For When We are Lonely

Mindfulness Talk:

I love watching the difference between people at the beginning of a yoga class versus at the end.  People walk in with their day close at hand: sometimes worn-out, sometimes talked-out, sometimes stressed-out.  Even if they walk in chatting with a friend, there is a bit of disconnect because they are each stepping out of their separate days.  Yoga calls this feeling of separation, asmita.  

I like the image of a old wagon wheel.  We each enter yoga class on our own spoke, on the outside of the wheel.  We are all part of this one thing, but we are separate from each other.  As class goes on, we slowly make our way to the center.  And there, we find there is very little space between us.  As we have become centered, we have also found the collective center.  We are not alone.

In real life, we sometimes feel alone.  

We all spend some days on the outside rim, feeling the lonely space.  Asmita.  But this feeling of separation is an illusion.  We are all part of the same big wheel.   Find something that centers you:  prayer, meditation, yoga, hiking…  Work your way closer to the center and find that lonely space dissolving.         

As the space between us dissolves, we can see that each of our spokes are delightfully different.  Old spokes, young spokes, practical brown spokes and neon pink spokes.  Make your way even closer.  Do you see?  There is more alike than different.  Each and every one of us have dents, bruises, shiny spots.  We all have moments where our spoke is thin and brittle.  But it doesn’t matter, because we are not required to rely on our own singular strength.  You are not keeping it together. We are all keeping us together.      

You are not alone.

Until next time,

Laura

Meditation:

Finding Present Meditation: Find an image that has an outside coming into a center, like a wheel or a lotus flower. Maybe use this one:

https://www.shutterstock.com/image-vector/odisha-puri-nandighosa-ratha-chaka-2146180041

Breathe. With each inhale, image yourself coming closer to the center, with each exhale, you slide back but only part of the way.

When you have made your way to the center, you can continue this meditation or begin the mindfulness meditation.

Mindfulness Meditation: Imagine the wheel/flower inside of you now, in your upper belly or chest. Breathe. Each inhale reminds you that you are in the center, cozy and connected.

You are still in the center, cozy and connected, but shift your gaze down one of spokes towards the outside. As you do this, a thought or feeling or image may arise. If it does, just notice it. That thought or feeling or image may not feel cozy and connected. But that’s ok, because once this thought or feeling or image realizes that the real you is still in the center, breathing and cozy, it will fade away. Just notice it until it fades away. Then return to your cozy, centered breathing.

Look down another spoke if you wish. Another thought or feeling or image may arise. Just notice it until it fades away. Then return to your cozy, centered breathing.

Closing Routine: When you are ready, rub your fingers and take three cleansing breaths. Or use a closing routine that works for you.