The Mindful Minute Meryl Arnett

This is a big one, y’all. Non-excess is likely the ethical tenet that I teach most often {even if I don’t specifically say ‘non-excess’}... Often this teaching gets translated as abstinence or celibacy, and in certain monastic orders, it is indeed practiced in this way. Yet, when we look at the original teachings of this tenet, we discover non-excess is about establishing vitality and balancing the mind, body and energy. Author Deborah Adele translates the teachings of non-excess as meaning ‘to walk with god’ - to experience the sacred in the everyday. And, we quickly see that we cannot experience sanctity or vitality if we are overwhelmed in excess.Excess can show up in our food, our work, our entertainment, our possessions, even our spirituality.We are a people of excess. For many of us, we can get almost anything, usually delivered to our door the next day. And in many countries, we can throw it in a trash can and pay to have it picked up and dumped somewhere we are likely never to see or acknowledge because if we did, we would be horrified. The teaching of non-excess asks us to move slowly and employ restraint. Admire the sunrise, the sunset, the stars, the moon, the clouds and the birds. Take the time to eat food that is beautiful and nourishing, and to stop when you are just full enough. Put your phone down. Step away from technology. Go to bed early and get up early too. The deeper we go, the more we begin to understand non-excess as the ultimate pleasure principle. Being alive is not a mistake. We are alive, and we are meant to be awake for it, to enjoy it, and celebrate it. The key is that it isn't a bacchanalian free for all. Vitality and sanctity are brought forth through restraint, through limiting our excessive ways. Join me for today’s episode of The Mindful Minute as we tease out the nuances of non-excess and share in a 20-minute guided meditation.Thank you to our sponsor, Bioneers. Be sure to check them out at conference.bioneers.org (https://conference.bioneers.org/) and use code NCS20 to save 20% on tickets to their upcoming 34th annual conference.Sign up

The ethical tenet of non-stealing goes so much further than simply avoiding the physical act of theft. It prompts us to move fully into living a life of integrity and reciprocity. In this episode of The Mindful Minute, we delve into the myriad of ways we have absorbed the habit of stealing. We will reflect on how we steal from * Others* The Earth* The Future* OurselvesThe primary invitation of non-stealing is to shift our focus from others to ourselves. What an odd sentence to write... no, I didn't make a mistake. I really mean this - the invitation is to turn our attention towards ourselves and our actions. I love this focus because it is so counterintuitive to what we are taught to believe at a young age.  We are taught to put others first {but be the best}; stop focusing on yourself {but make sure you fit in}; don’t be selfish {but you can and should have it all}…As we explore the teachings of non-stealing, we see how these early implicit teachings trap us in a cycle of never enough; always chasing after what others have, and living in fear of what we don’t have and can’t get. Fear begets violence, and spoiler alert, we find ourselves lost in a world being destroyed by violence - to ourselves, to each other and to the earth.When we remember to honor ourselves within these ethical teachings, we live full, rich lives with integrity and reciprocity.Join me for today’s class as we explore the tenet of non-stealing and share in a 20-minute guided meditation. Sign up for my newsletter at http://eepurl.com/dBYEUL to receive free mini meditations each month, creative musings, and more.Make a donation or learn more about my free offerings and live classes by visiting merylarnett.com.IG: @merylarnett

Carl Jung once wrote - “A lie would make no sense unless the truth was felt to be dangerous.”Within the traditions of meditation, there are five ethical teachings taught to all initiates as they begin their contemplative path. The first teaching {see the previous episode} is the tenet of non-violence, and we learned that violence is always accompanied by fear.The second tenet is truthfulness, and as Jung reminds us, the truth is often felt to be very scary. So the practice of truthfulness must be accompanied by the practice of non-violence. In today’s episode, we explore truthfulness by looking at:* The little white lies that feel “nice” rather than real.* How a sense of “should” and “should not” impacts our self-expression* What happens when we grow past the inherent boundaries of our groupsIn many ways, I find that meditation is an exercise in learning to tolerate the truth of ourselves. This is why for many, meditation can be DEEPLY uncomfortable at first. We get still and quiet; we hear our actual thoughts; and we feel the truth of our feelings. Insights we might work quite hard to ignore most of the time are now loud and insistent. The truth is not easy, and yet, it is wildly and vibrantly good for how you feel and engage with your day-to-day life. Join me for today’s episode of The Mindful Minute as we embark on a discussion of truth and share in a guided, 20-minute meditation. Sign up for my newsletter at http://eepurl.com/dBYEUL to receive free mini meditations each month, creative musings, and more.Make a donation or learn more about my free offerings and live classes by visiting merylarnett.com.

With this episode, we begin a new journey together. We will spend the next 5 weeks exploring the Ethics of Meditation.I find it profoundly poignant that the ethical foundation of meditation is always taught first in Eastern practices and yet is so often saved for 'later' in Western teachings. I confess that I usually assume the ethical teachings are inherent within the practice and have not explicitly taught them in a class setting. Until now.This is a mistake on my part, and one I look forward to rectifying immediately! My hope is that this will be an insightful series that prompts reflection and curiosity about how these ethical teachings play out in your own life. The very first ethical foundation is non-violence. I believe there is no more immediate crisis in our lives than the crisis of violence. It is one that requires our unwavering attention and intention. As author Deborah Adele writes, “Non-violence asks us to step lightly, do no harm, and honor the relationship we have with the earth, with each other, and with ourselves.”The teachings of non-violence might seem easily understood on the surface but the subtle implications only continue to deepen as your meditation practice progresses.Join me for today’s episode of The Mindful Minute as we explore the tenet of non-violence and share in a 20-minute guided meditation.Sign up for my newsletter at http://eepurl.com/dBYEUL to receive free mini meditations each month, creative musings, and more.Make a donation or learn more about my free offerings and live classes by visiting merylarnett.com.IG: @merylarnett #meditatewithmeryl

Over the last several years, Chanti Tacoronte Perez has taught me so much about exploring and relating to my dreams, and today, I get to share a conversation with Chanti all about dreams, the dark and the wisdom waiting for us there.Chanti is a Cuban-American creatrix, ritualist, and author; and she believes that images speak a profound language. Her life’s work is as a translator of the unseen and advocate for the imaginal. She holds a Masters in Engaged Humanities, a Masters in Depth Psychology from Pacifica Graduate Institute, and Chanti is currently working on her doctoral dissertation in Jungian Depth Psychology and Archetypal Studies program at the same institution. Her passion is to inspire you to rediscover your creative self by weaving the blessings with the wounds while honoring the land and the ancestors.In this episode, Chanti and I talk about:* The difference between a symbol & a sign* What it means to dream journal* What to do if you don’t remember your dreams* How to work with your dreams* And, why you should throw out your dream interpretation books!This conversation is nowhere near comprehensive, but my hope is that it sparks a bit of curiosity and a willingness to start exploring your own dreams. Then you can join one of Chanti’s dream retreats; you’ll probably see me there!Download Chanti’s guide to dream journaling here: http://bit.ly/3IoXRt4Learn more about Chanti & her offerings here: https://www.yantrawisdom.com/ (https://www.yantrawisdom.com/)Be sure to check out my newest offering: Elemental Awakening Retreat Series. Registration for this intimate, online gathering is now open and registration is limited to 20 students. Learn more here: https://www.merylarnett.com/elemental-awakeningSign up for my newsletter at http://eepurl.com/dBYEUL to receive free mini meditations each month, creative musings, and more.Make a donation or learn more about my free offerings and live classes by visiting merylarnett.com

To go in the dark with a light is to know the light.To know the dark, g...