Episodes

In this guided meditation led by Julie Potiker you will focus on breathing goodness in - and out. She completes the meditation with the poem, "Holding the Light", by Stuart Kestenbaum Holding the Light, by Stuart Kestenbaum. Gather up whatever is glittering in the gutter,whatever has tumbled in the waves or fallen in flames out of the sky,for it’s not only ourhearts that are broken, but the heartof the world as well.Stitch it back together. Make a place wherethe day speaks to the nightand the ...

In this episode of Balanced Mind - Julie Potiker leads you through a quiet compassion meditation. She completes the meditation with the poem, "Awakening", by Vera Haldy-Regier.Awakening, by Vera Haldy-RegierOh, lilacs,once again, your splendordelights my senses and speaksof the many past spring times of youththat promised lo ve, lifted my heartand then dashed it into the heat of summerwith all its sensual excessolder and furrowed now,I apologize for the gratitudenot then spokenwagering you would...

Find connection - and healing through this guided meditation led by Julie Potiker. She completes the meditation with her poem, "I Am Noticing".I Am Noticing, by Julie Potiker.I am noticing everything all at once, all the time, so much so that some things lay down on top of others.Last night, sitting in the courtyard after dinner, listening to what my husband was saying, hearing his words and the tone and timber of his voice, I was struck by the tempo of the crickets – 1,2,3,4,1,2,3,4, doing 4-4 ...

Join Julie Potiker as she leads you through this loving kindness meditation. She completes the meditation with the poem, "Mountain Forest: Early Summer", by Joan Koerper.Mountain Forest: Early SummerRaven cawsLadybug lands on my fingertwo California Quail mosey byBand-Tailed Pigeons coobreeze tickles leaves and pollinated blossomsof the hundred-year-old Apple treesas Buddha, seashells in folded hands, offers thanks.Sap from Jeffrey Pines glistensMistletoe grows lustily, greedy to overcomeall oth...

As you wake up, slip into this morning meditation led by Julie Potiker. She completes the meditation with the poem, "Gathering Nectar", by Julia Fehrenbacher. "Do you know that sometimes,when gathering nectar,bees fall asleep in flowers?" Andrea GibsonGathering NectarWhen I am flitting ahead to the nextvery important thing, I do not land long enoughto notice steam rise from the mug of mint tea, do notbreathe in the sweet scent of fresh honey the beesworked so long and hard to make, do not notic...

Quiet your mind as you listen to this guided meditation led by Julie Potiker. She completes the meditation with her poem, "Garden Dreams"."Garden Dreams", by Julie PotikerJasmine, roses - lavender flowers dot the rosemary hedge.I’m in a clapboard house, sleeping over with other women, some sort of retreat.Roni is there too.Grasping at imagesFragments of feelingsSnippets of conversationsTrying to hold onto the story-lineas it disappears in a wisp of vapor as I open my eyes,3 minutes before my ala...

Breathe in and out peace and love as you listen to this loving kindness meditation led by Julie Potiker. She completes the meditation with the poem, "Sea Glass", by James Crews. "Sea Glass", by James Crews.We keep going back to the rocky beach,searching for the glint of sea glass--the white, the green, the rarest blue.It takes decades to smooth out the sharpedges of those shards, yeas of helplessturning in the tides, so we might thenreach down, slip one into our pocketand run fingers over the w...

Julie Potiker takes you to your favorite summer spot - through this guided visualization. Where are you, what do you hear, smell or feel? She completes the meditation with her poem, "Delicate Blossoms".Delicate Blossoms, by Julie PotikerPrunus persica - a Contender.Small emerald and ruby velvet coated stones.Untold dangers - snails, spiders, beetles, Cedar Waxwings, Bluejays and Mockingbirds among other friends I willingly host in my garden.Small furry creatures - a cartel of squirrels, they too...

Julie Potiker leads you in this quiet compassion meditation. She completes the meditation with the poem, "In a Friend's Garden", by James Crews.In a Friend's Garden, by James Crews "I want to be here to see the poppies open,"my friend says, telling me whyshe never travels anymore in the middle of summer.We each hold one of the heavy buds whose petalsalready ache to break free and spread, bursting red at the seams.The mulch is warm beneath our feet, and sunlight shimmerspink in the shifting leav...

Breathe in peace and love while listening to this guided meditation led by Julie Potiker. She completes the meditation with the poem, "Folding Alter", by James Crews. Folding Altar, by James CrewsI carry my church with mewherever I go, unfolding the altarof a moment while out walkingwith my husband, pausing to picka few dandelions gone to seed,taking a deep breath, then blowing,sending those silver messengersinto the air above a field,each one the seed of a prayerI say every day I’m alive:Pleas...

Breathe in love, for yourself and those around you as you follow this guided meditation led by Julie Potiker. She completes the meditation with the poem, "Forms of Love", by Daniel Baylis.Forms of Love, by Daniel Baylis.Sometimes I wonder:What's the point?Why be good? Why care? Why try to change things?Why--when we continue to wreck each other?Yet, I keep moving forward.Not because I am confident of any outcomes.But because I am still susceptible to sweet things:a sunset,a cup of coffee,a warm b...

Hold yourself in love as you sink into this Loving Kindness meditation led by Julie Potiker. She completes the meditation with the poem, "Natural Silence", by James Crews. "Natural Silence", by James Crews. It’s not easy to find the silencebehind traffic noise and the rush of a jetdragging its contrails through the sky.But here it is again in the in-between,when I learn to listen long enoughto the call-and-response of birdsong,to wind pulsing in the canopies of trees,and every wing-flutter of ...

