Balanced Mind with Julie Potiker Julie Potiker

Breathe compassion in and compassion out -- as you settle into this guided meditation led by Julie Potiker. She completes the meditation with the poem, "The Fawn", by Nikita Gill. (From the book, "Where Hope Comes From; Poems of Resilience, Healing, and Light)."The Fawn", by Nikita Gill(After Mary Oliver's "Wild Geese")You do not have to win at a crisis.You do not have to push yourselfto learn a new language or write a bookor take up an instrument.Nothing will come of forcing yourselfto compete your way out of trauma.Take this time to look at the stars.Take this time to look at how the skystill holds clouds that are the shape of hope.How the dawn begins at the tips of dewy grass,for this is where the horizon begins.Somewhere the dappled fawn raisesher soft neck to watch the sun riseover her meadow.Somewhere else monarch butterflies begintheir long migration, knowing many of themwill not make it home.Remember that you do not need to earnyour right to the precious minutes you haveon this planet. They are already yours,like the fawn and the butterflies.The universe beckons you to enjoy this lifeit has given you through a heartthat beats to the rhythm ofits very own cosmic song.-"The Fawn", by Nikita Gill(After Mary Oliver's "Wild Geese")Find out more about using mindfulness in everyday life through Julie's books, "SNAP: From Calm to Chaos", and "Life Falls Apart, But You Don't have To: Mindful Methods for Staying Calm in the Midst of Chaos". Both are available on Amazon.com.Follow Julie on YouTube and Facebook at Mindful Methods for Life.comThis podcast is available on iTunes, iHeart, Blubrry and everywhere you listen to podcasts.

Find a quiet space to sit, relax, and breathe as Julie Potiker transports you through her guided visualization meditation. She completes the meditation with her poem, "Immersed & Transported"."Immersed & Transported", by Julie PotikerSoon, I arrive -a sea of humanity spilling into ornate building.Sunbeams escape my smileas volunteer scans my ticket, the playbill - a treasure map   clutched to my chest.Find my row by letter of alphabet,lay my coat open as burrow, sink into faded velvet chair.House lights down, stage lights up, magic.All senses heightened – flapping for attention.Flesh and blood, bones, and muscleinhabit worlds – words,meticulously crafted.Step into another skin,pour into another soul,to birth this gift.This baby is love.I cradle it, snuggled into my soft nest.If I’m being truthful,sometimes I teleport my soul into one character,or beam into multiple characters.My feet rest on their feet,my heart beats in rhythm with their hearts.Their voice becomes mine.Escape thoughts of war,free from earthly problems,flight from this one precious life.What could be better?Find out more about using mindfulness in everyday life through Julie's books, "SNAP: From Calm to Chaos", and "Life Falls Apart, But You Don't have To: Mindful Methods for Staying Calm in the Midst of Chaos". Both are available on Amazon.com.Follow Julie on YouTube and Facebook at Mindful Methods for Life.comThis podcast is available on iTunes, iHeart, Blubrry and everywhere you listen to podcasts.

Tap into compassion, for yourself and others, through this guided meditation led by Julie Potiker. She completes the meditation with the poem, "Just for Now", by Danna Faulds."Just for Now", by Danna FauldsJust for Now,Without asking how, let yourself sink into stillness.Just for now, lay down the weightYou so patiently bear upon your shoulders.Feel the earth receive you,And the infinite expanse of the sky grow even wider,as your awareness reaches up to meet it.Just for now,Allow a wave of breath to enliven your experience.Breathe out whatever blocks you from the truth.Just for now,Be boundless, free,with awakened energy tingling in your hands and feet.Drink in the possibilityOf being who and what you really are —So fully alive that the world looks different,Newly born and vibrant, just for now.Find out more about using mindfulness in everyday life through Julie's books, "SNAP: From Calm to Chaos", and "Life Falls Apart, But You Don't have To: Mindful Methods for Staying Calm in the Midst of Chaos". Both are available on Amazon.com.Follow Julie on YouTube and Facebook at Mindful Methods for Life.comThis podcast is available on iTunes, iHeart, Blubrry and everywhere you listen to podcasts.

