Balanced Mind With Julie Potiker

Using your breath to calm yourself is the focus of this guided meditation led by Julie Potiker. She completes the meditation with the poem, "Self-Care", by James Crews.Self-Care, by James CrewsSome days it feels like a foreign languageI'm asked to practice, with new worldsfor happiness, work, and love. I'm still learninghow to say: a cup of tea for no reason,what to call the extra honey I drizzle in,how to label the relentless urge to do moreand more as useless. And how to translatethe heart's pounding message when it comes:enough, enough. This morning, I search for wordsto capture the glimmering sun as it liftsabove the mountains, clouds already closing inas fat droplets of rain darken the deck.I'm learning to call the stillness self-care too,Just standing here, as goldfinches scatter upfrom around the feeder like broken piecesof bright yellow stained-glass, reassemblingin the sheltering arms of a maple.-Self-Care, by James Crews.Find out more about using mindfulness in everyday life through Julie's books, "

Take a few moments as you sit in meditation to express appreciation for your body. Your hands, feet, and knees, all keep you going all day. Julie Potiker completes the meditation with the poem, "Improvement", by Danusha Lameris.Improvement, by Danusha LamerisThe optometrist says my eyesare getting better each year.Soon he’ll have to lower my prescription.What’s next? The light step I had at six?All the gray hairs back to brown?Skin taut as a drum?My improved eyes and Iwalked around town and celebrated.We took in the lettersof the marquee, the individual leavesfilling out the branches of the sycamore,an early moon.So much goes downhill: our jointswearing out with every mile,the delicate folds of the eardrumexhausted from years of listening.I’m grateful for small victories.The way the heart still beats timein the cathedral of the ribs.And the mind, watching its parade of thoughtsenter and leave, begins to see themfor what they are: jugglers, fire swallowers, acrobatstossing their batons in the air.-Improvement,

In this meditation you will focus on a golden healing light filling your body with joy and awareness. Julie Potiker completes this guided meditation with her poem, "Morning Light" .Morning Time, by Julie Potiker I am busy From the outside I might not appear as such Yet I dedicate this time to me.This precious timeWhen the house hums it’s mechanical hum, that sounds sometimes like a musical track is embedded in the low staticBirdsong fills my ears The Wrens soprano 1 and soprano 2 are joined by the Spotted Towhee, whose croaking tune my ear recognizes instantly now, like turning a doorknob in my mind.The Song Sparrow is aptly named, and I’m instantly cheered that it too, is here.There can be more and more, all included, none denied I’m thinking as a Mourning Dove layers it’s low cooing into the loop. They have all the time in the world.This cherished timeWhich is anything but quietIs noisy in all the best ways.My mug feels warm in my cupped handsI feel my heart beating it’s low slow rhythm in my chestMy back

In this guided meditation you will breathe in goodness for yourself and breathe out goodness to the world. Julie Potker completes the meditation with the poem, "Down to Earth", by James Crews.Down to Earth, by James Crews.The heart of a farmeris made of muscleand clay that achesfor return to earth.And when the skyreleases a steady rain,massaging each rowof sprouted beans,my husband leans outof the car windowand opens his handto hold that waterfor a single instant,his heart now beatingin sync with rainseeping through layersto kiss the rootsof every plant aliveon this living, breathingplanet on whose backwe were grantedpermission to livefor a limited time-"Down to Earth", by James Crews. from his book, "How to Love the World: Poems of Gratitude and Hope".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 You

Breathe in peace and kindness for yourself and others through this guided meditation led by Julie Potiker. She completes the meditation with the poem, "The Principle of Enoughness," by Toko-Pa.The Principle of Enoughness by Toko-PaIn a time that would have us believe there is always more to strive for, more to accumulate, more enlightenment to reach - the most radical stance we can take is enoughness.What if we quit trying to be spiritual and aspired to be human instead?What if there is nothing to fix because we are already whole?What if there was no time to prove ourselves, because we're consumed with marveling at life?What if there is no reason to hold back our gifts, because they are meant to be given?What if every morsel, every glance, every moment and every breath is a miracle of enough?-The Principle of Enoughness, by Toko Pa.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

