WELCOME to the MEDITATIONS Page of
Heartful Living & Dying
(This page shall be an ongoing project, with items added regularly, so check back as often as you like!)

Here, you will find links to meditations that have been referenced in the blog posts
or that may be of use as you breathe your way home to your own heart's incredibly wise and vibrant presence.
As you peruse, remember one thing:

YOU ARE YOUR OWN AUTHORITY.

This means that no matter how much of an "expert" any one may be on a topic, if what you read or see or hear does not serve you, you are under no obligation to take it on! And likewise, if something here is for you, ENJOY FULLY!
The more you live in heart-resonance, the more fully you will trust your deeper knowing. Receive with fullness whatever resonates for you, and release with ease upon the next gentle breeze that which is not for you.

BENEFITS OF HEART-BASED MEDITATION:

Physical:
Healthier immune system, enhanced organ function,
balanced endocrine system, activation of parasympathetic nervous system

Emotional:
General emotional well-being, equanimity under stress,
quicker self-regulation, less ‘triggerable’, ease in expressiveness, sense of worthiness

Intellectual:
Clarity of thinking, rapid access to knowledge, more reliable intuitive process,
sharper memory, creative problem solving and idea-making

Spiritual:
More accessible connection to whatever you hold most sacred; God, Nature, Science,
or the simple, mundane beauty of our precious moments here on Earth.



There are three categories of Meditations offered:
For Everyone
For Caregivers
and
For Those Who Are Dying.
PLEASE NOTE: ANYONE IS WELCOME TO ENJOY ANY OF THEM!

Preparing:
Meditations are best experienced in a quiet, still environment, preferably with earphones, ringers and dingers silenced, doors locked and friends and family advised to leave you for a time. It can be nice to bathe, put on something comfy and perhaps dim lights, and do whatever else brings you a sense of reverence.
You may listen with eyes open or closed, sitting or lying down.
On the other hand, you can also listen on a crowded subway or your morning run, as long as you are safe doing so.
(PLEASE DO NOT LISTEN WHILE DRIVING OR DOING ANY TASK REQUIRING YOUR FULL ATTENTION.)
You may invite others to be present with you as you listen; more than one person entering into heart-resonance can enhance the experience.

Which One?
Many meditations here are intentionally short - simple to learn and use in daily life. I suggest that you trust your intuition in choosing; scan the list and choose the title or description that tugs at you. You can listen to as many as you wish, but generally, learning and using one at a time, over time, allows you the most benefit.
Pay attention to what you feel in your heart area; the more you come to trust your heart's deepest knowing,
the more peace and presence you will allow to flow within you.
MAY YOU FIND THE GATEWAYS THAT SERVE YOU!
Much Love,
Rev. Maya


Guided Meditations, Exercises and Inner Road Trips with Maya


Minute Meditations are here!
(More added every week!)
Visit HeartfulLivingandDying on Instagram
to access which ever Minute Meditation suits you; use these as quick pick-me-ups, calming tools
or as super-fast self-reconnection moments whenever you need them!

For Everyone:
Butterfly Somatic Heart Presence Meditation with Maya: (9.35)
Notice: When you click the link, it will take you to SOUND CLOUD.
To turn OFF AUTOPLAY, go to lower right corner of tool bar at bottom of page,
click on the pull down menu, and click the autoplay button to OFF position.
Butterfly Somatic Heart Presence Meditation with Maya is a short (9.35 minutes to learn it, 1-3 minutes once you know the process) and simple meditation you can use in many circumstances. Try it yourself or share with others when feeling overwhelmed in the midst of acute trauma - such as during or surviving natural disaster, injury or loss, or recollection of traumatic memory, anxiety attacks or hyper-sensitivity. This easy-to-learn process can also be used simply to relax, reconnect with self, hear one's own deepest inner wisdom or re-center in the midst of a tough day.

