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Love Is Breathing Into the Heart
By Cornelia Powell | March 12, 2008
I’ve worked with thousands of brides through the years and I’m aware that planning a wedding can put brides-to-be in the middle of an emotional journey — a rite-of-passage of inner growth and discovery that can get a bit bumpy at times. But what phase of your life is not an emotional journey? More and more I see that a woman’s life is an evolving series of rites-of-passage: moving into, through, and out of growth experiences all along the way — bumpy, smooth, and somewhere in-between!
I have a simple suggestion for all of us to ease the journey: notice your breath. For brides-to-be during your busy wedding planning schedule and for all women during your “living life large” journey, it’s important to take a breather — literally! Just think: you could be only a few deep breaths away from easing tension, being less emotional and more at ease, even more able to keep your heart open.
Are you noticing your breath as you’re reading this? Whatever you are noticing about your breath — deepen it more, feel your chest gently rise and fall with each inhale and exhale as you continue to read.
We are a culture of shallow breathers which keeps the body tense and uptight. As you pay more attention to your breath (inhaling deeply and exhaling slowly), as you let go of trying to “hold your body in place” (start with relaxing your shoulders), as you notice your world while noticing your breath (it’s easier to see when breathing deeply) — then you are more at ease, your mind becomes quieter and your body relaxes.
Like Yoga or a stretching routine that allows your body to be more limber and flexible, deep breathing helps you become more “flexible” in mind, body and spirit! The more aware you become of your breath — noticing it flow through your body — the more you allow yourself the lightness of space between all the busyness of life. And you might just get closer to the true feelings of your heart, creating ease in your life inside and out.
Whatever you’re doing — selecting flowers for your wedding bouquet, working at your desk, washing dishes — notice your breath; whatever rite-of-passage you are in — a bride-to-be, a newly wed, a new grandmother, or just living life — notice your breath, then deepen it. Practice noticing — then notice the difference. A wonderful practice to do whatever your journey: imagine your breath, like love, flowing in and out of your heart!
Love. Listen. Let go.
… with love from Cornelia
[The phase "love is breathing into the heart" is from A Course In Miracles.]
Topics: For Brides, Meditation, Women's Notes, relaxation |