Metta Prayer

Oftentimes, life fills me up with pressure inside. I may be annoyed by the foibles of my loved ones, or I may be exasperated by things I see on the internet, or I just might have my "monster eye" souring every vista. I can tell by the sensations in my gut, the soreness in my lower back, the way my voice rises or gets squeezed off entirely. Silenced, the pressure grows.

I feel so grateful that I can jump in the truck with my dog and head for the hills. He leaps high into the air with excitement just at the mention of a hike. The joy of a dog immediately prepares heartstrings to soften.

As I step out from the trailhead, my face spreads wide into a smile and all my senses sharpen. The humble glory of trees, rocks, bushes, dirt, and water drown out the internal racket of my monkey mind.

I usually start from the bottom of a hill, in this case, the stream crossing at Plunge Creek Truck Trail. Warming up my muscles, catching my second wind, the elation rises as I gain altitude. By the time I am halfway to the summit, I find myself praying Metta for all beings.

Here is a little video i captured to share this practice with you.
May all beings dwell in love, kindness, peace, and joy.

Love,Cat