HP Rivers

Animal Blessing Meditation
Written by Helen Rose
Delivered at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Tallahassee
Sunday, October 20, 2019

This meditation is an original piece by Helen Rose. Feel free to use for worship with proper credit given to the author. Email Helen with any questions.

• If you are willing and able, I invite you to close your eyes.
• Take a deep breath and settle into your seat.
• Allow the outside world to melt away just for a moment.
• In your mind’s eye, picture yourself in nature.
• You could be in a forest, a seashore, a jungle, or a park.
• Take a moment to observe your surroundings.
• What is the weather like?
• What do you see and hear?
• What do you feel?
• What is the energy like?
• Is it calm and peaceful?
• Is it excited, or frantic?
• In the distance, you see an animal. You move towards it.
• As you approach the animal, their features become clear.
• What kind of animal is it?
• Is it furry or feathered?
• Is it scaly or smooth?
• How does it move?
• Does it make any sounds?
• Does it have any messages for you?
• Is it a young bird, encouraging you to expand your comfort zone and test your wings?
• Is it a chameleon, suggesting you be adaptable?
• Is it a dog, offering you a much-needed dose of unconditional love?
• Consider how this animal survives, how it interacts with other beings, how it behaves.
• Are they associated with courage, like a lion, or wisdom, like an owl?
• Are they solitary, or do they live in families or communities?
• Take a moment to ponder what you can learn from this animal, what it may symbolize in your life.
• As you prepare to depart, thank the animal for sharing its wisdom and gifts with you, and wish it well.
• Return your attention to your body and to this room.
• When you are ready, open your eyes and reconnect with this time and space.
• We are often tempted to view our fellow inhabitants of this earth as a commodity or nuisance, and quick to forget that they are just as much a vital part of the interdependent web of existence as we are. Our animal family has incredible gifts to share, if we are open to receiving them.
• I invite you to embrace this notion of oneness and openness as we sing our next hymn, All Creatures of the Earth and Sky.