Breathe compassion in and compassion out -- as you settle into this guided meditation led by Julie Potiker. She completes the meditation with the poem, "The Fawn", by Nikita Gill. (From the book, "Where Hope Comes From; Poems of Resilience, Healing, and Light). "The Fawn", by Nikita Gill(After Mary Oliver's "Wild Geese") You do not have to win at a crisis. You do not have to push yourself to learn a new language or write a book or take up an instrument. Nothing will come of forcing yoursel...

Find a quiet space to sit, relax, and breathe as Julie Potiker transports you through her guided visualization meditation. She completes the meditation with her poem, "Immersed & Transported". "Immersed & Transported", by Julie PotikerSoon, I arrive -a sea of humanity spilling into ornate building.Sunbeams escape my smileas volunteer scans my ticket, the playbill - a treasure map clutched to my chest.Find my row by letter of alphabet,lay my coat open as burrow, sink into faded velvet chair.Hous...

Tap into compassion, for yourself and others, through this guided meditation led by Julie Potiker. She completes the meditation with the poem, "Just for Now", by Danna Faulds."Just for Now", by Danna FauldsJust for Now,Without asking how, let yourself sink into stillness.Just for now, lay down the weightYou so patiently bear upon your shoulders.Feel the earth receive you,And the infinite expanse of the sky grow even wider,as your awareness reaches up to meet it.Just for now,Allow a wave of breat...

Breathe in gratitude and compassion during this guided meditation led by Julie Potiker. She completes the meditation with her poem, "Birthday Presence".Birthday Presence, by Julie Potiker The air feels like springtucked into my sit spotthin cotton pajamasNo jacket wanted or neededOn this late February dayThree days left in my 62nd revolution around the sun.My eyes alight on the shrub -Bee’s Bliss Sage.Magenta and bright yellow blooms haphazardly strewn among grey green branches.Unscrew the valve...

Bring in kindness to yourself and others through this guided meditation led by Julie Potiker. She completes the meditation with the poem, "Holding the Light", by Stuart Kestenbaum. Holding the Light, by Stuart Kestenbaum-for Kait RhoadsGather up whatever isglittering in the gutter,whatever has tumbledin the waves or fallenin flames out of the sky,for it's not only ourhearts that are broken,but the heartof the world as well.Stitch it back together.Make a place where the day speaks to the nightan...

Join Julie Potiker as she guides you in this compassionate breath meditation. She completes the meditation with her poem, "Holding Court".Holding Court, by Julie PotikerScattered about, Western Sycamore leaves forever remind me of book pages - undone, unglued, unloved, discarded.Feeling this dip in mood, I make my way to the caged veggie garden below in search of something yummy.Bright green cauliflower lifts my spirits. I wrestle it out of the rich soil with the help of Cutco kitchen scissors. ...

Julie Potiker guides you through this breathing meditation focusing on compassion. She completes the meditation with the poem,"Guru in Disguise", by Julia Fehrenbacher. "Guru in Disguise", by Julia FehrenbacherThere is something about the waymorning light resets an old, mossy oakthat quiets the loud in me, invitesme to set everything down.As I step closer, I seethat she has wrinkled and grayed with age,as weathered seasons, storms-indifference.Still, she stands.She is a resting place for gentle...

Feel your body rooted to the earth as you meditate to this compassion meditation led by Julie Potiker. She completes this guided meditation with the poem, "The Forest", by Nikita Gill. The Forest, by Nikita GillOne day when you wake up, you will find that you have become a forest.You have grown roots and found strength in them that no one thought you had.You have become stronger and more beautiful,full of life giving qualities.You have learned to take all the negativity around youand turn it in...

Ease your body into this early morning loving kindness meditation led by Julie Potiker. She completes this guided meditation with her poem, "Soft Morning". Soft Morning, by Julie PotikerThe birds sound mutedA beetleNo bigger than a black nickelMakes its way on faded ceramic tilesto cream and red brick paversHe is headed somewhere fastSwift for his kindNo wingsJust short legsImpossibly thin pencil marksscurrying him alongThe longer I am stillmy ears collect bird songsI tuck each jingle into my h...

Sit back as you relax into this compassion meditation led by Julie Potiker. She completes the meditation with the poem, "Church", by James Crews. Church, by James CrewsWhen I ask how you are,imagine a field of untouched snowstretching blank between us,waiting for the answer of your steps –perhaps hesitant at first, thenmore certain as you begin to sharethe sorrows and joys that sitlike unwrapped offeringson the altar of your heart.Here, there is time for you to sayall the words that have weighe...

In this end-of-the-year guided meditation led by Julie Potker you will use your breath to breathe in healing, awareness, and gratitude. She completes the mediation with the poem, "For the End of the Year", by Donna Ashworth. 'For the End of the Year", by Donna Ashworth.Why do we start a new year, with promises to improve?Who began this tradition of never-ending pressure?I say, the end of a year, should be filled with congratulation,for all we survived.And I say a new year should start with prom...

Focus on what makes you happy, and who makes you happy - as Julie Potiker leads you through this guided meditation of peace and love. She begins the meditation with the reading of the poem, "Hold Out Your Hand", by Julia Fehrenbacher. She completes the meditation with her poem, "So Much Love," by Julie Potiker . Hold Out Your Hand, by Julia Fehrehbacher Let's forget the world for a whilefall back and backinto the hush and holyof noware you listening? This breathinvites youto write the first wo...