This weekend, we celebrate Epiphany. Epiphany is traditionally the day that the Magi arrived at the stable in Bethlehem, bringing the baby Jesus gifts. It is also the day we celebrate Light, reflecting the importance of the Star of Bethlehem that led the Magi to baby Jesus.
Today, I invite you into a spiritual practice of becoming Light in this world. This practice has been important to me through the years. I practice it each Epiphany to remind myself that I am a reflection of God’s Light in this world. It is important that I shine as brightly as I can!
It is a practice that comes out of my contemplative mystical shamanic journey. Both mysticism and shamanic practices emphasize being an “empty vessel” or a “hollow bone.” This means that we empty ourselves so that we can be filled with the Presence and Energy of the Sacred. Once filled with the Holy, we reflect that energy out into the world. We become the hands and the feet of Jesus fully when we empty ourselves of all but Christ, and move in the world from that Presence of Christ that has filled us so fully. We are Christ’s hollow bone.
This spiritual practice does this with Light. We are invited to become an empty vessel or hollow bone for the transformative power of Light in the places that need to receive it.
It is a simple and powerful practice.
Find yourself a quiet place to sit, alone.
If music helps you, put on some soft contemplative music. I like Reiki music, or Steven Halpern. Both help to shift our brain waves into a meditative state.
Breathe into the center of your being, your heart. Breathe and center. Let go of all that is distracting you. Breathe until you feel like you have arrived fully present.
Then imagine a cord of Light that starts at your heart, wrapped around your heart-center. Imagine it going down along your spine, through your feet, into the Earth, all the way to the core of the Earth. Allow this cord of Light to wrap itself around the Earth Center. Ground yourself to Earth before opening to the Heavens above.
Breathe the Light up and down your spine from your heart to the center of the Earth. Breathe and let the Light fill you until this part of your body is a hollow bone, an empty vessel filled with Sacred Light.
Now, allow the Light to travel up from your heart, up through the crown of your head, up to the Heavens above. You can wrap it around God’s Light, Christ’s Light, a Sacred Star. Once you connect, breathe that Sacred Light along this cord from God into your heart. Back and forth until the upper part of your body is an empty vessel/hollow bone for this Sacred Light.
Now allow the Light to travel through you from God/Christ above to the core of the Earth. Fully be the hollow bone that houses the Sacred Light of the Holy. Breathe and feel and open and Be.
Now that you are a hollow bone, an empty vessel for God’s Light in this world, allow the Holy to bring forth a prayer within your heart – a prayer for how you can BE Light in this world. Open yourself to this prayer. Welcome this prayer. Act on this prayer. Be this prayer filled with Light in the world.
For, “You are the Light of the World.”
You have now experienced it. God is now calling you to Be it.
May your Light shine brightly this day and always.
Blessed be.
