I originally
wrote this for my first graders but it can easily be applied to any age
children—even grown-ups. It was
originally written as a song, which you’ll see (hear) in a minute. I am presenting the visualization here as if you
are going to do it. That way, you can
get to know it before you share it with any children in your care. Once you have learned it and want to share it
with say, children aged 5-7, you can dovetail it with a little arithmetic study
and look at the number 5 as a living thing—it’s a star (pentagon),
and it lives
in the center of an apple cut in half width-wise,
and in the form of a human
being with their arms and legs outstretched.
That said,
the visualization is short yet profound, especially for those children already
carrying the idea that they aren’t good enough, or that they’re bad, stupid, or
dumb. This little visualization, when done
regularly, will help such children (and all children) touch their innate
goodness and light.
You can do
this visualization anywhere and anytime you need to feel yourself filled with
Light. J
OK, let’s
get started.
Watch this
video beginning at 4:13 so you can learn the song. Let yourself sing it and freely move the gestures
(or make up your own). Young children
especially learn with their whole body, so definitely encourage them to do the
gestures, and you can do that best by doing the gestures first and then with
the children.
The words to
the song are as follows:
I am
star with a Light in my body,
I am a
star with a Light in my mind,
I am a
star with a Light in my heart,
I shine
my Light all of the time.
I shine
for myself and I shine for you,
I
shine my Light in all that I think, say, and do.
*
Find
a comfy place to sit or stand.
Close
your eyes.
Breathe
in slowly and deeply
Filling
your belly.
Hold
that breath a second or two.
Then
slowly let that breath go.
Do
that 3 or 4 times.
Now
look inside your mind.
Find
your star.
Find
the star that lives in you.
Everyone
has a star living in them.
Find
your star. See your star.
See
your star shining within you.
It’s
there, just behind your eyes,
Right
there in your mind.
You
can feel it
Shining
in your heart.
Be
with your star.
Let
its Light shine in you.
And
today
Let
your star shine
In
your thoughts.
Let
your star shine
In
your deeds.
Let
your star shine
In
the words you speak.
Let
your star shine
In
all that you do.
Hold
that star.
It
is always with you.
Forever
more.
That
star IS you.
Now
be in silence for a few moments
Seeing
your star shining within you.
Now
open your eyes.
Know
that you shine.
Know
that YOU
Are
a star.
*
As you go
through the day with the young children (or yourself) you’ve shared this visualization
with, you can point out times when they share star-thoughts, star-actions, and star-words. Praise your children as they shine. Praise yourself as you shine.
Sure, the razor’s edge exists. So does the edge of praise, of openness, of breathing freely,
and laughter. We choose the path we walk.
People say to trust yourself, just meditate, go inside.
What if inside is a mess? We all need mentors to help us sort things out
sometimes.
Transforming black and white thinking into the rainbow palette
of reality means opening the heart to the many shades of now–the many shades
of living an alive life.
Crying is for the soul as rain is for the flowers…Water
the garden of the heart with tears, tears of sorrow, tears of laughter.
There is so much light in the darkness. One spark from
your imagination, one note from the song of your heart is enough to create the
dawn.
Soul calls come every moment, every second; from the
Beloved, from your dreams, from the world. Answer with your whole life.
I used to believe as one
progressed on the spiritual path that it got narrower. Now I know it broadens, opens, blossoms into
more; more possibilities to praise, more opportunities for gratitude, more
discoveries of healing, more variations of expressing eternal truths, more tolerance
of others, more compassion for both myself and those around me. This is the
Yoga of the Christ, the Buddha, the Divine Mother, the One Light Shining Within
Us All. This is the Yoga of Praise. This is the Yoga of Song. This is the Yoga
of Joy.
Move in the direction of your dreams. They are the
compass rose emblazoned on your heart, and they will always lead to verdant
shores.
Let the poem write you.
Dear Sun, as you filter through the curtains, please do
the same in my mind. Don’t let the dusty
doubts and fears block your way.
Be the one who dances with their dreams. Be the one who spreads the wings of their creativity
and soars above fear and shame.
Be the one who embraces their divinity and lives the life of being called to shine. Be the one
who accepts and shares their given glory.
Be the one who rings the bells of freedom and rises to meet the horizon. Be the one who walks
hand in hand with gratitude and praise.