Opening Thought: Opening Thought: As humans, it is easy for us to overlook the teaching of nature. We separate ourselves from our natural surroundings and miss to notice the lessons on resilience we can learn from nature to help us through this time. Have you paid attention to the sprouting of the first Spring flowers after a winter? Resilience.
Centering Meditation - from Simone Ori, “In this video you can see various plants growing and seem to dance to the music. I made a total of 7841 photos with intervals ranging from 3 to 7 minutes. All photos were taken with the Canon 1100D and one lens, the L series 100mm f/2.8 Macro.” I too will sit with you on Thursdays at 7:00 pm and think of you.
Meditation Reflection: You can take your journal and write a few notes on your experience of this visual meditation.
Centering Lyrics: Please listen to Karliene's, “Mother Earth” and lyrics are included for writing and reflection.
Mother Earth
Listen to the animals Listen to the trees Listen to the spirits of the Earth Begging us please Stop listening to greed
Listen to the rivers Listen to the sea Listen to the spirits of the deep Begging us please Stop listening to greed
She sent the drought to warn us She sent the storms to scold us But we don't listen We burn and we break And we take and we take And we take Till it's too late
Oh where did the beasts go? Where did the trees go? Where will man go When he has lost The heartbeat Beneath his feet
Oh this is our home She gives us home Mother Earth Can you feel Her heartbeat Beneath your feet
Heartbeat Beneath your feet Heartbeat Beneath your feet
Listen to the animals Listen to the trees Listen to the spirits of the Earth Begging us please Stop listening to greed…
Source: Musixmatch
Close reading – To do a close reading you take the text and read it first silently, and then out loud to connect with the language, the words, the story of the poem or text. Let the words seep into your body, let thoughts, images, emotions and memory surface. Highlight what you connect with, takes notes. What comes up for you? What words, sentences, thoughts stir something within you?
Centering Reflection & Writing:
As you read what you wrote reflect on the following: What do you notice? What are you aware of? What do you feel? What are you curious about? To reflect on the reflection is a practice of bibliotherapy.
Centering Ritual: As you are able, pay renewed attention to the natural wonders that surround you. Listen to the birds. Hear the leaves' playfulness with the air that moves them. Feel the texture of that elderly tree that has lived through much.
During the month of April 2020 , The Resilient Activist offered a nightly online meditation as a stress-management and resilience tool. Please check out their wonderful offerings.
To learn more about these centering rituals check our page, Centering Ritual
Final note: Thank you! This is our final centering ritual, I want to thank Dr. Ortega for giving me the permission to use his centering ritual activities first posted in Open Plaza.
This was an opportunity for grounding, centering and creative self-expression and I am deeply grateful for your participation and support. Please continue to meditate, ground through centering presence and visual journaling, and don't forget to send me what you love, what moves you and I will post it.