By Madison Butkus
Hometown Weekly Reporter
The Dover Town Library (DTL) shared a virtual Midweek Meditation for all to come and enjoy. Each session lasted about a half hour and attendees were welcome to come every week or choose which classes work best for them.
During each of these sessions, participants were able to learn the power of mindfulness and its positive impact on all aspects within our lives. The DTL went on to further state, “These science backed tools can help release anxiety, tension, stress, cultivate compassion, focus, concentration, and promote connection and peace to all. All classes are 30 minutes with an intro, guided practice, and a Q&A. These classes are suitable for both beginners and expert meditators.”
Head of Adult Services at the DTL Jim Westen welcomed Meditation Guide, Artist, and Actor Amy Rutledge each week to help conduct these sessions. According to InsightTimer, “Amy found meditation as a way of healing from Lyme disease, PTSD, depression, and anxiety when all else failed. She became passionate about becoming a meditation teacher because it was a wonderful way to help others relieve their suffering. She loves helping people, animals, and is grateful for a second chance at life and all the healing she has received.”
The instructor led attendees through metta meditation in which everyone was encouraged to recite positive phrases within their heads towards themselves and others. The phrases that Rutledge chose were “May I be happy, May I feel love, May I be healthy, and May I be peaceful.”
To add a bit of a provocation to this meditation, Rutledge also had attendees repeat these affirmations towards someone who is a mildly challenging person in their lives. Without digging up any excessive trauma from the past, Rutledge suggested thinking of someone who occasionally gets under their skin, like a coworker or even a spouse.
Throughout this extremely peaceful guided meditation, attendees could be seen in states of pure relaxation. This type of loving-kindness meditation brought up many emotions for everyone, some stating that it was somewhat difficult to grant affirmations towards someone who causes them stress, but was very worth it in the end. Rutledge further stressed that it is all about acknowledging that no matter how we may feel about someone, in the grand scheme of things, we are all human beings going through our own battles.
For more information about these mediation sessions and where to sign up, please visit the DTL’s website at www.dovertownlibrary.org.