Listening for a Heart-YES Meditation with Maya (4:56)
Notice: When you click the link, it will take you to SOUND CLOUD.
To turn OFF AUTOPLAY, go to lower right corner of tool bar at bottom of page,
click on the pull down menu, and click the autoplay button to OFF position.
Listening for a "Heart-YES" Meditation (4.56 minutes) with Maya is a simple, beginner's meditation designed to assist you in connecting with your heart's messages to you. Our hearts are designed to be consistent and dependable barometers for our well-being and are continuously "reading" our situation; your heart can always tell you if someone or something is "good" for your well-being - or if it is not. Society offers us may reasons to override that clear and simple knowing. Learn to listen to - and follow the direction of - this elemental human heart-message and you will begin to see an increase in your physical, emotional, mental and spiritual well-being.

Elevator Heart Resonance Meditation with Maya: (7:46)
Notice: When you click the link, it will take you to SOUND CLOUD.
To turn OFF AUTOPLAY, go to lower right corner of tool bar at bottom of page,
click on the pull down menu, and click the autoplay button to OFF position.
A slightly more elaborate version of Heart Breathing; once you learn it, Elevator Heart Resonance Meditation with Maya is a practice you can use anywhere, any time. It offers a very simple method to drop down out of the busy world, bringing your body, emotional state, mind and spirit into alignment with your heart's rhythm. This state is known as "coherence" or holistic resonance. New science measures the electromagnetic energy field of the heart to be many times greater than that of the brain, and shows us that body and mind in resonance with the heart will dramatically increase well-being on all levels.

Brain Science of Gratitude Meditation with Maya: (7:19 minutes)
Notice: When you click the link, it will take you to SOUND CLOUD.
To turn OFF AUTOPLAY, go to lower right corner of tool bar at bottom of page,
click on the pull down menu, and click the autoplay button to OFF position.
This short meditation can re-set your mood, assist you in building more positivity-focused neuropathways in your brain and generally bring you a greater sense of well-being. Once considered the terrain of "airy-fairy" or "new-age" folk, the experience of focusing on Gratitude is now recognized by neuroscience as the powerful tool it is; your key to neuroplasticity - the ability to CHANGE the way your brain/heart/body function. Try this quick and simple meditation three times a day for two weeks and see if you notice a change in the way you experience life, interaction with others, and healthy love of yourself.

Simple Body Relax with Breath Meditation with Maya: (13:01)
Notice: When you click the link, it will take you to SOUND CLOUD.
To turn OFF AUTOPLAY, go to lower right corner of tool bar at bottom of page,
click on the pull down menu, and click the autoplay button to OFF position.
Ride the breath-waves of this meditation when you are struggling to relax. Slightly longer than some of the others here, this Simple Body Relax is designed to offer you a safe, smooth passage into deep sleep, relief from stress or just a gentle rest from the stresses of daily life. As always, any time and space that allows you time within and to yourself is time and space that is contributing to your physical, emotional, mental and spiritual well-being; all aspects of Self, breathed into alignment with your HEART, will always bring you more peace and balance.

The Container Meditation with Maya - short (4:37)
Notice: When you click the link, it will take you to SOUND CLOUD.
To turn OFF AUTOPLAY, go to lower right corner of tool bar at bottom of page,
click on the pull down menu, and click the autoplay button to OFF position..
This very simple hand placement meditation is designed to offer you a quick and deep whole-self regulation in times of intense stress, acute trauma or while processing deep wounding from the past. In times of great anxiety, we often experience a sense of separation from our bodies - this CONTAINMENT exercise assists the brain in re-locating the body and guides us in re-connecting with the safety always available within us.

The Container Meditation with Maya - longer version (8:14)
Notice: When you click the link, it will take you to SOUND CLOUD.
To turn OFF AUTOPLAY, go to lower right corner of tool bar at bottom of page,
click on the pull down menu, and click the autoplay button to OFF position.
This Somatic Safety meditation is a longer version of the previous Container exercise. It includes more physical movements that promote a sense of connection to the body, deep CONTAINMENT, and self-regulation in times of stress, anxiety, and both acute and chronic trauma processing. Use this when you wish to reconnect to your inner-self, regather your sense of presence, or simply calm your being as you prepare for light rest or deep sleep.

Clear, Present & Replenished; A Somatic Triplet Exercise (2:02)
Note: This video requires a password to view. The password is: heartful
This is a video of a very brief series of three exercises you can do (or share with others) when recovering from trauma, in need of stress-relief or simply to unwind at the end of your day. The first part offers a clearing of energy you no longer need; the second part invites you to become present by connecting to yourself in this moment and to a sense of safety. The final part opens you to allowing replenishment to flow to and through your being. Practice all three or choose just one if you are in a hurry. You will (after the date) also find instructions for this exercise written out, in the October 19th, 2022 Blog post.

