This is a talk I recently gave to one of the alumni groups for the incredible Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Certification Program, which I completed in 2023. The topic of loneliness is one I ponder fairly frequently, being prone to spells of it that I can only describe as mental vertigo. But, as the talk demonstrates, there is a special quality within loneliness that we can learn to alchemize, and that can offer us unexpected paths to the connection we all want and deserve.
Cosmic Light: A Meditation
Clear light. Pure light. Rainbow light. The light that surpasses cognition. The light that disavows duality. The light that is not separate from darkness. How do we walk toward it? How do we recognize it? How does it change the way we see-hear-feel-think-sense-know?
Contemplate your typical associations with light. Are they of the “spiritual” garden variety? Do you use or routinely hear terms such as “love and light”? Do you see yourself as being of the light, or does that feel too abstract or out of context to you? Think about the necessity of light. Think about your own periods of “seeing the light.” Do you retreat from cosmic light, as described in the meditation? Or do you move toward it and recognize your identity within it? Let all of your thoughts coalesce before you move on to the writing exercise.
Writing Prompt: Respond to the following questions:
How does cosmic light express itself in me?
What is the source of my own light?
How does it manifest?
What does it feel like?
Alternatively, write your story of cosmic light. Imagine the moment you came into existence as you. Imagine that the cosmic light itself had a message for you. What was it?
Please enjoy this month’s meditation on deeply listening and reattuning to ourselves. It includes sonic accompaniment from my husband, Shawn Feeney (website: shawnfeeney.com; Instagram: @shawnfeeney). I’m thrilled to share that we’ll be collaborating together on a series of monthly meditative livestreams, retreats, and other events—more to come in future newsletters.