Again we turn. The sun rises later, sets earlier, and its arc across the sky has slipped southward. The day’s heat continues to sizzle, but morning’s coolness begs now for long sleeves. Though summer’s lushness surrounds us still, things have shifted from riotous growth to harvest. Yes, autumn is on our doorstep.
My, but it's been a wild ride! Busy, dynamic, intense. Which makes this the perfect time to pause and come to center once again. Let’s do so now.
Wherever you are and whatever’s going on around you, find a comfortable position as your attention settles on your breath. As you inhale, feel the air entering your lungs through nose or mouth. And on the exhalation, notice the sensation of the breath leaving your body. Note the gentle rise and fall of chest or belly as the breath comes and as it goes. Simply notice your experience as you follow this cycle of respiration for a few rounds.
Let's focus solely on the out~breath for a bit, trusting the inhalation to take care of itself for now. Observe the sensation of release with each exhale. Notice, too, how this release seems the easiest thing in all the world to do. As the air exits your body, carrying with it carbon dioxide collected from various cells and tissues, let it also take with it some of the tension you may have been carrying in shoulders, torso, arms or legs.
Don't work hard at this. Simply allow a release, whether it be slight or significant. And in so doing, let yourself drop more deeply into stillness. As you continue to note that letting~go quality of the exhale, you may find it possible to release, too, preoccupations and worries, ones that may be rising up now even as you quiet. Breathe them out with every exhale. Open to your body’s innate wisdom, as it teaches the fine art of letting go.
Turn your attention now to the inhale. As your lungs fill, relish the gift of oxygen as it circulates throughout your body, enlivening and enriching every cell. You might want to open to a quality you’d like to embody more fully. It could be anything~~peace, love, acceptance, or the sense of being held and supported by something larger than yourself.
Whatever it is, imagine that attribute infusing the air of your next inhale. Be playful as you welcome that quality deep into your core. Continue in this way for several in~breaths.
Expand your awareness again to encompass the full respiration cycle. Breathe in vitality. Breathe out what does not serve you in this moment. Breathe in that which is wholesome and life~affirming. Breath out and surrender. Welcome on the inhale. Release on the exhale.
It's easy to lose ourselves in the hubbub of life. Yet the breath offers us a way back home, even as it calms and soothes. How cool is that?!!
So, we breathe in as summer winds down. We breathe out as summer winds down. We breathe in as autumn draws near. We breathe out as autumn draws near. And may it be a happy turning of the seasons to you and yours!
My, but it's been a wild ride! Busy, dynamic, intense. Which makes this the perfect time to pause and come to center once again. Let’s do so now.
Wherever you are and whatever’s going on around you, find a comfortable position as your attention settles on your breath. As you inhale, feel the air entering your lungs through nose or mouth. And on the exhalation, notice the sensation of the breath leaving your body. Note the gentle rise and fall of chest or belly as the breath comes and as it goes. Simply notice your experience as you follow this cycle of respiration for a few rounds.
Let's focus solely on the out~breath for a bit, trusting the inhalation to take care of itself for now. Observe the sensation of release with each exhale. Notice, too, how this release seems the easiest thing in all the world to do. As the air exits your body, carrying with it carbon dioxide collected from various cells and tissues, let it also take with it some of the tension you may have been carrying in shoulders, torso, arms or legs.
Don't work hard at this. Simply allow a release, whether it be slight or significant. And in so doing, let yourself drop more deeply into stillness. As you continue to note that letting~go quality of the exhale, you may find it possible to release, too, preoccupations and worries, ones that may be rising up now even as you quiet. Breathe them out with every exhale. Open to your body’s innate wisdom, as it teaches the fine art of letting go.
Turn your attention now to the inhale. As your lungs fill, relish the gift of oxygen as it circulates throughout your body, enlivening and enriching every cell. You might want to open to a quality you’d like to embody more fully. It could be anything~~peace, love, acceptance, or the sense of being held and supported by something larger than yourself.
Whatever it is, imagine that attribute infusing the air of your next inhale. Be playful as you welcome that quality deep into your core. Continue in this way for several in~breaths.
Expand your awareness again to encompass the full respiration cycle. Breathe in vitality. Breathe out what does not serve you in this moment. Breathe in that which is wholesome and life~affirming. Breath out and surrender. Welcome on the inhale. Release on the exhale.
It's easy to lose ourselves in the hubbub of life. Yet the breath offers us a way back home, even as it calms and soothes. How cool is that?!!
So, we breathe in as summer winds down. We breathe out as summer winds down. We breathe in as autumn draws near. We breathe out as autumn draws near. And may it be a happy turning of the seasons to you and yours!
💖
Leia
2 comments:
I have been practicing controlling my breathing, calming until it’s not rushed or panting. However until today I hadn’t thought of bringing in the “good” and letting go of the “bad”. I am sure I learned it somewhere along the way but with the cool breeze blowing over me this morning it all seems to have come together. Thanks for the reminder!
Three things come to mind as I read your comment, Carolyn. One is that I appreciate your putting "good" and "bad" in those quotation marks. It reminds us of the limitations of our language, and to be aware of those judgements that can sneak in so easily. Your wording also reminds us that we all KNOW most of this stuff already, either from learning it somewhere along the way or simply from recognizing a truth we knew somewhere inside, even if it wasn't conscious. And the third thing that comes up is to thank you again for reading and for writing!
Post a Comment