Approaching Change

Change and transition is constantly happening. Graduating, moving out of the home, a new job or relationship, breaking up or getting a divorce, and caregiving are some of the more common ones. With any transition can come the presence of strong emotions and feelings. So approaching these changes with present moment awareness can make all the difference in regards to adapting to the transition, and also making wise and appropriate decisions. The mountain meditation we'll do today will hopefully help with this. As always, being gentle with yourself during practice. Pausing if you need to, and then continuing when you feel ready. And so dropping into practice now, adopting a comfortable and dignified posture of awareness. Allowing the feet to be flat on the floor, or the legs comfortably crossed if you're on a cushion. Hands resting on your knees or in your lap, whatever is most comfortable for you. Noticing your sit bones grounding on the surface beneath you. The back nice and straight, not too tight, and not too loose. Perhaps shrugging your shoulders up to your ears, rounding them back, and then gently dropping them. And for this mountain meditation, as we will be using our imagination, it may be more comfortable for you to close your eyes. And of course, you can always leave them open if that's more comfortable, no pressure at all. And with your next breath, bringing your full awareness into your entire body, sensing and feeling into your feet, your legs, hips, lower and upper body, your arms, shoulders, neck, and head. And with your next breath, bringing to mind the most magnificent, and/or beautiful mountain you have seen, or have been to before. And if you haven't actually been to one, you can always use your imagination to envision what such a mountain would look like for you. Noticing it's high peaks, and the large base rooted into the crust of the Earth. And perhaps your mountain has cascading waterfalls, and calm lakes, or maybe a series of peaks covered in snow. Just observing it, noticing its qualities. And when you feel ready, seeing if you can bring the mountain into your own body, so that essentially in your mind's eye, you and the mountain in all of its stillness and majesty become one, you become the mountain. And as you continue to sit here, becoming aware of the constant changes in activity that takes place in the mountain's still presence, animals come and go. The flowing streams and waterfalls, the falling of snow, the melting of snow, the rising and falling of the sun, as day and night come and go. Through it all, the mountain just sits, experiencing the constant changes that take place around it. Perhaps changing itself in some ways to adapt, but still always being its authentic self. More change happens as the seasons come and go. Winter brings the stinging cold and beautiful massive snow. The snow melts away, as flowers bloom, and the wild...