Balanced Mind with Julie Potiker

Ease your body into this early morning loving kindness meditation led by Julie Potiker. She completes this guided meditation with her poem, "Soft Morning".

Soft Morning, by Julie PotikerThe birds sound mutedA beetleNo bigger than a black nickelMakes its way on faded ceramic tilesto cream and red brick paversHe is headed somewhere fastSwift for his kindNo wingsJust short legsImpossibly thin pencil marksscurrying him alongThe longer I am stillmy ears collect bird songsI tuck each jingle into my heart with a smileand note of thanksIt seems Morning Dove and Spotted Towheecan always be counted onAlso, Bewick’s WrenThat should be enough, I thinkThen joy arises as Lesser Goldfinch, not less to me,and Northern Mockingbird gift their tunes to the scoreSurveying the scene from high in the skyRed-tailed HawkReleases his plaintive cryAs I witness ever earth boundTucked in my chairUnder the eavesSnug as a bugSoftly breathing.-"Soft Morning", by Julie Potiker

Find out more about using mindfulness in everyday life through Julie's books, "SNAP: From Calm to Chaos", and "Life Falls Apart, But You Don't have To: Mindful Methods for Staying Calm in the Midst of Chaos". Both are available on Amazon.com.Follow Julie on YouTube and Facebook at Mindful Methods for Life.comThis podcast is available on iTunes, iHeart, Blubrry and everywhere you listen to podcasts.

Sit back as you relax into this compassion meditation led by Julie Potiker. She completes the meditation with the poem, "Church", by James Crews.

Church, by James CrewsWhen I ask how you are,imagine a field of untouched snowstretching blank between us,waiting for the answer of your steps –perhaps hesitant at first, thenmore certain as you begin to sharethe sorrows and joys that sitlike unwrapped offeringson the altar of your heart.Here, there is time for you to sayall the words that have weighedyou down, hidden in the bodyfor years like unasked prayers.No matter how far apart we stand,I promise to listen for as longas you need, in this open-air churchwe enter together wheneverwe agree to speak of deeper things.-"Church", by James Crews.Find out more about using mindfulness in everyday life through Julie's books, "SNAP: From Calm to Chaos", and "Life Falls Apart, But You Don't have To: Mindful Methods for Staying Calm in the Midst of Chaos". Both are available on Amazon.com.Follow Julie on YouTube and Facebook at Mindful Methods for Life.comThis podcast is available on iTunes, iHeart, Blubrry and everywhere you listen to podcasts.

In this end-of-the-year guided meditation led by Julie Potker you will use your breath to breathe in healing, awareness, and gratitude. She completes the mediation with the poem, "For the End of the Year", by Donna Ashworth.

'For the End of the Year", by Donna Ashworth.Why do we start a new year, with promises to improve?Who began this tradition of never-ending pressure?I say, the end of a year, should be filled with congratulation,for all we survived.And I say a new year should start with promisesto be kinder to ourselves, to understand better just how much we bear,as humans on this exhausting treadmill of life.And if we are to promise more, let’s pledgeto rest, before our bodies force us.Let’s pledge to stop, and drink in life as it happens.Let’s pledge to strip away a layer of perfectionto reveal the flawed and wondrous humanitywe truly are inside.Why start another year, gifted to us on this earth,with demands on our already over-strained humanity.When we could be learning to accept,that we were always supposed to be imperfect.And that is where the beauty lives, actually.And if we can only find that beauty,we would also find peace.I wish you peace in 2024.Everything else is all just a part of it.Let it be so.

`"For the End of the Year," by Donna Ashworth

Find out more about using mindfulness in everyday life through Julie's books, "SNAP: From Calm to Chaos", and "Life Falls Apart, But You Don't have To: Mindful Methods for Staying Calm in the Midst of Chaos". Both are available on Amazon.com.Follow Julie on YouTube and Facebook at Mindful Methods for Life.comThis podcast is available on iTunes, iHeart, Blubrry and everywhere you listen to podcasts.

Focus on what makes you happy, and who makes you happy - as Julie Potiker leads you through this guided meditation of peace and love. She begins the meditation with the reading of the poem, "Hold Out Your Hand", by Julia Fehrenbacher. She completes the meditation with her poem, "So Much Love," by Julie Potiker .

