Balanced Mind With Julie Potiker

Connect to yourself and the world around you through this Metta meditation led by Julie Potiker. The loving kindness meditation concludes with a reading of the poem, "The Afterlife", by Billy Collins. The Afterlife by Billy Collins While you are preparing for sleep, brushing your teeth, or riffling through a magazine in bed, the dead of the day are setting out on their journey. They’re moving off in all imaginable directions, each according to his own private belief, and this is the secret that silent Lazarus would not reveal: that everyone is right, as it turns out. you go to the place you always thought you would go, The place you kept lit in an alcove in your head. Some are being shot into a funnel of flashing colors into a zone of light, white as a January sun. Others are standing naked before a forbidding judge who sits with a golden ladder on one side, a coal chute on the other. Some have already joined the celestial choir and are singing as if they have been doing this forever, while the less inventiv

Gratitude can help us navigate challenging times. In this guided meditation led by Julie Potiker we are reminded to give thanks to something that is always with us - our bodies. She completes the meditation with a reading of the poem, "Blessing for the Brokenhearted", by Jan Richardson.   Let us agree for now that we will not say the breaking makes us stronger or that it is better to have this pain than to have done without this love. Let us promise we will not tell ourselves time will heal the wound, when every day our waking opens it anew. Perhaps for now it can be enough to simply marvel at the mystery of how a heart so broken can go on beating, as if it were made for precisely this—as if it knows the only cure for love is more of it, as if it sees the heart’s sole remedy for breaking is to love still, as if it trusts that its own persistent pulse is the rhythm of a blessing we cannot begin to fathom but will save us nonetheless.   Get the latest on mindfulness and meditation by subscribing to Julie Pot

Your guided meditation practice - is a moment of self-care. Join Julie Potiker as she leads you on a journey through your senses where you'll embrace the world around you. The meditation concludes with the reading of the poem, "The Chairs That No One Sits In", by Billy Collins. Sit back, relax, enjoy.   “The Chairs That No One Sits In” by Billy Collins   You see them on porches and on lawns down by the lakeside, usually arranged in pairs implying a couple who might sit there and look out at the water or the big shade trees.   The trouble is you never see anyone sitting in these forlorn chairs though at one time it must have seemed a good place to stop and do nothing for a while.   Sometimes there is a little table between the chairs where no one is resting a glass or placing a book face down. It may not be any of my business, but let us suppose one day that everyone who placed those vacant chairs on a veranda or a dock sat down in them if only for the sake of remembering what it was they thought deserved to b

Be still. Breathe in and settle the chatter in your mind - through this guided meditation led by Julie Potiker.   Get the latest by subscribing to Julie Potiker's YouTube channel and Facebook page at Mindful Methods for Life. You can learn about mindfulness at www.MindfulMethodsForLife.com and also in Julie's newly released book, "Life Falls Apart, But You Don't Have To: Mindful Methods For Staying Calm In The Midst Of Chaos", available on Amazon.com. Her podcast is "Balanced Mind with Julie Potiker", available on iTunes, iHeart and other podcast platforms.

In this guided meditation, Julie Potiker helps you navigate through a season of uncertainty by finding refuge in grounding. She finishes the meditation with a reading of the poem, "Blessing in the Chaos", by Jan Richardson. Blessing in the Chaos by Jan Richardson To all that is chaotic in you, let there come silence. Let there be a calming of the clamoring, a stilling of the voices that have laid their claim to you, that you have made their home in you, that go with you even to the holy places but will not let you rest, will not let you hear your life with wholeness or feeling the grace that fashioned you. Let what distracts you cease. Let what divides you cease. Let there come an end to what diminishes and demands, and let depart all that keeps you in its cage Let there be an opening into the quiet that lies beneath the chaos, where you find the peace you did not think possible and see what shimmers within the storm. Get the latest by subscribing to Julie Potiker's YouTube channel and Facebook page at M