Sit back and relax, breathe in compassion and love for yourself and others. Julie Potiker completes this guided meditation with the poem, "Love's Exquisite Freedom," by Maya Angelou.Love's Exquisite FreedomMaya AngelouWe, unaccustomed to courageexiles from delightlive coiled in shells of lonelinessuntil love leaves its high holy templeand comes into our sightto liberate us into life.Love arrivesand in its train come ecstasiesold memories of pleasureancient histories of pain.Yet if we are bold,love strikes away the chains of fearfrom our souls.We are weaned from our timidityIn the flush of love's lightwe dare be braveAnd suddenly we seethat love costs all we areand will ever be.Yet it is only lovewhich sets us free.-Love's Exquisite FreedomMaya AngelouFind 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 YouTu

Breathe in loving kindness for yourself, those you love, and for people all around the planet - through this guided meditation led by Julie Potiker. She completes the meditation with her poem, " What's It Like Being You?".What’s It Like Being You? By Julie PotikerWhat’s it like being You?Cradling the smooth stones, chunks of jasper, garnet and opalStacks of pale grey branches, hiding places for otters, snakes and troutWhat’s it’s like being you?Sometimes a mere trickleSometimes a rushing torrentAt the mercy of the snow pack aboveEach year uniqueA place of refugePeace to my heartWhat’s it like to be you?Glittering in the sunshineBlanketed in ice and snowAlways movingNever StoppingWhat’s it like to be you, river, what’s it like to be you?For the elk who water there,What’s it like to be you?To be beheld with such wonder by meTo be searching for food constantlyTo be so majesticTo be hunted for sportTo be hunted for food What’s it like to be you?To grow a huge rack of antlers every year, Just to have them drop to

Bask in the golden healing light of this guided meditation led by Julie Potiker. She completes the meditation with the poem, "Passover 2023", by Joan Tiger Bass. Happy Passover to all who celebrate and may everyone find freedomPassover 2023Barbara Joan Tiger Bassbuds begin to opensoft apple blossom scent waftsover years of cyclic repetitionplague riddled stories askquestions of bondageand narrow escapeacross seemingly endless sandthrough parted seas the orderedpromise of hopean open door welcomeseach and every seekerlibations of liberation.-"Passover 2023", by Barbara Joan Tiger Bass.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 takes you on a journey of healing and renewal of body and spirit. Julie Potiker uses 'Mi Sheberach', a prayer for healing, in this guided meditation. She completes the meditation with the poem, "The Power of One", by Victor Fuhrman.The Power of One, by Victor FuhrmanThe energy flows from the love of the sun and charges a soul,The power of one.That energy shared with a spirit that’s new, a heart opens up,The power of two.Ebbing and flowing between women and men, hearts on the wavelength,The power of ten.And when all of the millions with compassion run, the birth of the new mind,The power of one.-The Power of One, by Victor FuhrmanFind 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 ever

Join Julie Potiker as she guides you through this healing meditation. She completes the meditation with her poem, "Clear a Path, Version 2".Clear a Path, Version 2, by Julie PotikerSettleAllow your thoughts to drift downGently sweep them aside with a soft broom, hand made from natural grassesLittle piles of noteson the perimeter of awarenessthings to return to laterkeep them safeOther notesbest releasedworries that woke you at 4amToss that sticky stack into the small round fire bowl the smoke swirling as that which does not serve you - evaporatesSettle your mind to clear a path to your heart - where joy and suffering slosh Your heart – which when broken miraculously goes on beatingYour heart - captain of your mind/body/spiritAllow the hands in your mindto close the hatches of your heart when too much suffering threatens to drop youto the inky bottom of the seaOpen the porthole a peepFeel into whether it’s ok right now tolet waves of tears move through youToo much?Crank it downSteer your mind to translucent wa