By Eliza Wing
Resilience is a key theme at Your Awakened Heart and for good reason – life likes to throw gut punches your way from time to time and having a set of practices you know you can turn to when things get rough is incredibly helpful.
A great practice you can return to again and again is a good grounding meditation, like the Mountain Meditation or the Earthing Practice. Practice these regularly to give yourself a solid connection to life and for increased emotional, mental and spiritual strength.
Here’s another simple and accessible meditation – it is one that I often bring into my daily morning meditation:
Sit in a comfortable position with your eyes closed and breathe naturally. Allow a sense of calm to descend – either through letting your exhale be longer than your inhale, or by imagining a soothing warm stream of water flowing down your back, then your front and finally through your center.
Next, bring to mind people in your life who you know have your back – these could be good friends, family members, a beloved teacher, someone from your past. Begin to visualize each one and then imagine them literally placing their hands on your upper back. Feel the support and love emanating from these people and know that you are loved, accepted and supported. Sit with this sense of connection and love for as long as you like. Feeling this in your heart and body and really allowing it to sink in gives you a visceral and mental framework that you can call up when you need it most.
Unfortunately, for some of us the exercise above can be difficult. We may feel that there really is no one there for us. In that case, you can bring to mind an historical figure (or figures) whose qualities you admire and who you would like to bring into your meditation. You can think of them as guides who are there to support you and to show you the way. You can even think of a small benediction that you might say when bringing them to mind – something like, “may I feel the presence, patience and passion of Gandhi in this moment.”
No matter, whether these people are present in your life or are admired beings – the connection and the balm of their existence is what can help you along your path.
