~ Divine Grace, by Rassouli ~

You are standing on holy ground right now. Yes, you are. And so am I, as well as every single one of us.

Right now.

How can this be?

We find ourselves in the sacred pause known as the Twelve Nights of Christmas. We have passed the point of the longest night of the year, and are moving towards more light as light moves towards us. We are at a threshold between the old year and the new one to come. This time also marks a portal between an old and a new world, as heralded by the long-ago birth of a saint who came to bring hope, love and healing to all.

Let’s take advantage of this transcendent arc of Christmas, and let's create more opportunities to pause and wonder........ We can ride the current of heightened energy that is available during this liminal time. Standing outside the busy-ness of daily living, we can use this holy time to reflect. We can review our journey to date. We can choose to celebrate our successes and freely release our disappointments, with gratitude for lessons learned. We can rest and recharge our inner batteries. We can dream into what we envision next for ourselves. We can remember what we truly love, and what makes our hearts sing.

Not everyone can take time off from work or duties, but the good news is that every one of us can find five to fifteen minutes daily to dedicate to the craft of reflection. Yes we can, and here's how!

Make arrangements so that you will not be disturbed. Set a mood for meditation by lighting a candle, brewing your favourite healing tea, reading a meaningful poem or prayer.... there are so many doorways that open onto each individual's personal inner courtyard of bliss! Set a timer for seven minutes and turn it on. Smile softly and begin to rest your awareness on your breathing. Allow your breath to slow down naturally. Be gentle, don’t push. stay with this for a while.

Now, imagine a small light glowing in the inner chamber of your heart. As you continue to breathe smoothly, you observe that this light gradually begins to grow and shine further in all directions and dimensions. This light illuminates first your chest, then every cell in your physical being, and then spills into the space around you. Rest your attention on your breath and the light as they fill and surround you. Thoughts and sensations are bound to rise and fall; let them flow freely in the background like waves on the ocean or clouds in the sky. Keep returning to your breath and your light.

When your timer chimes, bring your session gently to a close with a word of gratitude or a bow. Take a few moments to tune into your experience. Do you feel different, lighter, calmer? Write a reflection in your journal if you feel moved. 

Try this every day! Trust me, a short daily dive into holy territory will make a difference and it will change you. Remember, whenever any one of us shines more brightly, all beings benefit. Imagine if each one of us were to dedicate five more minutes daily to bringing more peace and light into this world... Individually and together, I believe we can tip the balance and bring new life into this world.