Awareness Meditation: Becoming Present to the Here and Now

In this meditation, I invite you to practise one of the foundations of the Franciscan contemplative tradition: simple awareness of the present moment.

Beginning with the ancient practice of prosoche, or attention, we notice how we arrive at meditation before gradually bringing awareness to the body, its subtle sensations and the space around us.

Rather than trying to change our experience, we practise noticing it. Through this gentle attention, even the smallest sensations can become an invitation into deeper presence. The more we cultivate awareness, the more available we become to the grace and divine presence already within the moment at hand.

Chapters:

00:00 – Introduction: Cultivating awareness

00:55 – Opening bell

01:11 – Checking in before meditation

01:36 – How am I today?

02:07 – Noticing what you bring to the practice

02:44 – Choosing the here and now

03:14 – Settling into the body

03:27 – Becoming aware of physical sensations