Touching the Stillness

Quickened by a soul-longing, urgently pulling her in a temporary new direction, our host is taking to heart this quote from a reflection in a recent Science of Mind magazine: “I am inspired to exemplify a joyful, rich, and playful existence, so I may better serve the world”. And while she's away, getting her groove back, the podcast will be on hiatus for the next few months.

How meaningful it would be to live our lives in such a way that others felt safe, protected, and nurtured by warm-hearted compassion—kindled through our meditation practice. That's the jumping-off point for our 2022 Compassion odyssey, with episode guest Timothy Harrison from the CBCT®️ Emory Center; who also guides listeners in a practice designed to connect us more deeply with nurturing feelings of compassion for ourselves and others. View the website for more: https://www.touchingthestillness.org/ For this month's Affirmative Prayer, go to https://www.touchingthestillness.org/affirmative-prayers 

Poised at the threshold of our ‘Living a Life of Compassion' series, we dedicate this episode to the late Buddhist Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh. And, before engaging in his ‘Breathing In, Breathing Out' meditation, we'll be inspired by Thay's beautiful story about a river. View the website for more: https://www.touchingthestillness.org For this month's Affirmative Prayer, go to https://www.touchingthestillness.org/affirmative-prayers 

When our host's sister passed away unexpectedly last year her deferred dreams died right along with her. So, with a big birthday looming, our host was inspired to designate 2022 as the year of Sweet Intentions and mindfully start checking intentions off her Bucket List...while there's still time. View the website for more: https://www.touchingthestillness.org For this month's Affirmative Prayer, go to https://www.touchingthestillness.org/affirmative-prayers

We've engaged in some amazing meditative and mindfulness practices during our year “Living a Life that Matters”. And, as we review the journey, it's amazing to discover just how many of these also happen to be spot-on tools for cultivating 'peace pauses' during the Holiday Season. View the website for more: https://www.touchingthestillness.org For this month's Affirmative Prayer, go to https://www.touchingthestillness.org/affirmative-prayers

As we sojourn through this year's season of Holy Days, with its various ‘Festivals of Light' celebrations, this episode's meditation brings us back to the true meaning of some of the hallmark symbols and icons that make Christmas merry and light. View the website for more: https://www.touchingthestillness.org For this month's Affirmative Prayer, go to https://www.touchingthestillness.org/affirmative-prayers

There's no question that Gratitude is a deepening practice… Unless it's posing as false positivity to merely paper over cracks of unfelt emotions. Then it doesn't work as well. So this episode's meditation cultivates a space in which to evoke a less pretentious attitude of gratitude. View the website for more: https://www.touchingthestillness.org For this month's Affirmative Prayer, go to https://www.touchingthestillness.org/affirmative-prayers

Yes. We're going ‘there'. In context of our annual theme: “Living a Life that Matters,' we're talking about one of the most feared and taboo topics in our Western society—Death. View the website for more: https://www.touchingthestillness.org For this month's Affirmative Prayer, go to https://www.touchingthestillness.org/affirmative-prayers

In part two of this mini series called When Words Matter, we put pen to paper—or fingers to the keyboard—to reveal mysteries of our heart and, with a written mandala practice, emanate peace to humanity. View the website for more: https://www.touchingthestillness.org For this month's Affirmative Prayer, go to https://www.touchingthestillness.org/affirmative-prayers

In a world that's all about speeding everything up, this episode's practice is the exact opposite of that. In this two-part series called When Words Matter, we slow our roll to mindfully engage in the art of sacred reading. View the website for more: https://www.touchingthestillness.org For this month's Affirmative Prayer, go to https://www.touchingthestillness.org/affirmative-prayers

In this episode's meditation, where we engage in the practice of Tonglen, we breathe through the portal of our jewelled lotus heart to share a gift of 'active compassion,' as a way to help transform and alleviate the suffering of all sentient beings. View the website for more: https://www.touchingthestillness.org For this month's Affirmative Prayer, go to https://www.touchingthestillness.org/affirmative-prayers

Continuing our journey of listening and hearing mindfulness practices, this episode's meditation beckons us into present-moment awareness with the sound of the bell. View the website for more: https://www.touchingthestillness.org For this month's Affirmative Prayer, go to https://www.touchingthestillness.org/affirmative-prayers 

