The Mary Christopher Podcast

Easter Podcast with Inner Peace Meditation for the Whole World

Happy Easter !!!  It has been a Beautiful Day here in Atlanta with trees leafing out and flowers blooming and the Sun shining.  There is definitely a Resurrection Theme in Creation today.
I spent some time today just allowing myself to "be" outside in G~D's World.  For me, being outside with Sunshine, Fresh Air, and Birds singing is like Heaven on Earth.  Being out in the "Real World" is healing, and restful.  And, I am always grateful for those times.
This evening we are doing our weekly Inner Peace Meditaiton for the Whole World, so the meditation section of this podcast can be used for that meditation as well.  We are meditating as a group, but not on Zoom.  We start at 10 pm EDT, 9 pm CDT, 8 pm MDT, and 7 pm PDT.  If that time doesn't work for you this evening, then tune in whenever You can !!!
Thank You for your ongoing support and all the wonderful things you do every day to make this world a better place for Everyone.  As most of us have realized, there really isn't any "them and us".  There is only US.  Whether we like it or not, we are all in this very challenging "classroom" together !!!
Many Blessings and 
Remember to Breathe
Mary Christopher

Guided Meditation for Sunday Evening Inner Peace Meditation for the Whole World

Since the first Sunday in January 2024, several of us have been doing a Sunday evening Inner Peace Meditation for the World.  We are doing this on our own, wherever we are at the time.
We are not sure how many people are participating, but we do know from the feedback, there are people, from across the country, gathering on Sunday evenings for this meditation.
We are not using Zoom so it is up to Everyone to meditate when they can.
I did have a few people ask for a guided meditation, just to help them get centered, focused, and relaxed.  So, this is that Guided Meditation.
I did the beginning part to get you started, but I did not conclude the meditation.  I assumed most of us have enough experience with meditation that we can finish our own meditations when we are ready.  Sometimes when I listen to guided meditations they end too soon or go too long for my timing.
I hope this Guided Meditation works well for you!
Have a lovely week, and
Remember to Breathe ...
Many Blessings,
Mary Christopher

Happy New Year 2024 !!! Welcoming a New Year with Joy and Presence ~ January 1, 2024

Let's welcome this New Year with 30-minute Coherent meditations at 10 pm EST, 9 pm CST, 7 pm PST on January 1, and January 2, 2024.
 
We know there is more than enough chaos in our World. We also know we can transform or elevate any kind of energy into a much more coherent expression. So, let's move beyond the chaos, focusing on Light or Life or Love. Many of us do this all the time.
 
There are many ways we could do these meditations or blessings. We could focus on one place, like Washington DC, or expand our focus and bless the whole country, or even the whole world.
My personal preference is to begin by focusing on a specific location and then gradually expand my awareness to include the United States and finish with a blessing for the Whole World.
 
By doing consecutive meditations, we are creating a kind of snowball or rolling effect that gathers energy as it goes. Let's meet on Zoom and welcome the New Year 2024 in a Big Way !!!
 
New Year's Meditation for 2024 ~ Click here !!!
 
Many Blessings of Peace and Joy and Well-Being to You and all Your Family and Friends ...
 
Mary Christopher

Winter Solstice and Deep Peace Meditation December 22, 2023

The Winter Solstice in the Northern usually happens within 24 hours of December 21.  It is the shortest day and the longest night of the year.  And, it signals the beginning of Winter.
There were Winter Solstice celebrations and rituals that we know about in Great Britain before 3200 BC.  We know about these events because there are "stone monuments" in New Grange, in the Orkney Islands, as well as in Brittany that were constructed to align with Sunrise or Sunset on the Winter Solstice.
The largest one is in Newgrange and has been completely reconstructed.  It is shaped as an ellipse and is 279 feet at its widest point.  It is made of stone and is 39 feet tall.  At Sunrise on the Winter Solstice, Sunlight travels through a window box on the roof and down a stone corridor for 17 minutes.  Amazing !!!
For centuries in the past, before the Industrial Revolution, Winter has always been a time of rest and repair for humans and farm animals.  It was a time for family, story-telling, dream-time, and planning for Spring.  During Winter, we can use this time to rest and repair, to dream, to plan, and to find that Deep Peace that lives within us.
Many Winter Solstice Blessings to you and to all your Family and Friends.
Mary Christopher

