Meditation: Death, Burial, and Resurrection

I'm going to lead us in a short guided meditation focused on death, burial and resurrection in our everyday lives.

As human beings we are constantly walking through this cycle whether we are aware of it or not.

When unaware, life can seem unfair as it gives and takes away. But with awareness we find that life is like a river and everything is in flow.

Holding onto things that are meant to be flowing by causes stress and clinging.

But allowing things to come and go easily, opens up an ever renewing, always changing flow of beautiful gifts and experiences.

Let’s start with closing our eyes. Notice your breath as it flows in and out.

No need to change anything here, just allow and become aware of its natural flow.

In.

And out.

In.

And out.

Now, as you continue to breathe, ask yourself these questions and listen quietly for an answer from within.

“What am I holding onto that needs to be released?”

No need to do anything with these answers, just listen, notice and have compassion on the parts of your life that are asking to be released.

“What am I holding onto that needs to be released?”

“What in my life is dying that I am trying to keep alive?”

“What in my life is dying that I am trying to keep alive?”

Now, through your imagination, go ahead and gather the answers that you’ve received in your hands and take a closer look at what you have found.

These things in your life are asking to be let go of. They are asking to be returned to the ever flowing river of life.

What do they look like?

What color are they?

How do they make you feel?

Now, still using your imagination, notice an empty basket sitting beside a gently flowing river.

When you’re ready, place these answers, these treasured parts of your life that you’ve been holding on to, into the basket.

Place the basket into the water.
And give it a gentle push down the river as you say this prayer:

“I am thankful for all that you have given me. The joy, the sorrow, the beauty and the self reflection. May you be well, may you be happy, may you find peace.”

How does it feel to watch these things float away?

Honor this feeling in your body by saying “I too, feel what you are feeling.”

Notice the empty space you have created in your heart. The room you have allowed for in your body.

Now, in your imagination, look down the river to see what is flowing towards you. A new basket.

One you haven’t seen before. You feel excitement as this new basket approaches and reach out and pull it close.

What is in this new basket? What new gift have you received in your letting go? How big is this gift?
What color is it?
How does it make you feel?

Bring this new gift close as you say this prayer:

“I am thankful. In my letting go I have opened myself up to new gifts and experiences. I now realize that this has and will always be the case. I choose to walk in this new awareness by holding these gifts of life with an open hand and trusting that letting go leads to new life.”

And so it is.
When you are ready you can open your eyes.