Growing Compassion with Eve

Hello, it's Eve here. Welcome to this guided meditation on acting as a racial ally with compassion. This meditation is intended to help guide you on how to show yourself compassion, but also how to show that same compassion to others. As a white cisgendered woman, I know that I have a lot to learn about acting in allyship and that I won't always get everything right. But I am here and ready to learn. So thank you for joining me on this journey. There are a lot of definitions of racial allyship, and it can be hard to know where to start. But I really resonated with what Dr. Anna Lee Sing said: "A racial ally is someone who actively supports others who are experiencing racial injustice, prejudice, and discrimination." If you have privilege of any kind from being white, straight, cisgender, or able-bodied, or having enough or more than enough financial resources and more, then the key idea within allyship is that you are using the privilege you have to refute oppression. So this exercise is part of a series of meditations on allyship, covering kind and open listening, loving kindness, and present moment awareness. So do check those out as well. Compassion and self-compassion play a really important part in preparing us to act in allyship, because this is not always easy work, and it may bring up emotions and feelings that might feel uncomfortable. But with our practice, we always try to meet ourselves where we are, not judging or criticizing or trying to be a certain way. We simply open ourselves up to new and different perspectives, but we do so with gentleness and kindness to what is arising. Compassion is the intention to relieve the suffering of yourself and others. So as we settle into this exercise, I invite you to get into a comfortable position, either sitting in a chair or lying down, whatever is most comfortable for you in this moment. You can close the eyes or adopt a soft, downward gaze. And gently becoming aware of your body in this moment, starting to pay attention to any sensations that are present. Noticing the weight of the body pressing down into the seat or the surface beneath you, aware of your posture. This might be the first time that you are pausing and resting today. So just taking a moment to connect with the body. Noticing if any strong emotions are present. Not trying to change them or to push them away, but just to know what is here and to accept it with a sense of kindness. Might be a feeling of tension or uncertainty or doubt. And noticing if there is a particular story or thought pattern running in the mind. Again, not to get rid of it. Instead, to simply be aware. And to let go of what is not serving you. Being tender with yourself, being patient. And allowing the attention to settle on the breath, really feeling...