New Worlds of Body, Mind & Spirit Since 1901
| This ritual is inspired by the Buddhist practice of "loving kindness meditation." Light a green candle on your altar, and sit comfortably. Place your hands on your heart. Close your eyes. Breathe deeply in and out of your heart. Then call a beloved family member to mind: someone whom you have nothing but positive feelings toward. Set a timer for three minutes, and picture this loved one receiving all the dearest desires of his or her heart. See this person smiling and laughing with joy. When the timer dings, repeat with a family member toward whom your feelings are more lukewarm or ambiguous. Then repeat the process with a family member with whom you have serious issues. Finally, repeat the process with yourself.
Tomorrow and in the days leading up to the holidays, you might want to repeat the entire process from the beginning, with the same family members or different ones. |