Are you someone who resists the silence, filling the space with a constant soundtrack playing in the background of your life? Then tune in to this last Awareness Practice of our Sizzling Summer series, and discover how to engage in a Sound Fast. View the website for more: https://www.touchingthestillness.org For this month's Affirmative Prayer, go to https://www.touchingthestillness.org/affirmative-prayers

When was the last time you felt really heard? This week's awareness practice, in part four of our annual Sizzling Summer Series, will have us listening in deeply—first to ourselves then, with compassionate care, to others. View the website for more: https://www.touchingthestillness.org For this month's Affirmative Prayer, go to https://www.touchingthestillness.org/affirmative-prayers

We call the time we ooze out of slumber, “waking up”. But then haste inattentively through our days. Part three in our Sizzling Summer Series challenges us to practice awareness with a Lying Down meditation designed to help us live life more fully awake. View the website for more: https://www.touchingthestillness.org For this month's Affirmative Prayer, go to https://www.touchingthestillness.org/affirmative-prayers 

Unless we're in pain or experiencing ill health, we may feel a bit disconnected from our bodies. We remedy that in part two of our annual Sizzling Summer Series with an awareness practice that brings attention and loving kindness to every part of our being. View the website for more: https://www.touchingthestillness.org For this month's Affirmative Prayer, go to https://www.touchingthestillness.org/affirmative-prayers

It's time again for our annual Sizzling Summer Series. this year's series of weekly episodes centers on mindful awareness and begins with a more playful practice of 'seeing the blues'. View the website for more: https://www.touchingthestillness.org  For this month's Affirmative Prayer, go to https://www.touchingthestillness.org/affirmative-prayers 

'Ho'opono-pono'. This Hawaiian word might be long, and sometimes tricky to pronounce, but describes a simple yet powerful self-forgiveness prayer practice that's also believed to be able to clean up ancestral karmic messes. View the website for more: https://www.touchingthestillness.org/ For this month's Affirmative Prayer, go to https://www.touchingthestillness.org/affirmative-prayers 

Your response is completely disproportionate to what the situation warrants. Yet you just can't seem to let the incident go. Dig a little deeper and you'll unearth buried treasure within your reaction, no pirate can pilfer. View the website for more: https://www.touchingthestillness.org/ For this month's Affirmative Prayer, go to https://www.touchingthestillness.org/affirmative-prayers  

Living a Life that Matters means letting go of being perfect. Much like the Japanese practice of Kintsugi, we don't disown those broken pieces of our lives, or perceived flaws in our meditation practice. Instead, we enhance the beauty in imperfection. View the website for more: https://www.touchingthestillness.org. For this month's Affirmative Prayer go to https://www.touchingthestillness.org/affirmative-prayers

Although it's easy to become discouraged when things don't work out as planned, we can still make every moment matter…even the ones that don't feel so great while we're stumbling our way through them.  View the website for more: https://www.touchingthestillness.org/ For this month's Affirmative Prayer go to https://www.touchingthestillness.org/affirmative-prayers 

A comment about the slow pace of her meditations gave our host pause, causing her to wonder why it is we tend to be in such a hurry to slow down? It’s the perfect question to ponder, as we enter into an unharried meditative experience. Visit the website for more: https://www.touchingthestillness.org. For this month's Affirmative Prayer go to https://www.touchingthestillness.org/affirmative-prayers   

Can negative thoughts directed at another become a sensory attack, even if the thought is silent? And, when was the last time you actually told a loved one what qualities and attributes you admire in them? We address these questions in preparation for our Sensory Love Note meditation. Visit the website for more:  https://www.touchingthestillness.org For this month's Affirmative Prayer go to https://www.touchingthestillness.org/affirmative-prayers 

Our Chakra Balancing Meditation series concludes with this episode, which uses mudra hand positions, sacred vibrational sound and a colourful visualization, to bring equilibrium to our Crown Chakra.  Visit the website for more:  https://www.touchingthestillness.org For this month's Affirmative Prayer go to https://www.touchingthestillness.org/affirmative-prayers

Returning from a brief unavoidable break, we resume our Chakra Mudra Meditation series by directing our attention to the Third Eye or Brow Chakra, as a way to enhance our perception, intuition and inner vision. Visit the website for more:  https://www.touchingthestillness.org For this month's Affirmative Prayer go to https://www.touchingthestillness.org/affirmative-prayers

