On Being Grateful — La Ecoloca

This meditation is inspired by Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK).

Find a comfortable place with few distractions. You can seat on the floor or on a chair. Whatever is more comfortable at this moment.

Look for a plant nearby. If you look through your window, maybe you can find a tree, a shrub, flowers or grass. If you are in the middle of the city, maybe you have a small plant inside your house? Focus on the plant that you found or in a sight that has some nature.

Breathe in. Breathe out.

One more time.

Breathe in. Breathe out.

Bring your attention to the air that you are breathing. Feel how the oxygen that you just breathed in, comes from the plant that you are observing. Feel how that oxygen nurtures you. How it fills you with life. Feel how good it feels to breathe consciously.

And keep breathing.

From that sense of well being and calmness, send gratitude from your heart towards that plant.

Extend that feeling of gratitude. You can extend it to the trees that are in the city or area where you live. Extend it to the forests of your region. To the closest sea. To the rivers and lakes of the continent where you are currently located. To the big tropical forests of the Earth. To the forests in the northern hemisphere. To the forests in the southern hemisphere. To the oceans of planet Earth. To the millions of plants, algae and bacteria that are giving you oxygen right now. All those creatures that make our live possible.

And stay in that feeling for several breaths.

Now come back to you. To your breathing. To your body. And be thankful for that invaluable oxygen.

And keep breathing.

When you are ready, bring this meditation to an end. Moving slowly your hands and feet. Moving slowly out of the sitting position.

And from that feeling of appreciation, continue your day.