Honoring the Elements (S3E3)
Whenever an emotion or a sensation arises and we get caught in thinking that it shouldn’t be this way, what is happening is simply nature living through us, being expressed in the moment. Much like how the heat or the air in your body comes and goes, much like the expressions of fire and wind in daily life fluctuate and waiver, so it is that all things come and go, arise and pass away. This meditation helps us tune into the elements as they live within us.
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Transcript
Settle into a posture that is supportive and once you’ve chosen your posture, integrate whatever you might need to do to arrive.
Look around, turn towards the window, adjust your posture, take a full breath.
Tune into how the body is resting here, touching the ground, acknowledging this as Earth element. Pay attention or notice what may feel hard or soft, heavy or light.
Tune into your breath moving in and out of the nose or throat, rising and falling at the chest or belly. This is Air element manifesting within you.
Bring to mind parts of the body that might be feeling warm, hot, cool, cold - acknowledge this expression of fire element.
Let’s add a space element. Tune into the space between sensations and thoughts.It may be hard to notice, and so instead, you might try following the end of a breath, the end of a sensation, or the end of a thought, letting it take you to that space.
Notice what attracts your attention with regards to your body. You can quietly label it or make a mental note: Earth, air, fire, space. No need to make it a big project.
Humans tend to act like we are separate from the earth, which is why we are in the crisis we’ve found ourselves in. So, reminding ourselves of our oneness with nature makes it easier for us to be of service to the earth, knowing that we will return to the earth when we pass away.
Whenever an emotion arises, or a sensation and we get caught in thinking that it shouldn’t be this way, what is happening is simply nature living through us, being expressed in the moment. Much like how the heat or the air in your body comes and goes, much like the expressions of fire and wind in daily life fluctuate and waiver, so it is that all things come and go and arise and pass away.
In a few moments, I’ll ring the bell. As best you can, receive the sound of the bell and how your body responds to it.
