tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7040885783161590018.post902450124755016428..comments2010-01-24T15:07:26.719-05:00Janice Lynne Lundyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12065023183951459029noreply@blogger.comBlogger28125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7040885783161590018.post-32207499834813247802010-01-24T15:07:26.719-05:002010-01-24T15:07:26.719-05:00Home from travel and reading all the souful comments here. Everyone seems to resonate with your recording, Laura. I am glad it is in MP3 form so we can listen to it again and again.<br /><br />You remind us of how important it is to begin AND end our day with something like this. It aligns us with our spirit (and the Greater Spirit) in such perfect fashion. <br /><br />And thank you to everyone who listened and commented. I am celebrating how rooted we are in living with intention, heart, and kindness. My heart is happy...<br /><br />And, now, on with the Challenge. I hope as many as possible can join in on the Conference Call. Laura will be there too!Janhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12065023183951459029noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7040885783161590018.post-72320294146993465232010-01-24T12:17:01.599-05:002010-01-24T12:17:01.599-05:00Today was my first opportunity to hear the MP3. Laura, you really do have a beautiful voice! Wow.<br /><br />I always start &amp; end my days with a chat with God and a review of the things I&#39;m grateful for. Although I&#39;ve never thought of it as a prayer, I suppose it is. I want Him to know that I&#39;m grateful for all the gifts he pours out on me every day, even the ones I&#39;m not aware of.Carolynnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12566204713508877389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7040885783161590018.post-68798766024650297912010-01-24T10:58:54.952-05:002010-01-24T10:58:54.952-05:00Wonderful post and what a beautiful way to greet the day. Thank you for sharing Laura. Thank you Jan for this.<br />My meditations are coiming along nicely...<br />xoxoxAnniehttp://blissful-bohemian.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7040885783161590018.post-24858464275082738632010-01-24T01:57:55.628-05:002010-01-24T01:57:55.628-05:00Just beautiful, Laura, and so inspiring! I loved hearing the chant—your voice is like a bell.<br /><br />I enjoyed reading your blog a while ago, it&#39;s very inspiring too.<br /><br />Off to bed, grateful for this last nice thing in my day.<br /><br />Sincerely,<br />Laura tooLaurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16966104460376436386noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7040885783161590018.post-74419637551839264092010-01-23T20:39:50.436-05:002010-01-23T20:39:50.436-05:00I started my day with your chant today. And it held my day in a sacred peace all day.<br />Bless you Laura, and everyone here.<br />JulieJulie Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17261004072084276899noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7040885783161590018.post-8024310117472164202010-01-23T20:04:57.214-05:002010-01-23T20:04:57.214-05:00Laura, your sharing here is real and uplifting, an amazing gift. I have learned this month that starting my day with gratitude and blessings is far and away the best thing I can do for myself and the hours ahead. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and beautiful chant.Sharonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01448211798237937246noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7040885783161590018.post-10849206479798529342010-01-23T17:55:45.198-05:002010-01-23T17:55:45.198-05:00Hello Everyone,<br />The sun has set here in NH and Shabbat (the Sabbath) is over, so I wanted to check back in and just say how good it is to know that my gift to all of you yesterday was received with the same kind of big love I poured into it. I have said this before in comments here, but I want to say it again. I feel completely held and supported by all of you and blessed too, knowing that this is a sacred community in which I am meeting, connecting and holding all of you with the same compassionate embrace.<br /><br />May we and all beings be blessed with chesed (kindness)<br />May we and all beings be blessed with rachamim<br />(compassion)<br />May we and all beings be blessed with refuah (healing)<br />May we and all beings be blessed with simcha (joy)<br />May we and all beings be blessed with shalom<br />(peace/wholeness)<br /><br />LauraLaura Hegfieldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15349928247626849914noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7040885783161590018.post-83696618149898605342010-01-23T11:05:47.479-05:002010-01-23T11:05:47.479-05:00What a lovely meditation. It will be one of my favourites!Beverley Bairdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12973073253078139054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7040885783161590018.post-14270771769385920262010-01-23T09:38:46.595-05:002010-01-23T09:38:46.595-05:00Oh my gosh Laura. You gave me goosebumps. I just returned from a morning session at the Buddhist Training Center I attend. The message today was gratitude. I must say that I&#39;ve never incorporated a morning prayer in my waking up. The words of the prayer you have given us really touched me...and I have been playing your prayer over and over again, learning the words. What a great way to wake up, to give thanks for being alive and to start your day filled with love and thankfulness. I will use your morning prayer daily. Thanks so much for sharing it with us.