We’re up to part five of our special Chakra Mudra Meditation series, where we speak to the importance of clean clear communication and attentive listening, before engaging in an energy-clearing practice to balance our Throat chakra. Visit the website for more: https://www.touchingthestillness.org For this month's Affirmative Prayer go to https://www.touchingthestillness.org/affirmative-prayers

We’ve come to the heart of the matter in part-four of our special Chakra Mudra Meditation series. And this episode’s practice comes with not one but two mudra hand positions, healing sound, and a guided visualization meditation to center and balance our heart chakra. Visit the website for more: https://www.touchingthestillness.org For this month's Affirmative Prayer go to https://www.touchingthestillness.org/affirmative-prayers

Have you been trivializing those strong gut instincts you’ve been getting or giving away your personal power to others? Then the visualisation, sound, and mudra meditation in part three of our seven-week series may be just what’s needed to help rebalance your Solar Plexus chakra. Visit the website for more: https://www.touchingthestillness.org For this month's Affirmative Prayer go to https://www.touchingthestillness.org/affirmative-prayers

If it feels like lately your passion or creative energy has waned, part two of our seven-week series may help. Get your groove back as we use sound, visualization, and mudra hand positions to boost and balance the body's Sacral Chakra energy center. Visit the website for more: https://www.touchingthestillness.org For this month's Affirmative Prayer go to https://www.touchingthestillness.org/affirmative-prayers

With an intention to live a life that matters with balance and purity, during the next seven weeks we'll use sound, visualization, and mudra hand positions to balance our body’s energy centers—beginning with the Root Chakra. Visit the website for more: https://www.touchingthestillness.org For this month's Affirmative Prayer go to https://www.touchingthestillness.org/affirmative-prayers

Sharing small sacred acts of service is a practice that may have far-reaching, yet unknown consequences. Hear how, while in quarantine, one meditator interweaved her enterprising spin on meditation with mindful acts of caring.  Visit the website for more: https://www.touchingthestillness.org For this month's Affirmative Prayer go to https://www.touchingthestillness.org/affirmative-prayers

How do we go about living a life that matters when we find ourselves in the middle of a global pandemic, unable to move about freely, and death, division, and calamity seem to mar our days? Our host recommends we begin by letting a love-infused heart lead the way. Visit the website for more: https://www.touchingthestillness.org For this month's Affirmative Prayer go to https://www.touchingthestillness.org/affirmative-prayers

Our host has named this year, Living a Life that Matters. Turns out, this title also lends itself well as the 2021 theme for the podcast. So, in this first episode of the year, our practice centers on living a life that matters, by patiently savoring each moment.  Visit the website for more: https://www.touchingthestillness.org For this month's Affirmative Prayer go to https://www.touchingthestillness.org/affirmative-prayers

As we hurtle toward a new year, this episode's meditation creates space to grieve what was or never happened, reflect on the blessings of this messy year, and prepare to reset for what’s to come next. Visit the website for more: https://www.touchingthestillness.org For this month's Affirmative Prayer go to https://www.touchingthestillness.org/affirmative-prayers

A priceless gift our host received while volunteering may help listeners readjust their Trust Frequency, to amplify the beauty, balance, and abundance in their own lives. Visit the website for more: https://www.touchingthestillness.org For this month's Affirmative Prayer go to https://www.touchingthestillness.org/affirmative-prayers

Let the meditation in this episode dampen down the intensity of your stress and anxiety levels, as we count each breath…and make every breath count. Visit the website for more: https://www.touchingthestillness.org For this month's Affirmative Prayer go to https://www.touchingthestillness.org/affirmative-prayers

Are you swirling in a reaction to a situation that has upended life as you know it? The meditation and message in this episode invites reflection on the idea that the change we yearn for is on its way—even if that change is an inside job. Visit the website for more: https://www.touchingthestillness.org For this month's Affirmative Prayer go to https://www.touchingthestillness.org/affirmative-prayers

The theme for our host’s recent online Living in the Flow retreat was inspired by a vision—and unexpected confirmation from actor Denzel Washington. And then, effortlessly, serendipity and surrender flowed through the entire event. Visit the website for more: https://www.touchingthestillness.org For this month's Affirmative Prayer go to https://www.touchingthestillness.org/affirmative-prayers

