Meditation on Health, Continued
Two weeks ago I wrote about a meditation where I focused on the phrase “May I be healthy” and considered all the ways, small and large, that we can cultivate health.
Since then, I’ve kept track of more of the small and large ways that I cultivate health. One thing that occurs to me is that Health is a tall order! We all need continuous input and output, yet we never want anything to build up. That’s a lot to ask!
I became aware that so many of my prayers for health centered around not having obstructions; getting out of my own way so that Life can move through me unimpeded. Obstructions can take many forms: physical, mental, energetic, genetic, by accident or cultivated through behavior.
Below are some of the prayers for health that came to me in my meditations over the last two weeks.
Physical health
May by breath be free, full and conscious.
May my muscles be strong and flexible.
May my connective tissues offer structure with adaptability.
May my heart beat evenly and at a at a beneficial rhythm.
May my nerves send and receive all communications with ease.
May my joints, throat, heart, lungs, colon (etc) be free from obstructions
May I sleep soundly and wake feeling rested.
Mental health
May my thoughts nurture my heart.
May I wake with enthusiasm.
May my thoughts be hopeful.
May I know when to glean a lesson out of my experiences.
May I know how to let go of past mistakes which cannot be undone.
May I recognize that I am conscientious person who tries her best.
May I be able to write out my problems, so they don’t get stuck inside.
May I sleep soundly and wake feeling rested.
Relationship health
May my communications be necessary, true and kind.
May I seek help when I need it. May I get it.
May my wants not overshadow my needs.
May all my actions, words and thoughts come out of mindfulness and compassion toward myself and all beings.
May I sleep soundly and wake feeling rested.
In creating these lists, I also became aware of how Rest and Sleep support every aspect of Health. When we don’t feel rested, we are more prone to illness and dis-ease, more prone to brain build-up which causes impaired memory and Alzheimers and more likely to have less patience in our relationships. Rest is our chance to let go of Action for some time, so that Life can take over and get rid of the buildup that we cause through our actions. Rest is when we let Life-Force be our Clean-Up Crew!
What are some of your prayers for health? Any thoughts about health you’d like to share? What are some of the ways you cultivate Rest and Sleep?
Thanks for reading!
🙏 Sharon
PS - Physical activity, including Yoga practice, is recommended as one of the ways to cultivate helpful sleep patterns. If you are looking to start Yoga practice, we currently have a discount for new students – 10% off the New Student 4 Classes for $40 pass. Check out our schedule here, and New students can use discount code BACKTOSCHOOL to receive your discount!