficulty/pain and on your exhale breathe out heart/courage/healing. You can begin the tonglen portion of the meditation by focusing on Natalia and stay with her or you can begin with Natalia, then open your awareness to any part of yourself that needs encouragement, heart, healing...eventually sending on your exhale heart/courage/healing to your community and ultimately, to everyone.
The scheduled daily meditation times are 7am and 8:15pm, Pacific Time.
Additionally, we have a big group sit once a week on Wednesdays at 8:15pm Pacific Time.
Thank you for coming and being here in dedication to our dear friend. Thank you for keeping our circle strong. If you like, before or after your silent meditation, you can leave any messages you want below - written, spoken, video or otherwise - for Natalia and for all of us.
Many of you have seen this already, but in case you haven't, this video is part of what we're up to. In support of Nat.
Thanks to Carol [yes, Monte's very real Carol :-) ] and Laura for also showing up this morning.
Much love.
To Natalia and to everyone.
To see the video, you can go here and click on "Power of Prayer." (I don't know what the truth about all that is, but I know it feels right. At least for me.)
I encourage everyone to check out the new addition to the Meditation House that Albert just put up. It is called "Light a Candle" and you can find it in the Meditation House on the bottom of the right hand side below the meditation timer. This is part of Bro. David Steindl-Rast's web site gratefulness.org. It's simple to use (click on the words "light and candle") and it directs you along pretty well.
Giving thanks and celebrating the creative and imaginal forces of the universe... enjoy
I find myself today and everyday so very grateful for this virtual space and the very real people that are putting their loving energy into it. My heart and health are obviously the focus and I feel the warm fuzzies directed at me - and imagine the immeasurable boost they give to the healing process. I also envision a much greater ripple of all of this quiet, internal focus. It makes me incredibly happy to just think of all of us dropping out of the 'busy-ness' of life for a few minutes a day and connecting to ourselves and our tribe. It feels subversive . . . and I love it. We are sneaking out from the constant barrage of distractions and 'urgencies' and just feeling something very tangible and real in ourselves. I appreciate the support in my need to feel and be felt, to see and be seen, to hear and be heard.
This is the updated history page for the meditation house for those who are interested -- from September 2nd until October 21st, 10AM.
Thanks to everyone who sits. And breathes and loves...
Much love,
Albert
PS If anyone has any wishes or desires for the site or if anyone has ideas for ways in which we might be able to even better support Nat and each other through it, please let me know. Hugs, albert
The tribe is at it again, showing off their incredible ability to rally and organize when the need arises. I have to say I love seeing the dance community coming together like this – I just wish I could find a better way to inspire such acts of kindness and caring. This whole cancer thing is getting old. I guess they are providing me with the stage to do just that. . . and a microphone too! So you are all invited to come on over and join Jewel (a crazy, talented poet, dance teacher and survivor) and I for an evening of inspired movement and creativity. We are sure that you will be surprised by your own strength, flexibility, and brilliant self-expression. Details below.
Thanks to everyone who comes and sits and breathes and loves. When we first started this idea, we didn't know if it would work. Thanks to you all, it's become a really beautiful, living thing.
Since some people had asked about it, the history of the first couple of weeks of the meditation house can be seen here. I'll try putting the listing together every couple of weeks or so, for those who want to see it.
And, in case you need a little refresher course in meditation, Dorothy T has put up a lovely instructional video from, quite possibly, one of the finest meditation teachers of our generation. :-) Definitely worth watching. You can check it out here.
Birthday love also to dear Nancy W. And much love to Nat and all for all of us.
meditation