Return to the Body: A Guided Meditation
“We humans have reached a point in time where we realize that we will have to wake up and see in new ways or our planet is in jeopardy, this way of life is not sustainable. Part of the way we can invite healing and understand the way forward, is to reconnect with our bodies, to dance with the Holy Spirit.”
- Rev. Dr. Clay Brantley, Retreat House Director
Opening prayer: Breathe in the midst of our daily lives and focus on dancing with God among us, a God who invites us to come and to be. Open you heart, mind, and soul. Come Holy Spirit come, make this holy ground, sacred moment, come Holy Spirit come. Notice during this time - are you receiving a message, a nudge, an insight? May we dance, may our hearts, souls and bodies dance during this time, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Centering practice:
Place your feet on the floor. Get comfortable in a chair. Feel your body, notice your posture.
Take some deep breaths, breathing in and holding and then breathing out, breathing it all out.
Fill lungs with air, breathing in, then hold and release, release it all out feel your lungs all the way down to your toes, feel the oxygen.
Breathing in and holding — say yes, yes, yes and then release the air.
Continue to hold this space and be mindful, mindful of this moment.
Reflect on what you did this morning, afternoon or evening. What has your day been like? Has it been calm? Crazy? Pleasant?
Continue to breathe and reflect.
Feel the energy you have felt so far today, being aware of the energy in your body, aware of the movement of energy in your body.
Where is your energy? Feel that in your body? Where do you feel that energy moving?
Or perhaps it isn't moving? Perhaps it is locked in your shoulders, in your neck? Where do you feel the tension?
Engage your body. It is part of the dance.
Start with your head and move all the way through your body.
Bring your attention to your head. Is there energy swirling there? A presence?
Now to focus on your eyes. Look around you, in front of you. Look to the side, look behind you, be aware of your space.
Let your body be seen. Be aware of your space.
Bring attention to your ears. What do you hear now?
Bring your attention to your jaw. Many times our jaws are tight. Open it, let it rest, if you want to put your hands on your jaw and kind of feel it.
Bring your attention to your shoulders and neck. This brings awareness, and connects you to your body.
Continue to breathe, settle into this holy space.
Place your hands on your heart. Bring your attention to your heart. Think of your heart as having eternal energy, an energy that radiates. It is a place of love. As you notice this love, allow yourself to experience the beating of your heart.
Place your hands on your solar plexus, that area right above your rib cage.
This is your place for power, your place of fire.
Can you feel something stirring here? Can you feel fire? Can you feel energy?
Keep breathing.
Look at your hands.
Bring all of your attention to your hands. Focus on your finger tips. You might feel a tingling sensation.
Let those hands move. Rotate your wrists. Wiggle your fingers.
Now onto your arms. You begin to feel your arms, feel the energy of your arms. Move them. Bring them down and place your hands on your legs. Can you feel the energy of your legs?
Begin to have a sense of your legs and the flowing of energy to your legs. Focus on where you feel and know and sense your legs - the top of your legs, the bottom of your legs. We sometimes treat our legs simply as sticks to get us from here to there, but our legs are a vital part of our body, of who we are.
Focus on your knees. Rub your knees if you can, feel your body. It is your body. You are not simply a head that has a body to transport you. You are an embodied being. See, feel, know your body.
Bring your attention to your feet. Move your toes, feel the soles of your feet. Focus your attention. Move your toes a little bit. Feel the soles of your feet. If you do this long enough, you might experience some tingling.
Feel your feet, legs, knees. Feel your hips, your back, shoulders, arms and hands. Allow yourself some time to move and play. Maybe go on a walk. Move from side to side. Allow your body to resonate with you. Breathe in. Breathe out. Come into a time of silence and practice stepping into the present moment.
Allow the Holy Spirit to move in you. What do you notice? We would love to hear from you!
Questions? Send Clay a note.