by The Rev. Natasha Brubaker
One thing that (perhaps) we can all agree upon is that these are times of high anxiety. COVID-19 has disrupted everything. Most of us are stressed about something and exhausted with our distanced interactions. To be anxious in such circumstances is normal. To find healthy ways to face and reduce our anxiety is necessary. One such way is to regularly pay attention to our inner life and tend to it.
The following is an ancient meditative practice that is found in many traditions and forms. This is simply the “core” of it, in which to incorporate one’s own language/symbols. It takes at least 20 minutes and a quiet space. The first step is to quiet and relax the whole body, starting at the head and travelling all the way down to the feet. A warning—the hardest part may be getting your brain to be (relatively) quiet! Relaxing each part releases pent-up stress. Breathe in gently and breathe out deeply. This calms the body’s nervous system. As your body relaxes, start back at the top of the head, and allow light to enter your body and flow through it. Imagine this light as a soft light, not a spotlight searching for invaders. Imagine this light as a healing and calming presence; let it linger where it wants to (the heart, the lungs, etc.). Remain in a place where you see yourself infused with this light and allow what needs to “brought to light” to emerge. Such a practice both releases anxiety and reveals inner sources that can help us stay strong and pliable in times of great challenge. It is an intentional pause, a mindful moment, to be present to yourself.
