Session 3: Calm the Chaos – Loss
Presence Practice – Calm the Chaos series April 2020
Practice Focus: Loss
- While we shelter in place, confined to our homes unable to freely engage in the world, each of us no doubt has moments when we mourn the loss of life as we knew it just weeks ago.
- How are you feeling loss? Is there a loss that you are mourning now? What is the shape of that loss?
- In this practice, we will notice our feelings of loss and bring attention to how we feel it. We will allow the wisdom of our bodies to teach us how we may soothe ourselves in the present moment.
- Relax and breathe. Slowly. Deeply.
- Relax and let go of your breath . . . slowly, deeply.
- Repeat the cycle of breath.
- Breathe in slowly and at your own pace.
- Breathe out slowly, deeply and at your own pace.
- Allow your breath to flow naturally, evenly. Slowly.
- Feel each breath as it begins. Feel your breath move through you. Feel your body relax.
- Release your breath and notice how you feel as you release it.
- Appreciate the cycle of breath. Appreciate the gift of breath.
- Feel your breath in the moment that it occurs. Feel your breath as it travels through you and then as it is released and let go. Feel your body relax even more deeply.
- Notice your feelings of loss. Loss of life as it was. Loss of the touch of loved ones. Loss of the company of friends. Loss of freedom. Notice the shapes that loss takes now.
- Notice any feelings of resistance in your body, any feelings of non-acceptance of what is. Where are those feelings the strongest. What shape do they take? How do they manifest themselves in this moment.
- As the feelings of resistance and non-acceptance to occur, allow them. Let them be.
- Breathe deeply slowly. Breathe. Allow your breath to mix with your feelings. Breathe into that place and let your breath move through them and leave. Allow your breath to flow through and away and to fade and dissolve without attachment, without bringing energy to those feelings.
- Breathe in. Breathe out. Slowly.
- When a thought or feeling arrives with strong attraction, with force, with the impulse to hold onto it, let it be. Notice it and let it go.
- Return to your breath.
- Notice how your body feels in this moment.
- Notice where you feel relaxed in this moment.
- Bring your breath to that place. Breathe. Slowly, deeply.
- Slowly. Evenly.
- Breathe
- Feel yourself in the present moment. Notice where you may have feelings of relaxation or peacefulness in this moment.
- Allow your breath to go there and to merge with your feelings of relaxation in this present moment.
- If you don’t feel fully relaxed, allow that. Allow whatever is to be without judgement.
- Become aware of your presence in this moment.
- We are at the end of our practice. When you are ready, slowly open your eyes. Notice how you feel. Notice your awareness of this moment.
- Remember that you may experience presence at any time in your day. Just stop, breathe and be.