Hold Out Your Hand, by Julia Fehrehbacher

Let's forget the world for a whilefall back and backinto the hush and holyof noware you listening? This breathinvites youto write the first wordof your new storyyour new story begins with this:You matter.You are needed--emptyand nakedwilling to say yesand yes and yes.Do you seethe sun shines, day after daywhether you have faithor not, sparrows continueto sing their songeven when you forget to singyours.Stop asking: Am i good enough?Ask only: Am I showing up with love?Life is not a straight lineit's a downpour of gifts, please--hold out your hand.

So Much Love, by Julie PotikerI sit tucked under the eavescozy in my flannel pajamas, soft from so many washingsThe late December sun is throwing shadows across the pages of the poetry bookDelivered in the mailSigned by the poet’s handMy oatmeal man hands me a painted Mexican ceramic bowlcinnamon and peanut butter wafting from the steaming oatsI love that manLove the bowl bought on vacationLove the nourishing oatsA House Wren is trillingIt’s astonishing that sound can emanate from a creature that could fit in the cup of an upturned handI love the WrenGlancing back at the book in my lapI notice how synchronis the moment-“Staying in Love” by Julia FehrenbacherSo many little triangles folded downHer love waiting to be shared by meI love that I can do it.

Find out more about using mindfulness in everyday life through Julie's books, "SNAP: From Calm to Chaos", and "Life Falls Apart, But You Don't have To: Mindful Methods for Staying Calm in the Midst of Chaos". Both are available on Amazon.com.Follow Julie on YouTube and Facebook at Mindful Methods for Life.comThis podcast is available on iTunes, iHeart, Blubrry and everywhere you listen to podcasts.

Embrace love and peace through this guided meditation led by Julie Potiker. She completes the meditation with her poem, "December 1, 2023, Coffee Poem"."December 1 , 2023, Coffee Poem", by Julie Potiker.My flannel pajama bottoms got wet when I folded myself into my morning sit spot

That’s okIt didn’t prompt me to moveJust to feel the dampness on the back of my thighs.I wonder whether my morning coffee meditation rituals are getting repetitiveAfter all, it’s the same locationSame coffeeSame meSame sameBut yet, what I really want to say is it’s always newAlways differentNow the Allen’s HummingbirdNow the California Scrub JayThe Western BluebirdConstruction equipment humming and beeping a yard awayMy big dogs barking their heads offThe faded terracotta tiles and bricks have dark patches where water still seeps into claycurled carob leavesSome yellowish greenSome brownarranged haphazardly hither and yonA perfect design wrought from a powerful rain.~"December 1 , 2023, Coffee Poem", by Julie Potiker.Find out more about using mindfulness in everyday life through Julie's books, "SNAP: From Calm to Chaos", and "Life Falls Apart, But You Don't have To: Mindful Methods for Staying Calm in the Midst of Chaos". Both are available on Amazon.com.Follow Julie on YouTube and Facebook at Mindful Methods for Life.comThis podcast is available on iTunes, iHeart, Blubrry and everywhere you listen to podcasts.

In this guided meditation, led by Julie Potiker, you will imagine breathing in a healing golden light -creating peace within your body. She completes this guided meditation with the poem, "Still Breathing".

Still Breathing, by Anonymous

I will stand with you,though I am shaken to my core.I will pray with you,though I question who might hear. I will cry with you,though the pain I feel cannot compare with your suffering.I will sing with you,because my hope will not be shattered.I will take your hand,because my heart is infinite.I will hold my breath with you for another day,though anguish, fear, love, and resolve,because we are still here, blessed with breathing.

-Still Breathing, by Anonymous.

Find out more about using mindfulness in everyday life through Julie's books, "SNAP: From Calm to Chaos", and "Life Falls Apart, But You Don't have To: Mindful Methods for Staying Calm in the Midst of Chaos". Both are available on Amazon.com.Follow Julie on YouTube and Facebook at Mindful Methods for Life.comThis podcast is available on iTunes, iHeart, Blubrry and everywhere you listen to podcasts.

"Only love is big enough to hold all the pain in this world", (Sharon Salzberg). Julie Potiker leads you in this guided meditation of peace and love. She completes the meditation with the poem, "Only Love," by James Crews.

Only Love, by James Crews.And so I image the entire earthas one beating heart held in the spaceof this universe, inside a larger bodywe can't fathom, filling with enoughlove to lead each of us out of the caveof our personal pain and into the light-enough love to lead all humans as oneout of collective fear, rage, and hateinto a place of peace that is found onlywithin our own hearts, beating in syncwith the pulse of this planet we wereborn to inhabit, despite the daily stormswhich overtake us and make us forgetwe are the lifeblood pumped into theseveins, every particle of love we generaterunning into rivers, lakes, and creeks,evaporating into the air we breathe,give back, and breathe again.-Only Love, by James Crews

Find out more about using mindfulness in everyday life through Julie's books, "SNAP: From Calm to Chaos", and "Life Falls Apart, But You Don't have To: Mindful Methods for Staying Calm in the Midst of Chaos". Both are available on Amazon.com.Follow Julie on YouTube and Facebook at Mindful Methods for Life.comThis podcast is available on iTunes, iHeart, Blubrry and everywhere you listen to podcasts.

