Be Here Now Gratitude Meditation
Appreciating Animals Through Our Senses
“To me, the tender, caring connection between horses and humans - different species without a common spoken language - confirms what many people seek to believe: that there is an invisible force that connects every living thing in the world, a language without words, a shared understanding and knowing. When we can pause and breathe in the moment, tune back in to our senses, and be fully present with another being, these moments come and embrace us, removing the barriers of our false sense of separateness.”
Kathy Pike, Hope…From the Heart of Horses: How Horses Teach Us About Presence, Strength, and Awareness
The third precept, “Just for today, I will be grateful” is a powerful bridge between our emotions (anger & worry) to moving into the heart of compassion. Gratitude frees us up from our overthinking head so we can settle down into our heart and be in the present moment.
This isn’t always easy. While it does become easier through diligence of practice, releasing anger and worry is hard. It’s hard to feel grateful when we are spinning up there in headspace.
But, as horsewoman, coach and thinker, Kathy Pike suggests, “when we can pause and breathe in the moment, tune back in to our senses, and be fully present with another being, these moments come and embrace us, removing the barriers of our false sense of separateness.”
Tuning back into our sense and breath while we are with our animals (or other people), is way we can move into our hearts and the present moment. We remember what we have always known - that we are all connected by “the invisible force.” Taking time to be with this opens us to wonder and awe, clearing the fog we develop with our every day preoccupations so we can have more expansive view from the heart.
Be Here Now Meditation
Where: Anywhere! If you are with an animal or person, that is great. You can also use a photograph or the picture in your mind.
Length of Time: You choose! Anywhere from 30 seconds to as long as you like.
Connect to Your Senses:
Wherever you are with your animal, just pause and be with them.
What do you:
See - What are tiniest details you can see?
Hear - What sounds are they making?
Scent - Careful with this one, sometimes the doggos stink like farm dogs, the cats, always clean and soft and my horses’ dusty manes always smells like home.
Feel - If they feel like receiving some pets, what softness, scruffiness, smoothness, etc. do you feel? Be gentle and
Taste - This might not always apply, or maybe it is a mouthful of barn dirt. it might be the taste of your morning coffee because you always share that time with the kitties.
Notice as many details as you possibly can. For example, the cat above, I notice:
Long white whisker, the earthy colors of her terracotta nose and the moisture resting there, how little black hairs collect to make tips on her ears, deep luminous pools of yellow and greens in her eyes.
If I was with her in person, I might be listening to the sound of her purr, or watching how she extends her claws as she relaxes into a biiiiig stretch.
You might even list a a few reasons why you are grateful for they are in you life or special things about their personality.
In the details, we find miracle and appreciation.
Express gratitude for sharing this moment with you.