Many of us can't wait until 2020 is over. So much stress and uncertainty this year between the Coronavirus pandemic along with the added stress of election season. But, what if 2020 is the most important year of them all? Join Julie Potiker as she leads an election grounding meditation where you are encouraged to "be the change". It concludes with the reading of the poem,  "What if 2020 isn't cancelled", by Leslie Dwight. What if 2020 isn’t cancelled?⁣What if 2020 is the year we’ve been waiting for?⁣A year so uncomfortable, so painful, so scary, so raw — that it finally forces us to grow.⁣A year that screams so loud, finally awakening us from our ignorant slumber.⁣A year we finally accept the need for change.⁣Declare change. Work for change. Become the change. A year we finally band together, instead of⁣pushing each other further apart.⁣⁣2020 isn’t cancelled, but rather⁣the most important year of them all.”⁣ Get the latest by subscribing to Julie Potiker's YouTube channel and Facebook page at Mindful Method

Relax to this loving kindness meditation with Julie Potiker. The meditation concludes with the poem, "To Be Hopeful in Bad Times", by Howard Zinn. “To be hopeful in bad times is not just foolishly romantic. It is based on the fact that human history is a history not only of cruelty, but also of compassion, sacrifice, courage, kindness.  What we choose to emphasize in this complex history will determine our lives. If we see only the worst, it destroys our capacity to do something. If we remember those times and places—and there are so many—where people have behaved magnificently, this gives us the energy to act, and at least the possibility of sending this spinning top of a world in a different direction.  And if we do act, in however small a way, we don’t have to wait for some grand utopian future. The future is an infinite succession of presents, and to live now as we think human beings should live, in defiance of all that is bad around us, is itself a marvelous victory.” – Howard Zinn Get the

Enjoy this Sukkot guided visualization led by Julie Potiker for the Balanced Mind Meditation Center. Sukkot, also known as the Feast of the Tabernacles, is a week long Jewish holiday. The meditation ends with the poem "Sukkot: The Heart of the Sukkah", by Lesli Koppelman Ross.   Sukkot: The Heart of the Sukkah let the walls of my heart be easily moved as the walls of the Sukkah that sway in the wind let the roof of my heart be porous to tears as the roof of the Sukkah that lets in the rain let the space in my heart be open to guests as to Ushpizin who pass through each night let the beat of my heart be a vital reminder that life here is transient – a temporary dwelling let the walls, left unsealed, and the roof, with its lattice, frame the cracks that will let in the light   Get the latest by subscribing to Julie Potiker's YouTube channel and Facebook page at Mindful Methods for Life. You can learn about mindfulness at www.MindfulMethodsForLife.com and also in J

Take a moment to discover compassion for yourself and for others. It's especially important as we work to navigate through our new normal - dealing with the Coronavirus pandemic. Julie Potiker leads you through this compassion meditation and ends with a poem of hope, by Celeste Snowber, "Bodypsalm for Uncertainty".   May the plans you cancel return you to another life the one waiting as a patient lover wondering when you will arrive to the shore of your inner ocean. In the midst of restrictions – self-isolation and social distancing take some ingredients for the journey probiotics for the soul the curiosity for small things quince and daffodil blooming sipping tea slowly the free range of kindness daily practices of breathing deep reading poems and calling a friend Drink in kindness and compassion as you live in a time of not-knowing become intimate with shadow live creatively in dangerous times alive to what comes a meditation on wonder calling you to soften to the unknown.   Get the latest by subscribing to

Forgiveness is the focus of this meditation coinciding with Yom Kippur, also known as the Day of Atonement. Join Julie Potiker as she helps you release resentment and anger towards others and yourself...through forgiveness. The meditation finishes with the beautiful sound of the Shofar. Get the latest by subscribing to Julie Potiker's YouTube channel and Facebook page at Mindful Methods for Life. You can learn about mindfulness at www.MindfulMethodsForLife.com and also in Julie's newly released book, "Life Falls Apart, But You Don't Have To: Mindful Methods For Staying Calm In The Midst Of Chaos", available on Amazon.com. Her podcast is "Balanced Mind with Julie Potiker", available on iTunes, iHeart and other podcast platforms.