<br /><br />AngelaSeeking Simplicityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07503564517514391291noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7040885783161590018.post-91900414526266271582010-01-23T09:07:59.725-05:002010-01-23T09:07:59.725-05:00This is so beautiful and if I&#39;m not mistaken, there are many religions that practice some form of morning prayer/meditation with the same meaning behind it - being thankful for another day, a restored soul, a restful and restorative night, etc. <br /><br />&quot;Waking up to gratitude grounds my soul in the here and now&quot;<br /><br />That summed it all up for me. Thank you for sharing your traditions with us. Those five minutes before everyone rises are highly treasured in my day to day living.Teriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07463266924643629828noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7040885783161590018.post-32039030154978629852010-01-22T22:11:14.346-05:002010-01-22T22:11:14.346-05:00A late night check in for me, and what beauty I find here! Laura, your soulful chant (and voice!) have touched many, I can tell. By all the comments, I can tell that you opened a doorway for many us to explore how we can do this too! It does not matter how we do it, just that we do so as a practice of centering, gratitude, and intention for our day. Often a line of scripture will come to me upon waking, and I just say it over and over to myself, accompanied by breath. A silent chant -- without music -- but my heart is singing. (LOL)<br /><br />Laura, thank you or holding down the fort today and supporting this community of meditators. I appreciate you. YOU are the blessing! Cyber-Hugs from afar all to everyone from afar. xo janJanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12065023183951459029noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7040885783161590018.post-51144882861708613582010-01-22T22:09:48.744-05:002010-01-22T22:09:48.744-05:00Oh Laura, your voice transported me to such a good place - thank you!Rochellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16602410204355714901noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7040885783161590018.post-49275101553002615732010-01-22T16:25:04.026-05:002010-01-22T16:25:04.026-05:00Hello One Woman (I apologize for not knowing your name)...this sharing, connecting, creating sacred community...I think-I KNOW that is what we are here on this planet for. To be compassionate listeners and teachers. So thank you for listening to me, I feel such gratitude toward you, Jan and all of you for stopping by today...for being open to receiving my offering to all of you.Laura Hegfieldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15349928247626849914noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7040885783161590018.post-72606343658892075002010-01-22T16:13:41.161-05:002010-01-22T16:13:41.161-05:00Joanne,<br />&quot;not even taking a moment to bring with us into this world any of the profound experience of the one we just left upon awakening&quot; I love what you wrote here. Because it is a shift isn&#39;t it, from the world of dreams to this world we live in when we are awake? And both &quot;worlds&quot; have important lessons to teach us; beauty to integrate into our being and doing. And this transition doesn&#39;t have to be a long, drawn out ritual...it can truly be a moment after turning off that disturbing alarm clock...taking a deep inhalation with awareness...YES I&#39;m awake and there is so much potential in the day to come...and then an exhale of gratitude for being alive and knowing that any wonderful thing is possible.<br /><br />give it a try tomorrow, see what happens...you already know from past experience it makes a difference...and if you forget tomorrow, that&#39;s ok, you can try again the next day...and/or the one after that. Gentle steps, that is the key.Laura Hegfieldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15349928247626849914noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7040885783161590018.post-74044685923565113932010-01-22T16:00:43.944-05:002010-01-22T16:00:43.944-05:00Hello Karen, <br />Thank you, I&#39;m so touched that you listened to this recording several times, wow! Perhaps tonight you can go to bed feeling gratitude (as Marie had mentioned in a previous comment) Perhaps going through your day in your mind quickly noting the blessings that you experienced to day after you are tucked into bed tonight...(small blessings like getting a great parking space totally count as do phone conversations with people you love and someone being polite and letting you go in front of them in line, or a lovely smile you received today) and then when you wake up the same sense of gratitude will arise in the wholeness of your being;heart and soul with body and mind awareness.Laura Hegfieldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15349928247626849914noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7040885783161590018.post-76704426680430503882010-01-22T15:16:58.984-05:002010-01-22T15:16:58.984-05:00Laura, your sharing has touched me deeply. I always pray before arising in the morning. I never thought of chanting at this time.<br />Again, thank you and blessings sent your way.One Woman's Journeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12548226150115102345noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7040885783161590018.post-71198249831528740382010-01-22T15:13:15.134-05:002010-01-22T15:13:15.134-05:00Jan... you certainly were right... Laura, your voice is so incredibly light-filled and beautiful... when i think of entering into each day with such a profoundly gentle and spiritual beginning it makes me realize how many times i haven&#39;t done so, and what a difference it makes in the days when i do... how many of us are awakened to loud noises and hit the ground running as soon as our feet hit the floor... not even taking a moment to bring with us into this world any of the profound experience of the one we just left upon awakening... <br /><br />i love that your practice begins before you are even fully awake, Laura... i love that you are already tuning your voice, your heart, in the direction of gratitude... what a profoundly beautiful way to start each day...joannehttp://breatheasme.