Life Thresholds in 7 Breaths
A visualization exercise for individuals and communities who are becoming
Close your eyes.
Take two deep breaths.
Each breath in your own time. On your own count.
Begin, however, on the exhale.
That feels a bit wonky, yes?
Notice your release from this present moment as you exhale.
Then, inhale deeply through the nose,
allowing the breath, Spirit, to guide you,
deeper and deeper,
into your inner worlds.
Rest in this larger Love.
~
This third deep breath will contain a multitude of breaths.
Cast back into your early days. Remember.
Call forth images of thresholds you’ve crossed.
It doesn’t have to be a big moment. It could be a simple, even everyday moment.
Allow whatever memories ~ images, sounds, feelings, people ~ to rise.
Settle on one. Pause.
With the doorway before you, flesh out what you see.
Like a painter to a canvas: edges, corners, colors and shadows.
Don’t forget yourself. You too are a part of this moment.
What was life like before you crossed this threshold? Recall how your body feels, if you can. What stories (and whose stories) dominated your mindscape? Where is resistance? Where is resolve?
Give yourself permission to move through the threshold.
Take in the horizon. What can you see from this new place?
Now, turn and face the doorway you’ve just come through.
In order to move through that gate, what did you have to let go of? What gave you the courage to come through?
Return to the horizon and imagine closing your eyes and finding your inner center.
Rest in this larger Love.
~
Beginning again on the exhale, this fourth deep breath of multitudes
releases what has been: images. feelings. stories.
Imagine opening your eyes and seeing a new gateway.
This one from the middle of life (thus far).
Allow it to come into full focus.
It might take a moment. That’s okay.
If you feel attention wavering or anxious, return to your breath. Steady on.
Take this new threshold in. Pause.
What was life like before you crossed this threshold? Recall how your body feels, if you can. What stories (and whose stories) dominated your mindscape? Where is resistance? Where is resolve?
Now, give yourself permission to move through the threshold.
Take in the horizon. What possibilities emerge from this new place? What loss must be named?
Now, turn and face the doorway you’ve just come through.
In order to move through that gate, what did you have to say no to? What vision guided your yes?
Return your attention to the horizon, breathing and finding your center in this new landscape.
Rest in this larger Love.
~
This fifth deep breath of multitudes again releases where you’ve been.
As you inhale, welcome the threshold that is before you now.
In this very moment of life.
You are before it. You have not yet decided to move through this doorway.
Who are you right now? Take in your body, your stories, your emotions.
What have you learned from your previous crossings? What fears and what wisdom will guide your discernment?
Remember to touch base with your body, your mind, your heart. Do you detect any alignment?
Whether you remain before the threshold
or root yourself in the archway
or go through to the horizon beyond,
rest in this larger Love.
~
Take two final deep breaths, beginning with an exhale…
Each breath in your own time. On your own count.
When you are ready, return your attention to now.
~
Give yourself time afterwards to journal where you’ve been, what you’ve observed, and what meaning it has for you. When you are ready, share it with another person.