In this guided mediation you'll find yourself rooted in the earth, grounded, calm. Julie Potiker completes the meditation with a reading the poem, "Blessing of the Senses", by John O’Donohue.   Blessing of the Senses: May your body be blessed. May you realize that your body is a faithful and beautiful friend of your soul. And may you be peaceful and joyful and recognize that your senses are sacred thresholds. May you realize that holiness is mindful, gazing, feeling, hearing, and touching. May your senses gather you and bring you home. May your senses always enable you to celebrate the universe and the mystery and possibilities in your presence here. May the Eros of the Earth bless you.   Get the latest by subscribing to Julie Potiker's YouTube channel and Facebook page at Mindful Methods for Life. You can learn about mindfulness at www.MindfulMethodsForLife.com and also in Julie's newly released book, "Life Falls Apart, But You Don't Have To:

Whether you're personally affected by the wildfires in Northern California or overwhelmed by witnessing the loss and suffering it's causing, this guided meditation can assist you in dealing with the devastation. Julie Potiker helps you visualize a "cloud blanket" of care, hope and love, and then wrapping it around the neighborhoods, towns, landscape and animals affected by the wildfires. Julie finishes the meditation with a look at the majestic Redwoods, with the written words from John Muir, Henry Ward Beecher, and also a Chinese proverb. John Muir: "A few minutes ago every tree was excited, blowing to the roaring storm, waving, swirling, tossing their branches in glorious enthusiasm like worship. But though to the outer ear these trees are now silent, their songs never cease." Get the latest by subscribing to Julie Potiker's YouTube channel and Facebook page at Mindful Methods for Life. You can learn about mindfulness at www.MindfulMethodsForLife.com and also i

Visualize yourself on a mountain, surrounded by nature and using your all of your senses to breathe in the experience all around you. Julie Potiker takes you on this grounding journey ending with the poem,"When I Could Do Nothing", by Jane Hirshfield. The poem comes at a time when many of us are attempting to navigate our lives during a pandemic. This meditation was led virtually for the Balanced Mind Meditation Center. Today, When I Could Do Nothing Today, when I could do nothing, I saved an ant. It must have come in with the morning paper, still being delivered to those who shelter in place. A morning paper is still an essential service. I am not an essential service. I have coffee and books, time, a garden, silence enough to fill cisterns. It must have first walked the morning paper, as if loosened ink taking the shape of an ant. Then across the laptop computer — warm — then onto the back of a cushion. Small black ant, alone, crossing a navy cushion, moving steadily because that is what it could do. Se

In this guided meditation, Julie Potiker leads you through a beautiful, peaceful garden where you immerse yourself among flowers and nature. This meditation is an homage to Ayya Khema, who lived until 1997. She was a Buddist teacher who helped provide opportunities for women to practice Buddism. She founded several centers around the world. This meditation was led virtually for the Balanced Mind Meditation Center. Get the latest by subscribing to Julie Potiker's YouTube channel and Facebook page at Mindful Methods for Life. You can learn about mindfulness at www.MindfulMethodsForLife.com and also in Julie's newly released book, "Life Falls Apart, But You Don't Have To: Mindful Methods For Staying Calm In The Midst Of Chaos", available on Amazon.com. Her podcast is "Balanced Mind with Julie Potiker", available on iTunes, iHeart and other podcast platforms.

Julie Potiker leads you through a guided meditation where you will visualize the outdoors around mountains, rivers and oceans allowing nature to live through you. The meditation ends with the poem "Hokusai Says", by Roger Keys. This was a virtual meditation for the Balanced Mind Meditation Center. Get the latest by subscribing to Julie Potiker's YouTube channel and Facebook page at Mindful Methods for Life. You can learn about mindfulness at www.MindfulMethodsForLife.com and also in Julie's newly released book, "Life Falls Apart, But You Don't Have To: Mindful Methods For Staying Calm In The Midst Of Chaos", available on Amazon.com. Her podcast is "Balanced Mind with Julie Potiker", available on iTunes, iHeart and other podcast platforms.

