Balanced Mind with Julie Potiker

Julie Potiker leads this guided meditation focusing on what is needed in your life right now. She completes the meditation with the poem, " Hawk and Crow Surf the Wind", by Moudi Sbeity.

This version ends with music allowing you to drift off into sleep.

Hawk and Crow Surf the Wind, by Moudi SbeityWhether it was for play or rivalry, I could not tell.                          Crow cawed. Hawk was silent.            They glided in massive signatures,nearing then drifting, in the clear cold wind.                          At times hawk flew higher, then            crow climbed above.They titled and wedged their open wings                          through the bare branches.            They circled the neighborhood,then the next one over,                          then came back and            perched on opposite trees.All the while I watched this happen,                          and the cyclists rolled on,            and the cars drove by,and the nations with their many troubles                          warred still.            It was a moment of private purity,a quiet thrill held like a secret in my pen.                          As to whether they noticed me,            I cannot say,but I stood there like a sunflower,                          my face awed and tracking,            a shiver rising up my spine.- Moudi Sbeity

Continue your mindfulness journey with Julie - through her writings. Her latest book is, "Gentle Currents: Poems of Pause & Peace", a collection of poems focusing on themes of nature, self-compassion, and tranquility.Her other books include,"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". All 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 leads this guided meditation focusing on what is needed in your life right now. She completes the meditation with the poem, " Hawk and Crow Surf the Wind", by Moudi Sbeity.

Hawk and Crow Surf the Wind, by Moudi SbeityWhether it was for play or rivalry, I could not tell.                          Crow cawed. Hawk was silent.            They glided in massive signatures,nearing then drifting, in the clear cold wind.                          At times hawk flew higher, then            crow climbed above.They titled and wedged their open wings                          through the bare branches.            They circled the neighborhood,then the next one over,                          then came back and            perched on opposite trees.All the while I watched this happen,                          and the cyclists rolled on,            and the cars drove by,and the nations with their many troubles                          warred still.            It was a moment of private purity,a quiet thrill held like a secret in my pen.                          As to whether they noticed me,            I cannot say,but I stood there like a sunflower,                          my face awed and tracking,            a shiver rising up my spine.- Moudi Sbeity

Continue your mindfulness journey with Julie - through her writings. Her latest book is, "Gentle Currents: Poems of Pause & Peace", a collection of poems focusing on themes of nature, self-compassion, and tranquility.Her other books include,"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". All 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.

Visualize a calm lake, a reflective, peaceful body of water, to help you relax into this guided meditation led by Julie Potiker. She completes the meditation with an untitled poem from Mark Nepo's book of poems (in progress), "Tales of the Ferryman".

From Mark Nepo's, Tales of the Ferryman.A German proverb saysthat windows are the eyesof the house.And an old Jewish beliefsays that the heart is thewindow between the souland the world.And when the mind is asclear as a still patch of lake,it is the window to the deep.And the mouth, so sorry forall it carries, is the windowto silence.So, care for your windows.They let us out. They let usin. They let us put downall we hide.-Mark NepoContinue your mindfulness journey with Julie - through her writings. Her latest book is, "Gentle Currents: Poems of Pause & Peace", a collection of poems focusing on themes of nature, self-compassion, and tranquility.Her other books include,"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". All 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.

Visualize a calm lake, a reflective, peaceful body of water, to help you relax into this guided meditation led by Julie Potiker. She completes the meditation with an untitled poem from Mark Nepo's book of poems (in progress), "Tales of the Ferryman".

This is from Mark Nepo's book of poems in progress, Tales of the Ferryman.A German proverb saysthat windows are the eyesof the house.And an old Jewish beliefsays that the heart is thewindow between the souland the world.And when the mind is asclear as a still patch of lake,it is the window to the deep.And the mouth, so sorry forall it carries, is the windowto silence.So, care for your windows.They let us out. They let usin. They let us put downall we hide.-Mark NepoContinue your mindfulness journey with Julie - through her writings. Her latest book is, "Gentle Currents: Poems of Pause & Peace", a collection of poems focusing on themes of nature, self-compassion, and tranquility.Her other books include,"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". All 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.

Using your breath, breathe in what you need for yourself - and then breathe out what you want to send to others. Julie Potiker completes her meditation with the poem, "Drifting Ochre", by Sam Aureli.

This meditation ends with music to allow you to drift off into sleep.

