“We shall never know all the good a smile can do” Mother Teresa

Hello my wonderful friend,

I love the idea that smiling is used as a healing or meditation practice by many ancient cultures. I even studied with a Taoist master over 20 years ago on the alchemy of an inner smile.  It was big medicine.

Taoists believe holding a smile on your face and guiding it gently downwards, into your body and even further into your organs is the key to good health and longevity. The Balinese understand a smiling meditation washes away bad energy. Thich Nhat Hanh encourages a half smile for walking meditations.

And of course the Chinese believe our organs are connected to emotion.

Smile into your liver and dissolve anger.
Smile into your kidneys and dissolve fear.
Smile into your lungs and dissolve grief.
Smile into your heart and dissolve sadness.

I have intuitively reconnected with this ritual over the past few weeks to help with my deep grief.  My beautiful mother transitioned into another realm 2 weeks ago surrounded by family.  My lungs and heart are in need of healing. Grief is a curious creature. One which I will do my best to honour.

Healing practice:

This is a great ritual for last thing at night to clear away the days energy or when you feel swallowed up by strong emotions.

Smile. Close your eyes. Tune into your smile. It holds a unique vibration. Sense the gentle soothing  and potent healing qualities of your smile.

Now imagine inhaling your smile.  Picture in your mind’s eye the smiling energy flowing effortlessly into each one of your organs.  

Smile into your liver and dissolve anger. Time to cool excessive heat, frustration, resentment lingering in your liver.

Smile into your liver, feel her soften on the inhale and release excessive heat, anger or envy on the exhale.  Repeat for as long as needed.

Smile into your kidneys and dissolve fear.  Feel safe, secure and protected in life again.  Smile into your kidneys, feel them soften on the inhale and release fear and stress on the exhale. Repeat as needed.

Smile into your heart and release sadness.  Let go of old hurts. Be open to giving and receiving love in a healthy balanced way. Feel safe to love again.

Smile into your heart, feel her soften, relax and expand on the inhale and surrender sadness and deep hurts on the exhale.  Repeat as needed.

Smile into your lungs and release grief.  Appreciate the healing qualities of grief.  Understand its okay to let go when the time is right for you. Allow the grief to flow through you.

Smile into your lungs, feel them soften and expand on the inhale – and release grief and pain on the exhale.  Repeat as needed.

May you flow through this week with smiling organs. xox  Carole

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: Carole Bourne :

Ritual Keeper. Writer. Slow Rest Retreats.

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