Breathe in gratitude and compassion during this guided meditation led by Julie Potiker. She completes the meditation with her poem, "Birthday Presence".Birthday Presence, by Julie Potiker The air feels like springtucked into my sit spotthin cotton pajamasNo jacket wanted or neededOn this late February dayThree days left in my 62nd revolution around the sun.My eyes alight on the shrub -Bee’s Bliss Sage.Magenta and bright yellow blooms haphazardly strewn among grey green branches.Unscrew the valve to my ears,Allow noise to rush in.California Quail sounds troubledSong Sparrow, Mourning Dove and Bewick’s Wren respond - all is well.Hummingbirds helicopter trees and shrubsSucking nectarclick and buzz as bees.Unwrap this gift of noticingBreath it in, deepAllow it to fill jagged cracksHold it closeGently, dear, gentlyHoly…holy…holyThis Sabbath prayer.Find out more about using mindfulness in everyday life through Julie's books, "SNAP: From Calm to Chaos", and "Life Falls Apart, But You Don't have To: Mindful Methods for Staying Calm in the Midst of Chaos". Both are available on Amazon.com.Follow Julie on YouTube and Facebook at Mindful Methods for Life.comThis podcast is available on iTunes, iHeart, Blubrry and everywhere you listen to podcasts.

Bring in kindness to yourself and others through this guided meditation led by Julie Potiker. She completes the meditation with the poem, "Holding the Light", by Stuart Kestenbaum.Holding the Light, by Stuart Kestenbaum-for Kait RhoadsGather up whatever isglittering in the gutter,whatever has tumbledin the waves or fallenin flames out of the sky,for it's not only ourhearts that are broken,but the heartof the world as well.Stitch it back together.Make a place where the day speaks to the nightand the earth speaks to the sky.Whether we created Godor God created usit all comes down to this:In our imperfect worldwe are meant to repairand stitch togetherwhat beauty there is, stitch itwith compassion and wire.See how everythingwe have made gathersthe light inside itselfand overflows? A blessing.Find out more about using mindfulness in everyday life through Julie's books, "SNAP: From Calm to Chaos", and "Life Falls Apart, But You Don't have To: Mindful Methods for Staying Calm in the Midst of Chaos". Both are available on Amazon.com.Follow Julie on YouTube and Facebook at Mindful Methods for Life.comThis podcast is available on iTunes, iHeart, Blubrry and everywhere you listen to podcasts.

Join Julie Potiker as she guides you in this compassionate breath meditation. She completes the meditation with her poem, "Holding Court".Holding Court, by Julie PotikerScattered about, Western Sycamore leaves forever remind me of book pages - undone, unglued, unloved, discarded.Feeling this dip in mood, I make my way to the caged veggie garden below in search of something yummy.Bright green cauliflower lifts my spirits. I wrestle it out of the rich soil with the help of Cutco kitchen scissors. I really must get some garden shears. Been a year that I’ve been saying that in my head, and sometimes out my mouth.It’s 5pm now, so the buzz saws, trucks, and workmen’s chatter are silenced.Two heads cauliflower filling my hands, I’m stopped in my tracks by the sounds and sights of happy hour in full swing in the Scrub Pine.Standing stock still, I search for movement along the branches. Birds the size of pine cones, and dark smooth pine cones that look like birds tucked in tight among the spikey needles in the fading light.Bewick’s Wren was holding court. His friends, Bushtit, Warbler and Towhee singing a cappella. A refrain rang out from Crow, he was winging it, he may have lost the score. Above it all, Red Tailed Hawk was conducting.What a blessing. I stand a while, take it all in. Darkness is descending and with it the last of the temperate air. The chill nudges me to move along, it’s time to make dinner, my soul restored.-"Holding Court", by Julie Potiker.Find out more about using mindfulness in everyday life through Julie's books, "SNAP: From Calm to Chaos", and "Life Falls Apart, But You Don't have To: Mindful Methods for Staying Calm in the Midst of Chaos". Both are available on Amazon.com.Follow Julie on YouTube and Facebook at Mindful Methods for Life.comThis podcast is available on iTunes, iHeart, Blubrry and everywhere you listen to podcasts.