Gnome for the Holidays....As this year comes to a close, we begin to celebrate “the most wonderful time of the year”! I LOVE the holiday season - Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa - The delight of celebration and the joy and wonderment of miracles. This is the time of year where there is a shift in energy towards lightness of air and softness in being as we turn our hearts towards the season of love and joy.  

But I know in my heart for some this is not the case.  You might want to be joyous in your hearts but you can't get yourself there.  For me, when my mom passed away, the first Christmas afterwards I felt the same way.  It was like someone was stepping on my chest and I couldn’t even breathe.  I know and understand 2020 hasn’t been an easy one for sure.  As this year comes to a close, there might be lingering feelings of grief over what did or didn't happen this year and what will or will not happen going forwards.  This is exactly why it is on my heart to share a beautiful meditation that was passed along to me. 

The following is a 6 minute meditation to get you through this next month.  It is designed to help suppose the expansion of the frontier regions of the heart, allowing us to embrace life’s journey with a greater sense of lightness and a more open attitude towards ourselves and others, so that we can reflect our natural true being.  This meditation with a supporting hand mudra cultivates a healthy balance of giving and receiving.  

The name of the hand mudra is Vayu Mudra  which means “Gesture of the Wind” for activating the Air element.   Vayu means wind.  When we think of the element of air, we reflect on it’s essential qualities including lightness, mobility, gracefulness and sensitivity. 

For example, when there is excessive movement within our minds, we become unfocused and hyperactive. When the air element is deficient the mind can become dull and lethargic. When air is balanced, thoughts and feelings arise and pass away easily leaving the mind light and free. 

The air element is also related to our sense of touch which in turn naturally expands our sense of interconnection.   When harmonized,  it is experienced as a natural balance of giving and receiving.  The air element is also responsible for the  movement of the circulation of blood and our nerve impulses.   As we practice this mediation, the heart chakra is awakened at the center of the chest.  This is the seat of universal love and compassion, allowing us to touch and be touched by life and all its experiences with a greater sensitivity.  

When we awaken and balance the air element in our bodies, we enhance enthusiasm, making this a helpful treatment of depression.  I hope you will find it as I do a tool to experience greater lightness and ease allowing us to journey forth through life with a little more love and grace.

Let’s begin:

1. Bend the index finger of each hand down to touch the rounded mounds just below the base of the thumbs.

2. Use the thumbs to gently secure the index fingers and place.

3. Extend the little, ring and middle fingers straight out.

4. Rest the backs of the hands on the thighs or knees.

5. Relax the shoulders up, back and down with the spine naturally aligned.
   
   
   

As you hold Vayu hand mudra,  begin to take several deepening breaths to attune to all the sensations and feelings awakened by this gesture.

With each inhalation sense the expanding rib cage as it expands evenly and with each exhaling breath allows your chest, side ribs and upper back to soften and relax completely.

Take several such breaths to notice how the alternating expansion and release begins to cultivate a lightness and ease throughout your entire being.  

To enhance the sense of lightness and ease, you begin to embark on a journey to an area of snow-covered peaks.

As you begin your journey,  your trail is naturally framed by wildflowers and tall trees.  As  you walk along the path, your face is caressed by a soft and gentle breeze.

The sky is clear and blue and in the distance, a mountain range stretches endlessly across the horizon which brings forth a sense of openness that allows you to breathe more deeply and freely.

With this sense of freedom in your breath, you become more sensitive to the beauty that surrounds you.  Wildflowers waving gracefully, the white clouds floating gently by, and the sun’s rays warm your entire being.

In harmony with your surroundings, you begin to have a deeper connection to all of the natural world, sensing your breath as a natural giving and receiving, like an ongoing conversation with the entire web of creation.

As your journey takes you higher, the air becomes light and fresh and clear.  Soon, you arrive at a meadow with butterflies gently floating in the mountain air.

A soft breeze invites you to sit, take in this beautiful scenery: a landscape of valleys, fields and farmland.  Off in the distance a panoramic view of snow covered peaks.  All inviting you to a place of lightness of being.

Take several deepening breaths to absorb and integrate this lightness of being into every cell of your body.  Witness the flow of breath within all of your thoughts and feelings.

This lightness begins to radiate and permeate your entire being allowing your heart to open naturally so that you can embrace your life with joy and delight.

Affirm in your mind's eye the following affirmation:

“With lightness of being, I open my heart to embracing my life’s journey.”

 Let’s do it together silently or aloud three times -

“With lightness of being, I open my heart to embracing my life’s journey.”

“With lightness of being, I open my heart to embracing my life’s journey.”

“With lightness of being, I open my heart to embracing my life’s journey.”

Slowly butterfly open your eyes - begin to release the hand gesture and take several breaths as you harmonize with this integrated sense of lightness evoked by the air element.

How do you feel my friend? Did you notice how the hand mudra directed the breath and awareness into the entire rib cage and expanded your breath capacity?  When the air element is balanced in our body, it supports a healthy nervous system and this is a great meditation that you can use anytime for a mildly energizing effect.  

Energetically it's like a good cup of coffee that moves the current of energy upwards and balances our fourth chakra, our center of unconditional love.  Hopefully, as we cultivate a lighter more open attitude towards ourselves, we can begin to feel the same sense with others and in all areas of our life and we can cultivate a healthy balance between giving and receiving within all of our relationships.