I use this one when I feel myself contracting, usually because of other people. A circle that keeps getting wider.
About 12 minutes with Steven Webb's calm voice.
Your closest people first, in a circle around you on a meadow. Then it widens to the ones you half know, then to strangers, then to the ones you find difficult. If you meet resistance you soften round the edges rather than force it. Then the edge dissolves altogether and it is just love in, love out.
The companion talk episode: How Big Is Your Circle? Let's Talk Love and Acceptance
Treat me to a coffee, keep the podcast free, and get my Weekly Calm every Sunday. It is all on stevenwebb.uk
Thank you for sitting with me.
Steven
Stevens new course: Finding Peace in Everyday Life (you choose how much to pay)
Welcome to Expanding Circle of Love Meditation. I use this meditation whenever I feel
Steven Webb:a little bit of a contraction when I may be struggling with people around me.
Steven Webb:It's a wonderful take on the Loving Kindness Metta Meditation. So
Steven Webb:just sit and become comfortable. Allow
Steven Webb:your body to relax. And just while you're becoming comfortable, just a Small reminder that all these
Steven Webb:meditations on Inner Peace Meditations are all completely free. And they're free because of many people like you just treat
Steven Webb:me to a coffee and donate. So deeply grateful for that. The note and the
Steven Webb:link is in the show notes below.
Steven Webb:Anyway, let's just settle down to this meditation and I won't disturb you afterwards.
Steven Webb:So as you're settling in, just allow your breath to be what it is.
Steven Webb:Allow your body to relax into this moment.
Steven Webb:You don't have to do anything with your breath.
Steven Webb:You don't have to do anything with your body. Just
Steven Webb:allow it to relax.
Steven Webb:Your body knows how to relax. You're just giving the individual parts a
Steven Webb:little nod to say you can.
Steven Webb:Allow your chin, your eyes and your nose,
Steven Webb:even your ears and your forehead.
Steven Webb:Allow them all to become relaxed in this moment.
Steven Webb:Your shoulders and your arms.
Steven Webb:All your torso and your bum.
Steven Webb:And your legs and your feet right down to your toes.
Steven Webb:And then bring your awareness back to your breath.
Steven Webb:Breathing in calm. Breathing out relaxed.
Steven Webb:And as you're continuing to relax into this moment, just imagine yourself sat on a beautiful lush green
Steven Webb:meadow.
Steven Webb:And you're sat in the middle.
Steven Webb:And around you is this circle.
Steven Webb:And you imagine your close friends and your family. The people you love dearly. The people you like spending time
Steven Webb:with.
Steven Webb:Any animals or anything. Just they're all inside of this circle.
Steven Webb:And notice how you feel.
Steven Webb:And it can be anybody. It could be people from your past. It
Steven Webb:could be anybody you know. Just anybody you feel. It should be in your innermost circle.
Steven Webb:As you see their faces, you can sense their presence. You
Steven Webb:notice the natural affection that arises.
Steven Webb:And as you're breathing in, just notice when you breathe out, you're just gently sending love towards them.
Steven Webb:And you just say to yourself quietly, May you be safe. May
Steven Webb:you be joyful. May you live with ease.
Steven Webb:May you be safe. May you be joyful. May you live with ease.
Steven Webb:And now just bring your awareness back to you in the circle again. And now allow the circle to widen
Steven Webb:slightly. And
Steven Webb:then we welcome any acquaintances, co-workers, maybe neighbours and people you see but
Steven Webb:you don't quite know intimately.
Steven Webb:Some may bring pleasant feelings. Others may bring some natural, neutral feelings. This is
Steven Webb:perfectly fine.
Steven Webb:And as you're breathing in, recognise that they too wish to love and be loved also.
Steven Webb:And as you're breathing out, just extend this same blessing to them. May you be safe. May you be
Steven Webb:joyful. May you live with ease.
Steven Webb:You may notice how the heart accommodates them all, all within this spare room in this
Steven Webb:circle you have.
Steven Webb:Now we're going to once more let the boundary expand until it includes strangers and even those with whom you
Steven Webb:experience maybe a bit of tension and difficulty.
Steven Webb:If any resistance arises, just simply soften around the edges there's no force. It's not
Steven Webb:rigid.
Steven Webb:And remember you still got your closest people all around you.
Steven Webb:And then we can also offer them a blessing. May you be safe.
Steven Webb:May you be joyful. May you live with ease.
Steven Webb:And now just imagine a warm light coming out from you and just touching each being just gently.
Steven Webb:You're caring and loving everybody within these circles.
Steven Webb:And then finally, just allow the circle to dissolve its edge entirely. And
Steven Webb:now it's encompassing all life. People, animals and
Steven Webb:the living earth itself.
Steven Webb:You can feel yourself as distinct and different but you're also seamlessly part of it all.
Steven Webb:And let the mantra become simple. Love in and love out.
Steven Webb:They're all loving you the same as you're loving them. A
Steven Webb:deep acceptance for everything.
Steven Webb:And we'll just rest here for a minute or so. Just bathing in this boundless goodwill.
Steven Webb:Love in and love out.
Steven Webb:You're breathing the love in from everybody around you. And you're breathing the love out across to everybody.
Steven Webb:Now just bring your awareness back to a steady glow in your chest. And
Steven Webb:you just feel that acceptance and that warmth and love. And
Steven Webb:just whisper inwardly. My
Steven Webb:capacity to love is limitless and ever growing My
Steven Webb:capacity to love is limitless and ever growing
Steven Webb:each breath deepens my care for myself and for all beings
Steven Webb:Each breath deepens my care for myself and all beings
Steven Webb:The love I share returns to me multiplied
Steven Webb:The love I share returns to me multiplied.
Steven Webb:And as you become aware of your breath, just feel the love of everybody around you. The
Steven Webb:complete acceptance of everybody around you.
Steven Webb:And now gradually sense the ground beneath you once again.
Steven Webb:Become aware of your breath. You're breathing in and breathing out.
Steven Webb:And wiggle your fingers and wiggle your toes. And
Steven Webb:take a final nourishing breath. Gather the light of all that expanded circle back to your heart where it will
Steven Webb:continue to glow throughout the day.
Steven Webb:And when you're ready, open your eyes, feeling awake, refreshed and quietly radiant
Steven Webb:prepared to meet the world with a deeper care and love.
Steven Webb:This meditation was done on the back of a podcast I've just done on stillness in the storms,
Steven Webb:expanding our circle of love and care.
Steven Webb:There's a link in the show notes below.
Steven Webb:Wishing you a peaceful and loving day. Take care. And thank you for your support. I'm Steven Webb.