Tuesday, December 15, 2015

Advent Meditation for Joy

Sitting comfortably with your body supported, close your eyes. Notice your breath and the way it feels in your body. Allow yourself to be fully present where you are, at home in yourself. Say silently to yourself, "welcome home." Being here, now, begin to soften internally. Let your breath become smooth and even, cuing your muscles, your organs, your nervous system, and even your brain, to soften and open up. Soft and yielding, we are opening to the Lord's coming.

In this season of Advent, we are opening to receive the Lord's light. In this third week of Advent, we are opening to receive the Lord's joy.

Invite spiritual joy into your being. Breathing joy in, and breathing joy out, turn your attention within, awakening the joy already present within you. Envision joy as points of light, within and all around you.



See the color of joy.

Feel the texture of joy.

Experience the aroma of joy.

Savor the presence of joy.

As you breathe joy in, feel the light of joy illumine your body, moving from the crown of your head, to the space between your eyebrows, to your temples, to your ears, your jaw, your throat, your neck, collarbones, feeling the warmth and light of joy spread across your chest, resounding deeply in your heart, spreading through your upper arms, forearms, wrists, into your hands to the tips of your fingers...breathing sweetly into your belly, feel the warmth of joy spread through your abdomen, across your back, down into your low belly, into your hips, pelvic region, and lower back...feel joy moving down your legs, to your knees, the muscles on the fronts of your legs, the backs of your legs, your ankles, spreading into your feet, into each of your ten toes. Feel your feet on the floor, and your seat on the chair, grounding you into the presence of joy. Feel the lift of your head and your spine rising up to greet within you and all around you the presence of joy as you inhale and exhale, embraced by the presence of holy joy.

And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, "Go and make careful search for the Child; and when you have found Him, report to me, that I too may come and worship Him." And having heard the king, they went their way; and lo, the star, which they had seen in the east, went on before them, until it came and stood over where the Child was. And when they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy." Matthew 2:8-10

Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory. 1 Peter 1:8


Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure. Psalm 16:9

The joy of the Lord is your strength. Nehemiah 8:10


May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. Romans 15:13


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