Within every spiritual tradition of the world, often de-emphasized but not absent, is a personification of the loving dimension of the universe expressing as the Divine Mother. In Buddhism she is Tara, the bodhisattva of compassion, existing specifically to liberate all beings from the eight fears. In Hindu culture, she is the Grace who takes many forms of love, from the most luminous Lakshmi to the most fierce Kali. In Christianity, she is Mary, the mother of the Christ presence, and Sophia, the font of wisdom. In Judaism, she is Shekinah, the indwelling spirit of nonabandoning love, who provides a bridge to our true home. She is Gaia, the Mother Earth, unarguably a living being that graciously holds us, nurtures us, and gives us a home. All cultures independently have personified this dimension of the Absolute, which is dynamic, loving, and holding — the kind that never leaves regardless of the density of our knots.
As I worked through some very challenging ego patterns in my twenties, of self-hatred, of feeling unworthy and without value, I found myself instinctively taking the most contracted parts of my mind to the holding of the Divine Mother. Intuitively I knew that there were parts of my psyche that just could not relax and unwind without a certain kind of holding. Praying, chanting mantras, and asking for help with things I was caught in had a powerfully soothing impact on my nervous system and supported my capacity to let go of some painful stories. I wrote about this extensively in my book Boundless Love. It helped enormously to know that despite my history, there was a quality of unconditional holding available that I could turn toward and relax in.
Since the ordinary act of going to sleep each night is a kind of surrender into the mystery, it is a perfect opportunity to receive the loving presence that makes us more robust. It also optimizes the nourishing rejuvenation of deep restful sleep. I recommend that this simple practice become part of your daily life.
This practice was recorded as part of the full audiobook of ‘The Way of Grace’ which contains includes 14 meditations and practices to support you allowing more Grace in your life through the practice of Ego Relaxation.
(Excerpt from ‘The Way of Grace.’)
Click here to download the free audio version of this meditation which was recorded as part of the full audiobook of ‘The Way of Grace’.
Click here to download the full audiobook of ‘The Way of Grace’ from publishers Sounds True.
Click here to purchase ‘The Way of Grace’.
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