Julie Potiker guides you through this meditation for peace for Israel. She completes the meditation with "Kiddish Poem, by Marge Piercy." Kiddish Poem," by Marge PiercyLook around us, search above us, below, behind.We stand in a great web of being joined together.Let us praise, let us love the life we are lentpassing through us in the body of Israeland our own bodies, let’s say amen.Time flows through us like water.The past and the dead speak through us.We breathe our children’s children, blessing.Blessed is the earth from which we grow,blessed the life we are lent,blessed the ones who teach us,blessed the ones we teach,blessed is the word that cannot say the glorythat shines through us and remains to shineflowing past distant suns on the way to forever.Let’s say amen.Blessed is the light, blessed is the darknessbut blessed above all else is peacewhich bears the fruits of knowledgeon strong branches, let’s say amen.Peace that bears joy into the world,peace that enables love, peace over Israeleverywhere, blessed and holy is peace, let’s say amen.

-Kiddish Poem," by Marge Piercy

The Mourners Kiddish: Oseh shalom bi-m’romav, hu ya’aseh shalom aleinu v’al kol yisrael, v’imru amen.May the One who brings peace to the universe bring peace to us and to all the people Israel. And let us say: Amen.

Find out more about using mindfulness in everyday life through Julie's books, "SNAP: From Calm to Chaos", and "Life Falls Apart, But You Don't have To: Mindful Methods for Staying Calm in the Midst of Chaos". Both are available on Amazon.com.Follow Julie on YouTube and Facebook at Mindful Methods for Life.comThis podcast is available on iTunes, iHeart, Blubrry and everywhere you listen to podcasts.

Join together for this meditation of faith, hope and peace for Israel. Julie Potiker completes the meditation with a prayer by Rabbi David Wolpi, "El Maleh Rahamim - Compassionate God".

El Maleh Raḥamim — Compassionate GodWe pray not to wipe out hatersbut to banish hatred.Not to destroy sinnersbut to lessen sin.Our prayers are not for a perfect worldbut a better onewhere parents are not bereavedby the savagery of sudden attacksor children orphaned by bladesglinting in a noonday sun.Help us dear God,to have the courage to remain strong,to stand fast.Spread Your light on the dark heartsof the slayersAnd Your comfort to the bereaved heartsof families of the slain.Let calm return Your city Jerusalem,and to Israel, Your blessed land.We grieve with those wounded in body and spirit,pray for the fortitude of our sisters and brothers,and ask You to awaken the world to our struggleand help us bring peace.-El Maleh Raḥamim — Compassionate God, by Rabbi David Wolpi

Find out more about using mindfulness in everyday life through Julie's books, "SNAP: From Calm to Chaos", and "Life Falls Apart, But You Don't have To: Mindful Methods for Staying Calm in the Midst of Chaos". Both are available on Amazon.com.Follow Julie on YouTube and Facebook at Mindful Methods for Life.comThis podcast is available on iTunes, iHeart, Blubrry and everywhere you listen to podcasts.

Use this guided meditation to breath in love for yourself and others. Julie Potiker completes the meditation with the poem, "Monarch", by James Crews.

Monarch by James Crews

The butterfly does not break free triumphant.Once it claws through the chrysalis,it stands there shivering, new wings achingas they slowly fill with blood. It must keepits tiny eyes shut tight at first againstthe brightness and shimmer of a worldit has never seen before––not like this.It must listen until a deeper voice whispers:The flowers are waiting. Leave the skinof the old life far behind. Open your eyesand give in to the blue air that will carry youeverywhere you need to go.

-Monarch by James Crews

Find out more about using mindfulness in everyday life through Julie's books, "SNAP: From Calm to Chaos", and "Life Falls Apart, But You Don't have To: Mindful Methods for Staying Calm in the Midst of Chaos". Both are available on Amazon.com.Follow Julie on YouTube and Facebook at Mindful Methods for Life.comThis podcast is available on iTunes, iHeart, Blubrry and everywhere you listen to podcasts.