Ever find yourself holding your breath or shallow breathing when stressed, scared, overwhelmed, or in pain? This episode includes strategies and a meditation to help create a gap in which to breathe a ‘recovery breath'. Visit the website for more: https://www.touchingthestillness.org For this month's Affirmative Prayer go to https://www.touchingthestillness.org/affirmative-prayers

If you’re struggling to stay positive during these turbulent times, don’t run yourself ragged chasing away the blues…befriend them with the silent treatment, says our host as she reflects on guest Michael James’ candid views around negativity. Visit the website for more: https://www.touchingthestillness.org For this month's Affirmative Prayer go to https://www.touchingthestillness.org/affirmative-prayers

Longing for a moment's peace herself, our host gifted listeners with this special episode, designed to soothe those who also yearn for some time to themselves—to just regroup and breathe.  Visit the website for more: https://www.touchingthestillness.org For this month's Affirmative Prayer go to https://www.touchingthestillness.org/affirmative-prayers

In the final episode of our four-part Sizzling Summer Q&A series, our host answers this listener question: “Do you ever have times in meditation when you’re not fully present? If so, what works to get you past distractions?” Visit the website for more: https://www.touchingthestillness.org For this month's Affirmative Prayer go to https://www.touchingthestillness.org/affirmative-prayers  

If you're someone who shunned meditation because you believed there’s only one way to engage in the practice, part three of our month-long Sizzling Summer Q&A Series may leave you pleasantly surprised. Visit the website for more: https://www.touchingthestillness.org For this month's Affirmative Prayer go to https://www.touchingthestillness.org/affirmative-prayers

“How do you distinguish intuitive guidance from wishful thinking?” In part two of our four-week 'Sizzling Summer Q&A Series', our host responds to this listener question with personal examples, before leading a meditation designed to increase our capacity to discern. Visit the website for more: https://www.touchingthestillness.org For this month's Affirmative Prayer go to https://www.touchingthestillness.org/affirmative-prayers

Is there a difference between prayer and meditation? It depends on who you ask. Though answers garnered from her colleagues provide distinctions, our host says, at the end of the day, it’s not about how we define the terms. What matters is we do one or both.   Visit the website for more: https://www.touchingthestillness.org For this month's Affirmative Prayer go to https://www.touchingthestillness.org/affirmative-prayers

Don’t be fooled into thinking we’re supposed to come up with the answers to the four Soul Questions in this episode’s meditation. According to guest, Suzi Von Mensenkampff, they don't typically show up until after we've left the meditation mat. Visit the website for more: https://www.touchingthestillness.org For this month's Affirmative Prayer go to https://www.touchingthestillness.org/affirmative-prayers

By not noticing their absence, could spiritual communities unwittingly be excluding certain groups of people from their gatherings? Our host offers a meditation and affirmations designed to erase blindspots and expand our heart’s wingspan to let others in. Visit the website for more: https://www.touchingthestillness.org For this month's Affirmative Prayer go to https://www.touchingthestillness.org/affirmative-prayers

Inclusivity and spiritual coach Tracy Brown RScP is frank and transparent about being a person of color in spiritual community; and speaks into existence a prayer, so powerful, it can’t help but provoke positive action. Visit the website for more: https://www.touchingthestillness.org For this month's Affirmative Prayer go to https://www.touchingthestillness.org/affirmative-prayers

It's time to take a stand—literally. Which is why the Standing Meditation practice in this episode, is also a metaphor for being upright, in alignment, and “standing our ground” in our own lives. Visit the website for more: https://www.touchingthestillness.org For this month's Affirmative Prayer go to https://www.touchingthestillness.org/affirmative-prayers

With a heavy heart, and not knowing what else to do as the country becomes inflamed by the senseless death of yet another African American man, our host created a short bonus prayer episode to help heal our collective hearts. Visit the website for more: https://www.touchingthestillness.org For this month's Affirmative Prayer go to https://www.touchingthestillness.org/affirmative-prayers

Let’s use the Smiling Meditation in this episode to start a 'smile' practice, on and off the mat. Even when it feels as though there's very little to smile about then, if nothing else, at least we'll have exercised a few facial muscles. Visit the website for more: https://www.touchingthestillness.org For this month's Affirmative Prayer go to https://www.touchingthestillness.org/affirmative-prayers