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Monday, May 14, 2012

Meditation Mondays: Mothers and Fathers


This is part of Cocoon's Monday Meditation series.
Courtesy of www.FreeDigitalPhotos.net 
Mother's Day has passed and Father's Day is coming up. These holidays are meant to honor the people who gave us life as well as the parental roles we may play in the lives of others. We all know that the role of parent, whether we are a parent ourselves or the child of one, is many things all at once. It is challenging, rewarding, exasperating, uplifting, heart-wrenching, and ultimately, one of the most important jobs in life. 

This meditation comes from Madonna Gauding's, The Meditation Bible. Here it is. Enjoy.
Mothers and Fathers Meditation 
Whether you have had a wonderful relationship with your parents or you have had a difficult one, this meditation will help you love and appreciate them. Without your parents, you would not have taken form in this life. They brought you into the world, sheltered, fed, and clothed you. 
You may have complaints about their parenting, but you still owe them your heartfelt gratitude for giving you life and the opportunity to grow and develop as a human being. 
Besides Mother's and Father's Day, you may want to try this meditation on your birthday and pull out some photos of your parents and you that are special to you. 
1. Sit on a cushion or chair in your meditation space. Place the photos of your mother and father in front of you. Light a candle and burn incense to help you focus and clear your mind. If it is your birthday, let the candle serve to mark the celebration. 
2. Meditate on your breath while you gaze on any photos you may have chosen. Let your parents and you symbolically inhabit your space in a peaceful and loving way. 
3. Now bring to mind the image of your parents. See them holding you as an infant. Regardless of mistakes they may have made in parenting, remember that they cared for you when you were helpless  and utterly dependent. Generate sincere gratitude for their care and protection. If they fell short of your expectations, see if you can feel compassion for doing what they were capable of doing at the time.  
4. Feel in your heart that your parents did the best job they could in raising you. Visualize letting the parents of your childhood go. See them walking away behind you. Look ahead and see the parents of your adulthood. Visualize getting to know them in a new way now that you are separate and independent. 
5. End your meditation by wishing both your parents and yourself joy and happiness.
I would add (if relative) that you can also use this meditation to nurture the parent that you are or that you hope you will be. Visualize how you would like your children to reflect on how you parented them.

Namaste.



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