Spaces

In the space between night and day, and in the space between day and night--twice in our 24 hour day, at dawn and dusk, are the openings of energy for us to slip our prayers through. That is what people like Rumi (who is like Rumi, you might ask?) have told us.

Another description of this moment is the space between breathing in and breathing out. Does our earth breathe in and out, once a day? Inhale the nighttime and exhale the day?

Some meditation schools say focus on nothingness. Some say the breath. Some have you do little scenes of the beach or the mountains or a tree, for example. The ancient Christian Jesus prayer is the repetition of a mantra, "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, Have Mercy on Me." Other eastern schools use mantras as well, such as "Om namah shivaya."

I am currently focused on the way that uses feelings and a sense of the request being granted, if that makes sense. Picture the prayer being already answered and totally feeling the reality of that complete with emotions of happiness and peace and gratitude.

It is said that this is even more powerful when you do it just as the sun goes down or just before the sun comes up. For me it is more likely that I will do it just as the sun has gone down. I have witnessed a lot more sunsets than sunrises. It's just my nature.

And here in this high land of ridges and junipers and mountains and clear air, the sunsets are spectacular and draw you outside. So it's an invitation. Let's go!