Meditation Monday

On this Meditation Monday, a meditative practice for opening the heart.

Many of us worldwide now find ourselves fully launched into the holiday season. The hustle and bustle of shopping, decorating, or entertaining may overwhelm us. It is the season of openheartedness, yet we may find ourselves feeling irritated with others, especially if we are called into family or workplace gatherings to spend time with people with whom we may have difficulty.

Here is a meditation you can do—anytime, anywhere—to keep your heart open when it feels like it wants to close itself off from others.

Give your body permission to relax. Focus on your breath, taking one gentle inhale and exhale at a time ... slowly, evenly, bringing your body to a place of calm. Take all the time you need to settle down and into your self.

Now bring your attention to your heart center. Visualize a beautiful flower residing there—a rose, a lotus, any variety of many-petalled flower.

Notice its vibrant color, the texture of its petals, its heady aroma.

As you continue to breathe, ever so gently, feel the breath of Spirit infusing it with life, opening your heart petal by petal. Notice all constrictions easing as you give yourself over to this beautiful sensation of opening.

You may wish to silently say to yourself:

I open myself to the universal flow of Love. 

I allow compassion and lovingkindness to wash through me, 

opening the petals of my heart. 
I breathe in Love,

I breathe out compassion. 

I extend myself in kindness.

May my heart be in full flower with everyone I meet.*

Now, does your heart have anything to say ...

As always, I welcome your thoughts.  

And you might like to give yourself an extra special treat today by reading Dr. Mark Brady's newest blog post on "Taking the Brain to Heart." It's fabulous, a must read for people on the path to awakening. If you recall, Mark was a guest here just recently speaking about heart-centered parenting. Enjoy!

(*This meditation is copyrighted and adapted from Your Truest Self: Embracing the Woman You Are Meant to Be by Janice Lynne Lundy, ©2008. Please do not duplicate without the author's written permission.)