GOLDEN ORB MEDITATION
/Prior to entering into this meditation, I recommend you go through the instructions one time so that you have an understanding of how this practice will unfold.
Sit in a comfortable cross-legged position OR just sit in a position that you feel comfortable in that you can keep your spine tall and long for a certain period of time.
Draw into your awareness this intention and loose inquiry of “Container and Contained.” In Ayurveda, the terms are Ashraya and Ashrayi. What is being contained? What is doing the containing? What is present? What are you observing? Who is being observed? Who/what is doing the observing? What is being perceived, and what is doing the perceiving?
Make sure that the environment is supportive of this by reducing or eliminating any external distractions.
Close your eyes.
Place your palms in your lap where the left palm is cupping the right palm gently.
Ensure that the points of the thumbs are barely connecting, where you may notice a subtle polarity.
Envision the space in the palms as though you were holding a bowl. If you are prone to being ungrounded and already “light on your feet” in mind and body, then picture this bowl filled with warm still water. If you are prone to being heavy and sedentary, then picture this bowl with empty space. If you are prone to being very mental/cerebral/pensive with overactive mental activities and “hot-headed”, then picture this bowl with cool still water.
Have your eyes inwardly focus on the space in the bowl and notice your reflection within.
Begin to engage the breath in a way where you are breathing in and out of your nose deeply, focused, directional, not slow but with a pace that allows for a complete fullness on the inhale and the exhale.
Notice the expansion and contraction of the trunk of the body in all directions as you are breathing in and breathing out.
Return your awareness to the initial loose inquiry to occupy the mind and bring it within.
Visualize yourself centered within this globe, a golden orb surrounding you in all directions. The orb is containing you within it, but existing because you have invited it into your current awareness; whilst the sphere itself is being contained by something much bigger, deeper, and vaster as part of the cosmic consciousness.
Continue to breathe in deeply and fully as you hold this orb, imagining that it is sealing up your energy, protecting your energy, containing your energy, and completely self-nourishing. Psychically, you are closed off to any external attacks of any kind. The tendencies of dispersing your energy all about are now becoming centralized, self-contained.
The breathing technique itself is energizing the body, clearing the field within and without. Energizing each cell in your body and inviting a full embodiment from cells to organs to systems to the larger landscaping of the body, encompassing the mind and focusing it with this intention.
Continue on with this practice for some time.
At some point, you will feel an organic inner surrender even to this practice and allow it to take you where it intends.
Once you have arrived wherever you have arrived to and you feel ready to return begin to re-engage your normal breath.
Slowly place your palms at the center of your chest.
Give yourself a brief acknowledgment.
End with three Om’s.
Slowly begin to open your eyes first subtle, then halfway, and then completely.
Pace yourself as you rise and continue on with your day/night.