Self-Caring During Challenging Times

This week we delve into the crucial topic of self-care amidst the intense energy surrounding the upcoming U.S. presidential election. With the election described as one of the most pivotal in modern times, we explore the emotional toll it may take on individuals and communities, emphasizing the importance of maintaining peaceable relations and not being triggered by often polar opposite views.

The episode explores how intention, prayer, and meditation can impact us energetically, highlighting the necessity of releasing energies that don't serve us. We discuss the power of the breath in maintaining calm, the significance of the torus field as a protective energy barrier, and the transformative practice of Tonglen for cultivating compassion. We suggest practical techniques for managing energy and stress, including mindfulness, visualization, and connecting with one's guardian angels.

Suggested Intention Focus for this week:

This week, as we recognise the potential for becoming uncentred, agitated or ill at ease during an especially tense time for millions of people across the US, we suggest holding as our main intention a personal resolve: 

I resolve that, in unity with others who hold intentions with me, I will take time to release any energy that doesn’t serve me after holding intention, and not neglect to attend to my own self-care.

Please join us in holding this.

Legacy Labyrinth Project US election eve labyrinth walk: https://legacylabyrinthproject.kindful.com/register/election-eve-walk-2024 

Listen to Ellen’s conversation with Brother Dave in our episode ‘How to be Mindful when Bad Things Happen–Brother Dave’: https://www.heartfulimpact.com/e/how-to-be-mindful-when-bad-things-happen%e2%80%93brother-dave/

A possible prayer for self-caring following intention sending:

Thank you (Universe/Spirit/God) for filling my heart with lovingkindness during this practice. Now, please release me from me anything that will not benefit me, taking from me any draining, negative or harmful energy that may have come to me during this practice. Thank you. I love you.

Breathing cycle intentions:

Breathing in, I invite lovingkindness and pure, divine light energy to fill me.

Breathing out, I send [my intention or lovingkindness] to [the person, people, or whoever or whatever is the focus of my intention] (during intention holding)

Breathing out, I release all that doesn’t now serve me (after intention holding).

Sources referenced in this episode:

https://imperfectbuddha.com/2017/07/25/is-tonglen-truly-awesome/

https://www.ananda.org/yogapedia/pranayama/

https://www.wondermind.com/article/energy-healing/

https://tricycle.org/magazine/tonglen-spot/

https://www.lionsroar.com/how-to-practice-tonglen-meditation/ (Pema Chödrön describes how to practice Tonglen)

https://www.kelseykuehl.com/post/why-is-everyone-talking-about-torus-fields

https://www.drbrookestuart.com/on-the-toroidal-field/

Chapter markers:

00:00:09            Introduction

00:02:21            The Importance of Self-Care

00:05:10            How energy impacts us

00:08:08            Breath Control

00:11:47            Tonglen

00:16:04            Mindfulness and Self-Care

00:17:23            The Torus Field and its protective power

00:21:14            Approaches for releasing Heavy Energy

00:23:43            Ending Intention Practice

00:26:07            Intention for Self

Join us in person for intenton holding:  

https://www.legacylabyrinthproject.org/events-1 Labyrinth Activist Network Zoom calls  

https://insighttimer.com/cliverj Daily intention holding with Clive on Insight Timer.  

Our websites:   

www.heartfulimpact.com/   Our show website.  

https://globalhealingresponse.com/ Global Healing Response ~ Offers a wealth of prayers, suggested practices and prompts in response to environmental catastrophe, conflict, and other world events.  

https://www.legacylabyrinthproject.org/ Legacy Labyrinth Project ~ Creating global energetic connections through the labyrinth; inspiring active intention sending using the labyrinth via labyrinth activism.  

https://www.clivejohnsonministry.com/ Clive Johnson Ministry ~ Events and offerings aimed at building beloved community, including weekly energy holding vigils and Power of Eight group.  

https://insighttimer.com/cliverj ~ Daily intention holding.  

Impact! Is presented by Ellen Bintz and Clive Johnson. It is produced by Impact Productions.  

Our show content is hosted by Podbean and available from all major podcast platforms.  

Our theme music is by Chris Collins. indiemusicbox.com.  

Our logo artwork is by AltoClassic (Getty Images/istock).  

Contact us via Facebook Messenger from the Impact! Facebook group, or using any of the contact methods mentioned on our websites.  

Impact! www.heartfulimpact.com.