A Little Journey of Affirmations (8:14)
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click on the pull down menu, and click the autoplay button to OFF position.
The heart tells the brain how we are; the brain tells the body how to react. Take a few minutes to breathe into some healthy affirmations; perhaps you might find one or two that bring you a sense of well-being, fulfilment or freedom.
Offer yourself this brief rest from stress. . . your whole being might just say "thank you" for allowing it some replenishment.

. Short Somatic Safety Exercise (6:02)
Note: This video requires a password to view. The password is: heartful
Beginning with a verbal description, with a demonstration to follow, this video offers a simplified version of an exercise designed to bring a sense of safety during trauma (or any time you need to reconnect with your body and the present moment). The movements in the exercise are derived from several theories and practices, including the Chinese 5 Element Theory and the calming and energizing of specific meridians, the worldwide sensory symbol for safety and care (placement of a hand on shoulder), the universal, maternal facial soothing movements of nurturing, and energetic activation of the heart chakra. However, none of this information is needed for the exercise to work! Simply follow along, with as much attention to the physical sensation of the movements as you are able to attune to!  The exercise is shown at a medium speed, but often has deepest effects when done extremely slowly, with intense focus on the sensory. . .  enjoy.

Bringing Some Self Back Home (5.26)
Notice: When you click the link, it will take you to SOUND CLOUD.
To turn OFF AUTOPLAY, go to lower right corner of tool bar at bottom of page,
click on the pull down menu, and click the autoplay button to OFF position.
  We all experience a loss of parts of self now and then - what happened to that playful aspect I once had? Where has my creative self gone?  Where are the days when i was able to be active all the time, or even get out of bed without creaking? Can we find and re-integrate those parts of ourselves? Come along on a little journey of self reclaimation.

Drying Out in The Light of The Sun Meditation with Maya: (coming soon)

Pain As A Friend Meditation with Maya: (coming soon)

Letting Go For Grace and Ease In Life Meditation with Maya: (coming soon)

Forgiving Ourselves Meditation with Maya: (coming soon)

Forgiving Others - Forgiveness Is Not Forgetting Meditation with Maya: (coming soon)

Oh My Heart, I Am Listening Meditation with Maya: (coming soon)

Relaxation for Sleep Meditation with Maya: (coming soon)

Your Inner House of Healing Meditation with Maya: (coming soon)

Listening to Little You Meditation with Maya: (coming soon)

Body Blessing Meditation with Maya: (coming soon)

I Am Earth I am Stone Meditation with Maya: (coming soon)
I Am Water I am Flow Meditation with Maya: (coming soon)
I Am Fire I am Purification Meditation with Maya: (coming soon)
I Am Air I am Light Meditation with Maya: (coming soon)



For Caregivers:

Quick Replenishing Heart Resonance Meditation with Maya: (coming soon)

Lay Down The Tent-Poles (for Caregivers) Meditation with Maya: (coming soon)

Resting and Recollecting Meditation with Maya: (coming soon)

Forgiving When Forgiveness is Ripe Meditation with Maya: (coming soon)

Listening To Our Own Hearts, Listening to Theirs Meditation with Maya: (coming soon)



For Those Who Are Facing Dying:
NOTE: LISTENING TO THESE MEDITATIONS DOES NOT MEAN YOU MUST LET GO AND DIE NOW; NOR DOES IT MEAN YOU MUST LINGER IN A BODY YOU ARE READY TO LEAVE. THESE JOURNEYS ARE HERE FOR YOU TO EXPERIMENT WITH, BREATHE INTO AND OUT OF AS YOUR BODY, HEART, MIND AND SPIRIT CHOOSE TO.

Lay Down The Tent-Poles (for Those Who Are Facing Dying) Meditation with Maya: (coming soon)

Body Blessing Meditation with Maya: (coming soon)

Into The Light Meditation with Maya: (coming soon)

Opening to Meeting Loved Ones Meditation with Maya: (coming soon)