Today we had the final Saturday meeting of the 9 week meditation series in the Daring Greatly: 60 Day Gratitude Challenge at Two Rivers Yoga. This week we focus on cultivating deep appreciation and loving kindness toward ourselves and to the many others who have supported us on our journey.

Together we created our own light in the rainy dark and began with a prayer inspired by Ana Forrest’s teaching:

. . . Let us dance with what is immovable in our lives.  Let us find the courage & help one another enter the mystery!  Let us find the courage and help one another live awakened lives.  Let us find the courage and help one another to really see ourselves clearly.  Let us find the courage & help one another to honor our wisdom.  Let us find the courage and help one another to value and share our gifts. Let us find the courage and help one another practice patience, loving kindness and compassion. . . .

Let us give thanks!

As we are nearing the end of our challenge I’ve been thinking about how I approach challenge and living in general.  I’ve become aware of a subtle aggression that often surfaces in pushing myself so that I may be “worthy.”  I think that’s why it’s so critical to really connect with my healing instinct – my inner wisdom – my Spirit.  My hope is there is a part of me that isn’t dominated by the conditioning I’ve had that compels me to do more and be more in order to belong.  I think we’ve all been trying to connect with this part of ourselves during our journey.

How can this challenge be a truly healing and transformational one?  I’ve needed you all to help me really stay connected to Spirit.  I needed both your inspiration and a sense of being accountable to you.  You’ve been unsure and tried anyway – willing to fall down.  You’ve been vulnerable and shared anyway – willing to be seen.  It’s been a joy to give and receive encouragement and support.  I don’t want to lose what we’ve created together yet I know things always change and change is an opportunity for growth.

We shared a “metta” meditation today.  Metta is an ancient Pali term that means “loving kindness.”  This isn’t the mushy-sentimental-warm-and-fuzzy-love-you-when-I feel-like-it kind of practice.   Cultivating true goodwill toward ourselves and others requires intention, wise mindfulness, wise concentration, and wise effort.  All of these qualities form a strong foundation for healing, transformation and skillful, compassionate action in the world.  We start with ourselves in order to grow into a broader understanding of self – a self that is intimately connected to all life.

I celebrate the new shoots we’ve grown over the past weeks.  Let’s keep it green my metta-mates!