Dear Friends:

Throughout the year, many think of the physical and spiritual changes they may wish to make. Often their efforts are short lived. One of the things I have learned  is that a small change in a daily practice or activity can set a foundation for a major change or transformation.  A daily practice in my life that has been important to me is a movement meditation  that is  one of my regular spiritual practices and is a synthesis of teachings and practices that it has been my great privilege to experience and learn from an assortment of practitioners. The meditation includes a portion of the Seven Directions Movement Meditation, inspired by Seneca elder, Grandmother Twylah Nitsch and her Wolf Clan Teaching Lodge, where she taught earth-ways to non-natives. These movements create harmony and balance, and are expressions of gratitude. They honor the ways of knowing of the original people of North America, and are associated with the path of gratitude and introspection of the West.

The second portion of the meditation includes movement prayers in the Buddhist tradition, taught by Prema Desara and Anahata Iradah, creators of the Tara Dances.  The movement and prayers are expressions of compassion. They honor the ways of knowing of the original people of South Asia, and are associated with the path of compassion and enlightenment of the East. The three jewels mentioned in the meditation are the “teachers”, their teachings and the community.

Joining these practices, West and East, promotes a personal sense of balance and Oneness with All That Is. I find that it is a way to begin my day with grace and mindfulness. As the movement meditation requires some physicality, participants are encouraged to modify to meet their own needs.  In my personal practice, I do three full cycles of the combined prayers.

You may wish to follow along with me in the video or you may wish to develop your own meditation from your sources of wisdom and encouragement.

Rev. Michelle