The night. A dark cloak cast by nature, and outlet for all nocturnal. He sat there, behind that high stone wall. Staring at the earthen bricks, as if he could see through them. But it was not so, though he would have liked this, for mearly a ordinary wolf. Nothing more than a longing look towards the sky.

“It was funny.” He thought,” How so many creatures like him howled to this ivory orb. Mocking it, with saucy luster. But yet that eternal, celestial being always had the last laugh. For when those once young wolves had fallen, failed in the face of death, the moon taunted them in a whole-hearted manner.”

The aged creature sat, caged by this unbreakable barrior. The motled brown coat lossing it’s luster. Falling from the wolf in waves. He sighed and howled again knowing his time was short. He was warning them, the others like him. The youth. He was telling them that life was not ever lasting. Though it could seem as such. Yet he knew none had heard. And even if they did they would not heed.

His life with the men had been good at first. A nice family, with lovely younglings, treating him as one of his domestic realatives. Those five years had been desirable. And then a little one had pulled to hard on his tail. He blindly had struck out, harming the child. Condeming himself to the fast approaching fate. More had come for him, he knew that they were going to slaughter him. And so he ran.

Away he fled, far, far away. And yet they found him still. But held them not accountable. For the men who had tried to tame him were not evil, simply ignorant to the truth. He was a wild animal. Not a tamed pet. He didn’t blame the men who had hunted him for two years now. For they were simply trying doing there painstaking job. And so he was here.

Condemed to what the the humans used to kill unwanted creatures. He knew not what they would do, but the time was near. The men had come. Gently taking him to a high steel table. He cared not about death, for he welcomed the fact. But he was sorry for wolves like him who would suffer the same. They held him down, but he made no sign of protest.

And as the long needle was stuck into his flesh he winced. But then a thought dawned upon him. Maybe if those human creatures knew the harm the were doing, they would stop. Maybe if there was a way one could tell them, they would cease. And as his nobled body went limp he had one last thought.

“If that were possable there will be hope…There will always be hope.”

And the aged wolf lowered his head, and died.

Find a quiet place where you feel safe and comfortable, and sit cross-legged on the floor with a pillow under you so that your knees are slightly lower than your hips. If you’d rather, you can sit in a chair with your feet flat on the ground. Either way is fine, don’t worry too much about the form. As you practice, you’ll discover what feels most comfortable for you.

Sit with your back straight, but relaxed and your hands comfortably in your lap or resting gently, but not all the way, let your gaze fall to the floor a few feet in front of you, and allow yourself to smile gently, just a half smile. This naturally helps the face and body to relax.

Now, for those ten breaths…

I’m going to offer you five pairs of lines that my teacher offered me. With each breath in and out, you might like to silently say the lines to yourself. The first pair is:

Breathing in, I know I am breathing in.
Breathing out, I know I am breathing out.

As you say the first line, breath in. As you say the second line, breathe out. Makes sense, right? Then, just repeat those lines until you’re ready to move on to the next pair of reminders. After a breath or two, you may feel more comfortable abbreviating the lines and simply saying: in, out.

This exercise helps to put us back in touch with the breath, and to bring the mind and body together. The remaining four lines follow in kind, two full sentences, followed by two words.

The second pair is:

Breathing in, my breath grows deep.
Breathing out, my breath grows slow.
Deep, slow.

This helps us recognize the natural the natural progression of our breath. It becomes gentle, light, and free flowing all of its own accord as our body relaxes.

The third and fourth lines offer us peace, freedom, and tranquility:

Breathing in, I feel calm.
Breathing out, I feel at ease.
Calm, ease.

Breathing in, I smile.
Breathing out, I release.
Smile, release.

This helps us release any negative thoughts, negative emotions, and unnecessary stress in out bodies and minds.

The fifth pair of reminders brings us back to the here and the now the only place where we can keep our appointment with life:

Breathing in, I dwell in the present moment.
Breathing out, I know it is a wonderful moment.

Five pairs of lines, ten breaths…

This meditation helps bring us tranquility, healing, and relaxation, and continues to offer us those nourishing and refreshing elements long after our ten breaths are over.

No matter what my day is like, how tired, or even how sick I am, even thought I’ve been meditating for years, I practice this simple meditation every night. It brings me a great deal of comfort, and I have found that by the time I reach “deep,slow,” there’s always time for more than ten breaths.

What a miracle it is to be alive! And what nobler pursuit than that of learning to be present for ourselves and the world around us.

Thay tells us that the greatest gift we can give is our true presence. Shall we practice gifting each other this treasure? I aspire very much to do so.

Peaceful Steps…

Angel Feathers Tickle Me

Aware of the suffering caused by unmindful consumption, I am committed to cultivate good health, both physical and mental for myself, my family, and my society by practicing mindful eating, drinking and consuming. I am committed to ingest only items that preserve peace, well-being, and joy in my body, in my consciousness, and in the collective consciousness of my family and society. I am determined not to use alcohol or any other intoxicant or to ingest food or other items that contain toxins, such as certain TV programs, magazines, books, films, and conservations. I am aware that to damage my body or my consciousness with these poisons is to betray my ancestors, my parents, my society, and future generations. I will work to transform violence, fear, anger, and confusion in myself and in society by practicing a diet for myself and for society. I understand that a proper diet is crucial for self-transformation and for the transformation of society.

Love To All…

Angel Feathers Tickle Me

When my courage and my energy seem to be in short supply, this is the time I need to be sensitive to the gentlest of sounds and thought and feelings.

The balmy breeze, not the howling wind, refreshes me. The peaceful thought I think are the ones that calm me and allow me to function best. The soft voice of encouragement I hear is His message of hope being whispered to me, and that whisper has the power of the Almighty behind it.

Out of these tender thoughts, feelings, sounds, and messages, I gain new purpose in living. I am His messenger, I am what he truly desires me to be. He is gentle with me, and I am gentle with others. It is the power of the Almighty that I hear, touch, and feel as gentleness…

And I Pass It On…

Angel Feathers Tickle Me