I’m this guided meditation Julie Potiker observes Tisha B’av.  This meditation of healing and compassion wraps up with the poem “Kindness” by Naomi Shihab. (This was recorded for the Balanced Mind Meditation Center) "Kindness', by Naomi Shihab. Before you know what kindness really isyou must lose things,feel the future dissolve in a momentlike salt in a weakened broth.What you held in your hand,what you counted and carefully saved,all this must go so you knowhow desolate the landscape can bebetween the regions of kindness.How you ride and ridethinking the bus will never stop,the passengers eating maize and chickenwill stare out the window forever. Before you learn the tender gravity of kindnessyou must travel where the Indian in a white poncholies dead by the side of the road.You must see how this could be you,how he too was someonewho journeyed through the night with plansand the simple breath that kept him alive. Before you know kindness as the deepest thing inside,you must know sorrow as the other deepest

“You are the light...hold only love, only peace in your heart…” (John Lewis) In this guided meditation led for the Balanced Mind Meditation Center, Julie Potiker uses meditation to honor the late Congressman and civil rights leader. She uses his powerful words of peace, love and following your truth in this guided meditation.   “You are a light. You are the light. Never let anyone—any person or any force—dampen, dim or diminish your light. Study the path of others to make your way easier and more abundant. Lean toward the whispers of your own heart, discover the universal truth, and follow its dictates. […] Release the need to hate, to harbor division, and the enticement of revenge. Release all bitterness. Hold only love, only peace in your heart, knowing that the battle of good to overcome evil is already won. Choose confrontation wisely, but when it is your time don't be afraid to stand up, speak up, and speak out against injustice. And if you follow your truth down the road to peace and the affirmation of

In this guided meditation, Julie Potiker uses the image of a tree, its branches, and its roots, to help you find strength and compassion. Julie led this mindfulness meditation for the Balanced Mind Meditation Center. The meditation ends with the poem, "Compassion", by Miller Williams. "Have compassion for everyone you meet, even if they don’t want it. What seems conceit, bad manners, or cynicism is always a sign of things no ears have heard, no eyes have seen. You do not know what wars are going on down there where the spirit meets the bone." "Compassion" by Miller Williams, from The Ways We Touch: Poems. © University of Illinois Press, 1997.   Get the latest by subscribing to Julie Potiker's YouTube channel and Facebook page at Mindful Methods for Life. You can learn about mindfulness at www.MindfulMethodsForLife.com and also in Julie's newly released book, "Life Falls Apart, But You Don't Have To: Mindful Methods For Staying Calm In The Midst Of Chaos", a

What is your go-to place for relaxation, peace? Is it a favorite chair, the beach or perhaps a forest? In this guided meditation, Julie Potiker takes you on a journey where you use your imagination to create your own peaceful environment. Since social distancing is still in place due to the worldwide pandemic, this meditation was recorded via Zoom for the Balanced Mind Meditation Center. The meditation ends with a poem called "Invictus", by William Ernest Henley. Get the latest by subscribing to Julie Potiker's YouTube channel and Facebook page at Mindful Methods for Life. You can learn about mindfulness at www.MindfulMethodsForLife.com and also in Julie's newly released book, "Life Falls Apart, But You Don't Have To: Mindful Methods For Staying Calm In The Midst Of Chaos", available on Amazon.com. Her podcast is "Balanced Mind with Julie Potiker", available on iTunes, iHeart and other podcast platforms.

Julie Potiker leads a meditation in the ancient practice of Tonglen. Tonglen is a Tibetan word meaning "letting go" and "accepting". During this meditation you will breathe in pain, suffering, and darkness – and then breathe out peace, joy, and light. It’s the perfect meditation during these times of uncertainty. This meditation ends with the reading of the poem, "For the Belonging", by John Donohue. Poem: For Belonging, by John O'Donohue May you listen to your longing to be free. May the frames of your belonging be generous enough for your dreams. May you arise each day with a voice of blessing whispering in your heart. May you find a harmony between your soul and your life. May the sanctuary of your soul never become haunted. May you know the eternal longing that lives at the heart of time. May there be kindness in your gaze when you look within. May you never place walls between the light and yourself. May you allow the wild beauty of the invisible world to gather you, mind you, and embrace you in belongi