Opening Body Awareness Practice
First of all take a few moments now to recall a person, a pet, a place in nature, or an experience you had recently that you truly appreciate. Just one thing you’re your mind naturally migrates to. We’ll take about 10 seconds to let you mind setting on one thing. We’ll come back to this in an expanded version of the gratitude practice a little later. But for now, with your eyes open, take and release three deep breaths. Let your breathing return to normal, and with the next out breath, gently close your eyes. Then 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 6: 8–9)
For the Lord has heard the sound of my weeping. The Lord has heard my supplication; the Lord accepts my prayer.
Prayer for Loved Ones
Take a deep breath in and out as you devote the next minute to naming your loved ones, presenting them in love before the one who is 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 take 5 deep breath—in through the nose to the count of 5, and out through the mouth to the to the count of 6. Imagine that air is coming in through and being released out through the heart as you do this. Then let your breathing return to its normal rhythm. With your hand remaining over the heart, call to mind one person, pet, place in nature, or experience that you’ve had that you truly appreciate. Over the next full minute, maintain your focus on that one focus of your appreciation. As you notice your mind wander, gently return your focus to the hand on your heart and the feeling of appreciation.
Closing 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
Go in peace, wash your hands, love your neighbor, you are not alone!