ArchAngel Meditation for Advent ~ Friday December 15 2023

Another beautiful Fall Day here in the Atlanta area ...
I am doing this podcast in the Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area which encompasses over 400 million years of natural and human history in the Georgia Piedmont.  This park covers about 40,000 acres of trails, historic areas, preserved natural habitats as well as rivers and streams.  This is a beautiful area.
I am sitting among the trees, just up the hill from the trail, breathing fresh air and soaking up the Sunshine.  I can hear a Woodpecker over by the river and probably a squirrel or two running through the leaves behind me.  A gorgeous day to be out ...
Our ArchAngel Advent meditation is in this podcast.  Any Angel meditations are an equal opportunity for followers of any religion or tradition as well as anyone who does not follow any religion at all.  
I have included the link for our ArchAngels for Advent Zoom meditation, Tuesday evening at 6 pm CST.  
Click here for the last Tuesday evening ArchAngel Meditation ...
Tuesday Evening ArchAngels for Advent Meditation
We are also having a special Winter Solstice meditation on Thursday, December 21 at 8 pm EST, 7 pm CST.  Click the link below to join this very special meditation welcoming the beginning of the actual New Year.
Special Winter Solstice Meditation ~ Welcoming the New Year !!!
Have a Wonderful Week !!!
Many Blessings to You and all your Family and Friends during this Global Holiday season !!!
Mary Christopher

ArchAngel Meditations for the Holidays ~ December 8 2023

All around the World, during December, we celebrate Advent, Chanukah or Hanukkah, and Shab-e-Urs which celebrates Rumi's passing from this life.  Shab-e-Urs means "The wedding night".  Rumi counted the day of his death as a "reunion with the Creator". A verse recited by Muslims upon hearing the news of Rumi's death, says: "From God, we come and to Him we return."
Angels and Arch Angels are shared by each of these traditions.  In the late 1990's I discovered "GOD Is a Verb", an excellent book about Jewish mystical traditions by Rabbi David Cooper.  I found a wonderful ArchAngel bedtime meditation that is a family tradition in some Jewish families.
Several years ago I started using this meditation in my advanced meditation class.  Everyone loved it and that began our tradition of doing ArchAngel Meditations every year during Advent.  I have included that meditation in this podcast.  This year I have included a new breathing practice that works well for meditation.  That practice is included.
Happy Holidays and Many, Many Blessings to You and all your Family, Friends and Neighbors !!!

Meditation Can Be Challenging ! ~ Summer Meditations September 9 2023

Do you meditate ???  Did you try to meditate, found it was difficult, and gave up ???  
During my many years of teaching "meditation", I have seen that too many people make an honest effort to meditate, find it challenging and give up !!!
That is too bad because there are so many wonderful emotional, physical, and spiritual benefits available.
Yes, having a spiritual practice like meditation can be and often is challenging.  Developing your ability to meditate is similar to practicing the plank pose in yoga or the tree pose in Qigong.  Definitely challenging and very much worth the effort !!!  An important thing to remember is these "practices" always require patience and persistence!!!
Do let me know what you think and how your practice is going ...
Have a Wonderful Week and Remember to Breathe,
Mary

Summer Meditation Podcast ~ August 22 2023 Dealing with Disasters

We seem to have several weather-related disasters all at once, including the ongoing heat wave in the Southwest, Hurricane Hilary reaching Mexico and Southern California, and the tragic fire on Maui.  We are now in the "blame and finger-pointing stages" following the fires and the tragic loss of life.  This often only increases the hurt and the damage without solving very much.
So, what can we do?  Many of us are thousands of miles away from Maui, and Mexico or Southern California.   We may know people in these areas or we may have lived there and have special memories.  And, we can get stuck in sorrow or sadness and begin to feel powerless.  Not a good situation !!!  We often discuss this in meditation class and have several ways of "Dealing with Disasters".
Our primary response is "Remember the Helpers" !!!  When I lived in Texas, I worked as the Facilities Manager for our District Fire Department.  I was also an EMT.  I can promise you that your prayers and good intentions for all the people who show up to help in any "disaster" are deeply appreciated and very helpful.  
Getting stuck in sorrow or grief doesn't help us or others when we are not able to jump in the car and show up in person.  However, thanks to our high-tech culture, we can find many ways to contribute and help.  Turn your sorrow or sadness into compassion and find a way to contribute !!!
So, Remember the Helpers and Remember to Breathe !!!
Have a Great Week, Mary Christopher