Drifting Ochre, by Sam AureliA single leaf of yellow ochrefloats along the water's gentle current.It spins and twirls, as if rememberingall it had known - the warmth of spring,the quiet labor of becoming,a life steeped in sun and rain.The stream nudges it forward,over rocks and eddies, past rootsand shadows, urging it onalong a path unasked, untraced.The leaf didn't need to know.There was onlythe freedom of letting go.And as I watched, I thought:all things drift in time,each in our own rivers and bends,our passage carved by wind and water,until the earth calls us back,her soil richwith all that has come before.-Drifing Ochre, by Sam Aureli (from On the Edge of Knowing).

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.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.

Using your breath, breathe in what you need for yourself - and then breathe out what you want to send to others. Julie Potiker completes her meditation with the poem, "Drifting Ochre", by Sam Aureli.Drifting Ochre, by Sam AureliA single leaf of yellow ochrefloats along the water's gentle current.It spins and twirls, as if rememberingall it had known - the warmth of spring,the quiet labor of becoming,a life steeped in sun and rain.The stream nudges it forward,over rocks and eddies, past rootsand shadows, urging it onalong a path unasked, untraced.The leaf didn't need to know.There was onlythe freedom of letting go.And as I watched, I thought:all things drift in time,each in our own rivers and bends,our passage carved by wind and water,until the earth calls us back,her soil richwith all that has come before.-Drifing Ochre, by Sam Aureli (from On the Edge of Knowing).

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.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.

Find yourself in stillness as you listen to this guided meditation led by Julie Potiker. She completes the meditation with the poem, "Invitation", by Mary Oliver.

Invitation, by Mary OliverOh do you have timeto lingerfor just a little whileout of your busyand very important dayfor the goldfinchesthat have gatheredin a field of thistlesfor a musical battle,to see who can singthe highest note,or the lowest,or the most expressive of mirth,or the most tender?Their strong, blunt beaksdrink the airas they strivemelodiouslynot for your sakeand not for mineand not for the sake of winningbut for sheer delight and gratitude –believe us, they say,it is a serious thingjust to be aliveon this fresh morningin the broken world.I beg of you,do not walk bywithout pausingto attend to thisrather ridiculous performance.It could mean something.It could mean everything.It could be what Rilke meant, when he wrote:You must change your life.-Invitation, by Mary Oliver

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.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.

Find yourself in stillness as you listen to this guided meditation led by Julie Potiker. She completes the meditation with the poem, "Invitation", by Mary Oliver.This version ends with music allowing you to drift off into sleep.Invitation, by Mary OliverOh do you have timeto lingerfor just a little whileout of your busyand very important dayfor the goldfinchesthat have gatheredin a field of thistlesfor a musical battle,to see who can singthe highest note,or the lowest,or the most expressive of mirth,or the most tender?Their strong, blunt beaksdrink the airas they strivemelodiouslynot for your sakeand not for mineand not for the sake of winningbut for sheer delight and gratitude –believe us, they say,it is a serious thingjust to be aliveon this fresh morningin the broken world.I beg of you,do not walk bywithout pausingto attend to thisrather ridiculous performance.It could mean something.It could mean everything.It could be what Rilke meant, when he wrote:You must change your life.-Invitation, by Mary Oliver

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.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.

This meditation focuses on using your breath to breathe in loving kindness for yourself and out for others. Julie Potiker completes the meditation with the poem, "Reciprocity - When redpolls arrive in Minnesota," by Holly Lamond.

This version ends with music allowing you to drift off into sleep.

Reciprocity- when redpolls arrive in Minnesota, by Holly Lamond - Poetry Tracks in the SnowA gallup of redpollsappeared this morningat our feeders, the firstto arrive this winter.Thankful for seed, theydescended in drovesas if they knew that here,there would be enough.I did not begrudge theirhunger.I needed this reminderas I read the news today,that goodness beginswith giving,that survival is a two-waystreet – today, an exchange ofsuet and seed for the sight,sound of so many birds –saving my soul from turning to ice.-Holly Lamond

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.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.

This meditation focuses on using your breath to breathe in loving kindness for yourself and out for others. Julie Potiker completes the meditation with the poem, "Reciprocity - When redpolls arrive in Minnesota," by Holly Lamond.

Reciprocity- when redpolls arrive in Minnesota, by Holly Lamond - Poetry Tracks in the SnowA gallup of redpollsappeared this morningat our feeders, the firstto arrive this winter.Thankful for seed, theydescended in drovesas if they knew that here,there would be enough.I did not begrudge theirhunger.I needed this reminderas I read the news today,that goodness beginswith giving,that survival is a two-waystreet – today, an exchange ofsuet and seed for the sight,sound of so many birds –saving my soul from turning to ice.-Holly Lamond

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.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.