27. In Case of Emergency, Press Play: Solar Eclipse

Inspired by the August 12th Solar Eclipse, this guided meditation is about the moments when something moves between you and the light. 

Whether it’s fear, grief, change or uncertainty that causes the shadows to form, the light hasn’t disappeared just because we can’t see it.

Take a few moments to ground yourself, breathe, and remember that you don’t have to see the entire path forward.

Sometimes a sliver of light is enough.

When you can’t see the light, press play.

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The theme music for this episode, “Cenote Angelita”, was written and produced by Mar Abajo Rio AKA MAR Yoga Music. Dive deeper into this and other orig...

Transcript

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Welcome to another episode of In Case of Emergency Press Play. This is Adrian. On August 12th, there will be a solar eclipse. For a few moments, the moon will move between the Earth and the Sun. And depending on where you are, the light will partially or completely disappear. But here's the thing that I keep coming back to. The sun doesn't actually go anywhere. The light is still there. Something has simply moved in front of it. And I feel like life can sometimes feel like that. Grief, fear, change, uncertainty, the things we didn't plan for. They can move in and take up so much space that we forget the light is still there behind them. So today's meditation is about staying grounded when you can't see what comes next, allowing the shadow to be there without fighting it, and remembering that you don't need all the light to return at once. Sometimes a sliver is enough. When you can't see the light, press play. Welcome to your practice. Take a moment to settle into a comfortable position. As you breathe, notice your body soften with every exhale. Feel where your body meets the ground beneath you. Your feet and legs, your hips and back. The back of your head. Whatever is supporting you right now, allow it to do its job. You don't have to hold yourself up quite so much. Slowly breathe in through your nose and gently exhale through your mouth. Again, a slow breath in. And as you breathe out, drop your shoulders away from your ears. Notice the steadiness of the ground beneath you. Now maybe your mind is already trying to wander ahead. Without criticism or judgment, gently come back to your breath, back to right now, and say these words to yourself. I breathe in. I breathe out. There is nowhere else to be but in this moment. Just this breath. Imagine yourself standing beneath a wide open sky. Feel the ground beneath your feet. Above you, imagine the warmth of the sun. Steady and warm. Bright and constant. Now slowly imagine the moon beginning to pass in front of it. The light starts to change. The sky becomes a little darker. And instead of trying to stop it, you allow it to happen. You don't chase the shadow away. You don't demand that the light return faster. You simply breathe. Because you know something the darkness cannot make you forget. The sun is still there. Now think about something in your own life that feels uncertain right now. Something you can't see your way through yet. You don't need to solve it. You don't need to know what happens next. Just notice it and breathe. Imagine placing that uncertainty into the shadow above you. Let it be there without fighting it. Maybe you don't need to see the entire path forward. Maybe you only need to remember that what you cannot see still exists. Hope can exist when you don't feel hopeful. Strength can exist when you feel tired. Love can exist beside grief. And a future can be forming before you have any idea what it looks like. Now imagine the moon continuing along its path. Slowly, the smallest edge of sunlight begins to return. Just a sliver. You don't need the whole sun at once. Sometimes a sliver is enough. Watch as the light begins to spread across the sky, across your face, across your shoulders, your chest, your abdomen, your arms and your legs. Watch the light begin to spread until your entire body is surrounded by warmth again. Notice what the shadow revealed. Not everything that becomes dark is lost. Not everything you cannot see is gone. And not every uncertain season needs to be rushed through. Some things simply need time to move. Take a slow breath in and gently breathe out. Let yourself rest here for another moment. You are allowed to change. You are allowed to not know what comes next. And you are allowed to trust that there is still light beyond what you can see today. Whenever you're ready, slowly bring your awareness back to your breath. Notice the ground beneath you and the sounds around you. Rub your hands together. Create some warmth, some friction between your palms. Place your warm hands over your face. Breathe deeply. The light was never gone. From my heart to yours, wherever you are right now, take a breath. Loosen your grip a little. Be bold. Listen and be impeccable with your words. Do meaningful work and leave things better than you found them. We didn't plan for this, but we're here.