The Wonder Of Creation

Give yourself permission to step out from daily life for a while. Gently push away all those things that will wait until later. Write them down if it will assist you and set the list aside. When you’re ready, close your journal. Acknowledge the wounds of death and separation. Kindly and gently observe your suffering. Acknowledge your courage. Take a warm cloth and wash your face and hands. Have a drink of water. While our breathing rates vary, adults could be expected to take about fifteen to eighteen breaths each minute. Most of those breaths are taken reflexively, but under stress our breathing rate may increase, the depth of our breath decreases, and we may experience disturbances to our breath rhythms. Our breathing may be significantly affected by grief, sometimes without us even noticing.

Got Your Mojo Working?

This meditation brings awareness to your breath and its value as a source and expression of life. You can sit or lie for this meditation. As you breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth, bring your awareness to your breath. Gently place your hands at the base of your lungs over your diaphragm and notice the movement of your belly as your lungs fill and empty. Observe your breathing for a while without changing anything. Move your attention to the breath in your throat as you breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth. Gently place your hands at your neck and tune in to the air moving up from, and down to your lungs. Observe your breathing for a while without changing anything. Move your awareness to your face as you breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth. Gently place your hands at your heart centre and tune in to the cool air entering your nostrils and the warm air leaving your mouth. Observe your breathing for a while without changing anything. Take some time to connect with the breath of life, grateful and open, alive and well.

Withdraw With Merciless Aloofness.

When the meditation is complete, gently move your limbs and bring your awareness back into the room. Draw on your connections with your breath as you return to your day. With each breath I am reminded I’m alive. My breath breathes life into me and breathes me into life. Pranayama is an intentional practise to help focus and move our breath for grounding and flow. It can provide a pathway through the breath to healing and recovery. Pranayama in healing can slow your heart rate and your mind, allowing you to settle into a more relaxed state. Position your hand over your diaphragm at the base of your lungs to help you tune into the inhalations and exhalations. Inhale through your nostrils and out through your mouth. Keep your breaths even and flowing. Repeat three to seven times. Repeat three to seven times.

Viva La Vida

A breath that has a longer exhale than inhale sends a message to your brain that you are safe and can relax. Consciously lower your shoulders and relax your face. Release any tension in your body. Repeat three to seven times. Hold your right hand with palm facing you. Curl your pointer and tall fingers towards the palm. You are going to use the thumb and ring finger on this hand to assist with your breathing practise by closing each nostril. Keep your breathing smooth and even. Close and rest your eyes and relax your face and shoulders, breathing in and out through both nostrils. Gently block your right nostril with your right thumb. Breathe in through your left nostril. Gently block your left nostril with your ring finger. Breathe out through your right nostril. Breathe in through your right nostril. Gently block your right nostril with your right thumb. Breathe out through your left nostril. This completes one cycle. Repeat the cycle five to seven times. They can be used alone or in combination to support you in your grief. See the introduction for different ways to use essential oils to support healing. Violet oil comes from the leaves of the plants and may be used to soothe and calm. Grapefruit peel is the source of this oil that may be used to detox and stimulate energy. Pine is sweet oil from a tall tree and may be used to warm and clear and refresh. Place your mirror at the base of the candle. With your eyes open, allow your attention to wander to your hands, noticing their features, as if you have never seen your hands before. Close your eyes and move your hand to take your pulse at your wrist, noticing the steady beat of your heart. Feel your pulse at your throat or in your neck, tuning in to its rhythms. Take your time and consciously slow down your breath, quieting its rhythms to better hear your pulse. When you’re ready, open your eyes and pick up your mirror. Use the mirror to gaze at your own face, kindly noticing its features, as if you have never seen your face before. Begin with your eyes, seeing their colours, the curves, and the lashes. Move your focus to your mouth, noticing its shape and texture. Turn up its corners into a smile, checking to see what that does to your eyes. Take some time to look lovingly at your face, grateful for the signs of life you see there. Draw and release some deep breaths to centre yourself, alive and in the midst of life. Take a few moments to capture some reflections in your journal about the life in your hands, in your pulse, and revealed in your eyes and face. Take a cleansing breath, grateful to be alive. Blow out your candle, knowing you can reconnect at any time. Each one is unique in its timing, setting, and circumstances. It is a reminder that death is coming to us all and that we can’t control its nature. When we talk about the death of someone we love, we have even expressions.