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7040885783161590018.post-71378149420018766552010-01-22T11:48:34.142-05:002010-01-22T11:48:34.142-05:00Laura ! Oh My-the Morning prayer was beautiful. Thank You ! Listening to you chant was very moving. So much joy and generous gratitude expressed. I had to play it several times. I can only imagine how healing it would be to wake this way everyday.Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10547332181469433829noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7040885783161590018.post-31761861901237351282010-01-22T11:32:26.840-05:002010-01-22T11:32:26.840-05:00Marie...yes, agreed a perfect way to end a day and rest in deep, sweet peace. <br /><br />Happy gardening Jan! I can&#39;t believe how the circle of meditators has grown! 103? This is amazing...I feel so held by everyone...and am enjoying supporting our sacred community as well :)Laura Hegfieldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15349928247626849914noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7040885783161590018.post-80670544912059964652010-01-22T11:17:56.948-05:002010-01-22T11:17:56.948-05:00Good morning, Laura, and all! Your singing, Laura, is obviously touching so many hearts. I listened to it myself again this morning and its simply touched me in so many ways. What a beautiful way to awaken...<br /><br />Just checking in. Thank you for being here to hostess our gathering. Off to &quot;work&quot; and cultivate Presence. :-) Thanks and blessings for being here!Janhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12065023183951459029noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7040885783161590018.post-49708413131208715902010-01-22T10:44:09.373-05:002010-01-22T10:44:09.373-05:00As I get to thinking about this practice, I think this form of gratitude meditation would be the way to end the day as well. What better way to drift off to sleep?<br /><br />I also wanted to share Jan, that I attended another group meditation on Wednesday evening and they introduced circle breathing meditation. Breathing in for the count of 4, holding the breath for the count of 4, exhale to 4 and hold again for 4. There were several forms introduced, but I seemed to lean towards this particular one. This was very helpful in keeping my attention on my breathing and I can use it thoughtout the day when the stress gets to be too much.~Mariemazarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04622904435705018814noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7040885783161590018.post-58293025695632218832010-01-22T10:18:48.160-05:002010-01-22T10:18:48.160-05:00Good Morning Marie...I&#39;m so glad this came at the right time for you! I used to be a drag myself out of bed kind of person too...and then things shifted. It is so good that you are noticing this about yourself. It really makes difference to start our days with gratitude...even when feel tired and grumpy...there is space for all of these feelings to be held at once. (our hearts are soooooo big!)<br /><br />Hi Nicki this is why I often chant in my head...I tend to wake up before everyone else too. If I can really hear my own voice in my mind, feel it in my body then it doesn&#39;t have to disturb any of my sleeping beloveds. So that&#39;s my solution to peaceful awakening. Perhaps this will work for you too.Laura Hegfieldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15349928247626849914noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7040885783161590018.post-51527770590946270262010-01-22T09:35:55.507-05:002010-01-22T09:35:55.507-05:00oops. The other great meditation/Jewish Spirituality resource that Sheila is a founding member of is the Institute for Jewish Spirituality. http://www.ijs-online.org/ My teachers and friends (hevraya) from IJS continue to be a grounding, healing, uplifting, nourishing source for me. I want to acknowledge Rabbi Nancy Flam, Rabbi Myriam Klotz, Rabbi Rachel Cowan, Rabbi Jonathan Slater, Rabbi Shelly Dorf, Dr. Lawrence Fine, Rabbi Michael Strassfeld, Rabbi Marc Margolius, Rabbi Sheffa Gold, Rachael Kessler all of whom have been part of my IJS learning experience along with Rabbi Sheila Peltz Weinberg...and of course Diane Bloomfield (my yoga and Jewish spirituality teacher with Myriam). And my chevruta partners over the years-you know who you are and I love you ALL! Ok. That feels better.<br /><br />This is about a gratitude practice after all! Thank you my outstanding teachers!Laura Hegfieldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15349928247626849914noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7040885783161590018.post-85055494112290216802010-01-22T09:21:03.347-05:002010-01-22T09:21:03.347-05:00Laura, Thank you for sharing that beautiful prayer with us. It has inspired me to think about what chant I might use in the morning as I awake myself in bed. So often I have one or two children in bed with me by the morning, and in order to get in my meditation time and in order to not awake them, I often remain there for some time. I like the idea of awakening to the day in this way. Peace, NickiNicki Wilkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05478937722424533942noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7040885783161590018.post-46365646573570243522010-01-22T09:20:50.596-05:002010-01-22T09:20:50.596-05:00Jan,<br />What a lovely introduction, thank you. I love that you added a quote by Jay Michaelson at the end...this is one of my favorite books...a terrific reference I have used often in teaching yoga and meditation to teens and adults ;)<br /><br />Hello Debra,<br />Thank you thank you. May this be a day of deep gratitude and surprisingly beautiful blessings for you.<br /><br />Hello Sarah,<br />I&#39;m so glad this post &quot;hit the spot&quot; for you today.<br /><br />May your light continue to shine long past the glory of the morning sun!Laura Hegfieldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15349928247626849914noreply@blogger.com