Opening Body Awareness Practice
With eyes open and a soft focus, take in and release three deep breaths before letting your breath return to normal. With the third out-breath, gently close your eyes. Feel the weight of your body on the chair, bed, or floor. Finally, take a minute to do a body scan: noticing how the body feels as you scan steadily down from the top of the head to the feet, not trying to change anything, just noticing. Close the practice with another deep breath, in and out.
The Sarum Prayer
God be in my head—and in my understanding
God be in my eyes—and in my looking
God be in my mouth—and in my speaking
God be in my heart—and in my thinking
God be at my end—and at my departing
Psalm Portion
Psalm 86: 4
Gladden the soul of your servant, for to you, O Lord I lift up my soul.
Words of the Followers Portion
Luke 2: 19
But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.
Memorization Practice
Take a minute to repeat the words of the Psalm 86:4 to see if the come to mind later in the day. Write them down, if that helps, or simply repeat them a few times.
Gladden the soul of your servant, for to you, O Lord I lift up my soul. (Psalm 86:4)
Lord’s Prayer Adapted
Our mother in heaven
Holy is your name.
Your good realm come,
Your will be done,
On earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread,
And forgive us our sins,
As we forgive those who sin against us,
And saves us from the time of trial.
AMEN.
Prayer for Loved Ones
Take a deep breath in through the nose and out through the mouth as you devote the next minute to naming your loved ones, accepting each as they are, and holding them in love to source of all love.
Serenity Prayer
God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
courage to change the things I can,
and wisdom to know the difference.
Gratitude Practice
Place a hand over your heart, and allow yourself to feel gratitude, appreciation, or delight in 3 good things that are part of your existence. Rest your awareness on gratitude for them or any others that come to mind over the next minute.
The Sarum Prayer
God be in my head—and in my understanding
God be in my eyes—and in my looking
God be in my mouth—and in my speaking
God be in my heart—and in my thinking
God be at my end—and at my departing
Benediction
The Lord is with you, the Lord is your shade, the Lord is your rock, the Lord is your light and salvation.
So have a blessed day: go in peace, wash your hands, love your neighbor—you are not alone!