Meditation Monday: Love and Kindness Meditation

The Love and Kindness Meditation is the perfect practice for when you are feeling isolated, frustrated, 'off your game', or dealing with any other constriction of the heart.

We begin by focusing on our breath, getting into a rhythm and watching as you inhale and exhale.

As you feel yourself beginning to relax, visualize that as you breath in, you are taking in pure loving energy from the universe. Feel it radiate into your body as you breath in, clearing and healing your entire body.

As you exhale, visualize that same pure energy being sent out to everyone in your life that you love. Visualize their faces, see them being encircled in that energy.

Do this (and each step for as long as it takes to feel the energy connect) Then move on to everyone in your life that you know.

Then everyone you have ever met.

Then anyone you are holding a grievance with. (This step can often be a bit scary, but it's truly where you start feeling the heart chakra open.)

Next we move to every person in your town, your state, your country, and outward until you are sending love and kindness to the entire world.

An important note to remember while doing this meditation is that in being a popular form of Buddhist meditation, while you participate you are joining in with hundreds if not thousands around the world who are doing the meditation alongside you at the same time. Tapping into this global network of love and kindness energy is a powerful reminder that you are not alone on this journey, are there are many people supporting you everyday, even when you cannot see them.