Meditation Mon 3rd May - Food for thought: Forgiveness
Shamanic & Awareness Meditation Mon 3rd May 2021
7 pm – 8.30pm Sydney time (AEST)
Monday 3rd May 2021
Fee $10
Attend via zoom or in person (Wareemba, near Five Dock, NSW).
You’re very welcome to attend for one evening or regularly. It’s suitable for both beginner and experienced meditators.
We start with a short meditation to ground, focus and centre ourselves. This is followed by a shamanic journey, where we increase our awareness, inner peacefulness and clarity.
If you would like to attend, let me know so I can send you a zoom link, or the address if attending in person (email: maret@maretstaron.com )
For further information about the meditation: http://www.maretstaron.com/meditation
Forgiveness – a process that strengthens and frees you
I’ve been meditating on forgiveness. I wanted to understand what forgiveness could mean for me, and how and why do it. I was surprised to find that as I meditated on forgiveness, fear came up, that I was scared to forgive. I discovered a hidden belief that I thought forgiveness would weaken me, that ‘they’ would ‘win’ – that if I forgave those who had wounded and hurt me, it was giving them permission to continue. As I meditated on this hidden belief that had now come to light, I discovered that no, that is not so. I began to understand that forgiveness would free me. That with forgiveness, my body and heart would have no place for old bitterness, fear or anger. Instead, I would be free and whole. That there would be space in my heart for more unconditional love – for myself and others.
It’s not the first time I’ve practiced forgiveness and unconditional love. But this time I needed to really get to the bottom of it. I’d recently had a few people say to me, Maret, it’s time to forgive. Initially I had no idea what they were talking about, but when I hear something 3 times I listen to it. The 1st time I can notice it and ignore it, the 2nd time it’s interesting, the 3rd time tells me that a pattern has emerged. So when I heard it for the 3rd time, I took notice and thought there must be something hidden deep that I now need to forgive. A friend suggested a daily spiritual practice. So that is how I started.
Each night I sat down, having created a small sacred space with candle, flowers, incense etc. Here is a brief overview of some of my practices: I welcomed in God/source and all beings of light that support my healing and expansion and I asked for help and guidance. I then did my best to open my heart to unconditional love (I have a few processes for that) and then saying ‘to the best of my ability today’ I forgive myself for everything I’ve done to myself and to others (intentional and unintentional) and I forgive myself for being human. I then focused on all those in all past, present, future times that have wounded, betrayed or hurt me in some way, kept me out of alignment with my true self – and to the best of my ability in that moment, I forgave them. I then flowed unconditional love and blessings to them all. I then asked for forgiveness from all those in all times and places, that I have wounded, hurt or betrayed. I also used my mala beads and said a mantra every night, for one round of the beads.
After some weeks, I was able to leave out the words ‘to the best of my ability today’, as I started to feel the power of unconditional love and forgiveness. I’m still doing a daily practice of forgiveness and unconditional love and feel wonderful for it. It takes me into a completely different space and feeling. I’ve modified my practice now and have adjusted it to what I feel is needed in the moment. I’ve also accepted that all I can do is control my own attitudes and actions, not theirs. I want to live my life fully. I don’t want that woundedness or unforgiveness to be playing any part in my life anymore. As always, I’m a work in progress. The practice continues and new insights come to me. This is the way that’s worked for me.
We each need to find out own way through forgiveness and unconditional love. I send blessings to you all.
You can also contact me through Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/maretstaron/