Balanced Mind With Julie Potiker

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

Tap into your heart and feel compassion through guided meditation led by Julie Potiker. She completes the meditation with the poem, "The Peace of Wild Things", by Wendell Berry.The Peace of Wild Things by Wendell BerryWhen despair for the world grows in meand I wake in the night at the least soundin fear of what my life and my children’s lives may be,I go and lie down where the wood drakerests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds.I come into the peace of wild thingswho do not tax their lives with forethoughtof grief. I come into the presence of still water.And I feel above me the day-blind starswaiting with their light. For a timeI rest in the grace of the world, and am free.Wendell Berry, from The Peace of Wild Things And Other Poems (Penguin, 2018)Copyright (c) 2012 by Wendell Berry, reproduced by permission of CounterpointFind 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 fo

What or who are you grateful for? Join Julie Potiker in this guided meditation focusing on gratitude, for you, your loved ones and those around the world. She completes the meditation with her poem, "Shades of Gratitude".Shades of Gratitude, by Julie PotikerGratitude may feel bouncyLike a big rubber ballGratitude may feel floatyLike the leaves in the fallGratitude may feel sweetLike a babies little feetGratitude may feel neatLike a perfectly wrapped treatGratitude may feel sadLike the end of the storyGratitude may feel lowLike you can’t feel the gloryGratitude may be a yearningFor a time that’s now lostGratitude may leave you burningFor the bridge you did not crossGratitude can shine a lightOn the choice you did makeFor those days that are lemonsAs you make lemonadeSo good for youAs you walk this roadSteering your attitudeTowards gratitudeTo lighten your loadFind 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: M

The cold winter snap has many of us staying inside trying to stay warm. Join Julie Potiker as she leads you in this guided meditation to help get you through these blustery days.White-Eyes by Mary OliverIn winter all the singing is in the tops of the trees where the wind-bird with its white eyes shoves and pushes among the branches. Like any of us he wants to go to sleep, but he's restless— he has an idea, and slowly it unfolds from under his beating wings as long as he stays awake. But his big, round music, after all, is too breathy to last. So, it's over. In the pine-crown he makes his nest, he's done all he can. I don't know the name of this bird, I only imagine his glittering beak tucked in a white wing while the clouds— which he has summoned from the north— which he has taught to be mild, and silent— thicken, and begin to fall into the world below like stars, or the feathers of some unimaginable bird that loves us, that is asleep now, and silent— that has turned itself into snow.White-Eyes, by Mary Olive

What is it you need right now? In this guided meditation Julie Potiker takes you on a journey to a Wishing Well. She completes the meditation with her poem, "Aspen Trees, Version 3".Aspen Trees Version 3 by Julie PotikerThe pale grey trunks welcome metheir black eyes and thick painterly designs beckon thousands of delicate arms sway in the wind.A blink in time later, the branches are bedeckedin shimmering green vestmentsmillions of sequins dancing in the sun.Above the soft roar of the river,birds flaunting spangled dressesin flashes of lemon, ruby and emeraldcommunicate in precious bird language.I wish I could discern what type of bird belongs to each trillbut even if I could(and I might)their stories will remain hidden.A majestic secretThat fills my heart with wonderand what feels likehope.-Aspen Trees, by Julie PotikerFind 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

Focus on yourself and the world around you - especially those in Turkey and Syria in the aftermath of devastating earthquakes in the region. Julie Potiker leads this compassion meditation where you'll breathe in light and breathe out light to others.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 loving kindness meditation with familiar phrases of comfort. May you be safe, may you be happy and may you live your life with ease. She completes the meditation with her poem, "Par Avon".Par Avion, by Julie PotikerI remember feather light lettersMessages I don’t want to forgetPale blue onionskin paperRed and blue dashesTriangle wings folded inAnd sealed with spitHer elegant cursive handwritingwith my name in tight loops on the frontA complete synopsis of the tv show Dynasty insidein her small and splendid scriptMy housemates in Earls Court Squareamassedfor the weekly letter from my mom,all us lucky juniors from American collegesexperiencing London, Englandon our parents’ dime.Those weekly letters were memorable,and made me feel special, too.I’m not surethat Iever saidan appropriateThank You.I wish I had saved one of those letters,I’d like to feel it’s airiness it in my hand,trace the writing with my finger, andsmell the old paper, by now assmooth as sand.Where - everyou

This visualization is connected to the Green Comet making its closest approach to earth in 50,000 years. Julie Potiker completes the meditation with her poem, "Cats of the Solar System, 2/1/20223".Cats of the Solar System, 2/1/2023 by Julie PotikerIt makes me feel dreamy.Considering that 50 thousand years agoHumans gazing at the heavensGlimpsed the Green Comet aglow.The same comet visiting usTonight and tomorrow nightFebruary 1st and 2nd.Yes, that’s right!I hope it is bright.I never knewThat those in the knowCall comets, Space Cats!How divine.A feline traveling through spaceAnd time.Their long tressesHeated by the sun.Transformed to gasses.Star dust seen by everyone.But only if you are looking.I like to imagineChildren throughout timeFaces raised to the starsBrimming with aweAt the magic of the comet.It’s cat tail informing their path here on earthLike Halley and Kepler.So tonight and tomorrow nightAs we lift our gazeWe can visualizeIn our minds eyeWe… UsAll the Inhabitants of planet earthWelcoming the Cat fr

Ground yourself to the earth and breathe in love for yourself and those around you. Julie Potiker completes this guided meditation with her poem, "Hardware Store Love".Hardware Store Love by Julie Potiker I love the smell of hardware stores.Dixieline, Ace, and Home DepotThey remind me of the J & B Discount Store in Elyria, Ohio.My dad opened this magnificent place when I was just a girl.He drove a great distance every day to keep us in better schools.When I read about huge pileups on the Ohio Turnpike in the snowI think of all he sacrificed so we could learn and grow.Grow in a place that had people like us, where antisemitism would be less major.Because Hanukkah candles would be lit in the homes of many of our neighbors.On special occasions I would travel to his big, wonderful store where employees were like family.My father, they adored.I’d wander the isles of plumbing, tools, shampoos, clothes, and toys and think about how lucky I was to have all this and more.Whenever I feel a longing to connect with m

Settle in, quiet your mind, and listen as Julie Potiker leads you through this guided meditation. She completes the meditation with the poem, "Volcano of Tender Power", by Susan Frybort.Volcano of Tender PowerPrimordial sputtering,graveyard of stuttering sounds,hot lava flowing.I know this place.Holy stillin this placeI acknowledge this innermost ground,this volcano of my being,for its primal call.Sputtering, squeaking, groaning.Akin to a birthing.I have not fully understood thisvolcanic core.I have seen it as too muchthrough the lens of the overculture.I have seen it as woundedthrough the lens of therapy.I have seen it as weaknessthrough the lens of my critic.Now this lava of tendernesscannot be contained.It bubbles forth as a voice,it flows through as clarity,it erupts as empowerment.This volcano of tendernessin its full powermirrors the divine feminine,Sacred Mother Earth,my great mother,no longer unseenand misunderstood.-Volcano of Tender Power, by Susan Frybort, from from, "Weaving Myself Awake; Voicing