Lovingkindness for an online event
A meditative experience created for the Virtual Tango Festival
I created this lovingkindness meditation with Korey Ireland to kick off Meredith Klein’s online Tango festival in 2021. It was the height of COVID and we sorely needed to connect. I’m grateful for Meredith’s openness and hope you find it valuable as you consider creating an intentional social field for your online events.
The purpose of this session is to take a moment to connect intentionally with the spirit of tango. If you're here you've probably experienced the spirit of tango directly. And the way it can bring us into touch with feelings of lovingness and kindness toward ourselves and each other.
And today we're going to use words, music, and thoughts to connect with the energy of our hearts that tango works with, and to build a virtual embrace connecting all of us in this session to one another and to the larger world community.
And we're going to start by saying the ancient phrases of lovingkindness. These are four wishes for wellbeing. I'll say them one at a time, and after I say them, there will be a pause, where you can say them out loud for yourself, visualizing what they mean.
May I be safe
May I be happy
May I be healthy
May I live with ease
Beautiful. Now let's take a moment and let your eyes close.
And in a moment, you'll hear the sound of the bandoneon, that sound that carries the energy of tango's essence. And I want to invite you to breathe with the bandoneon. So get ready to take a deep breath IN taking in those wishes of wellbeing for yourself. OUT - letting go of anything that interferes with being in that flowing state of love.
Now let the energy of the bandoneon take you into a memory. As this spirit of tango inhabits your body, connect with one dance that stands out in your memory.
Connecting to that, that experience you had...That tango feeling. Go back into that moment: where you were, who you were with, what you felt, all the nuances and details that made it special. I'm going to pause for a moment while you go into that memory.
And picture that partner specifically. Connect with what is special about them, what you appreciate and love about them.
We're going to send thoughts of gratitude and appreciation to them. Imagine them where they are right now in this exact moment, in their home, taking care to stay safe. Amplify your positive feelings by speaking the words of lovingkindness to them. You can say their name as you repeat the following phrases out loud:
May you be safe
May you be happy
May you be healthy
May you live with ease
And now going back into your memory, connect with the person or people who organized that event where you had that dance. Who held space for that beautiful tango. Picture them, see their face, remember what you appreciate about them.
Imagine them today, in their home, somewhere on this planet right now. And say their name as you repeat the following phrases:
May you be safe
May you be happy
May you be healthy
May you live with ease
And now widen the lens on that moment. Reflect on all the people who contributed to create that pure good feeling that you and your partner shared.
Who was the DJ who chose that tanda? If you can't remember, who is a DJ you love?
What about all the people who taught that partner to dance — or you?
All the people who inspired and encouraged that organizer?
All the people who showed up in support of that event?
Each of these people is somewhere on this planet right now, navigating these times, finding the ways they can stay connected. Send all of them the wishes of lovingkindness
May you all be safe
May you all be happy
May you all be healthy
May you all live with ease
Now open your eyes and look into the screen. Scroll through the panels, look at all the people. This is our milonga right now. Find one person you are happy to see. It could be because you know them and love them. Or because you have a good feeling looking at them.
Send them a wish for their safety, happiness, health, and ease. Smile at them.
Breathe with the bandoneon. IN taking in those wishes of wellbeing for yourself and your partner. OUT - letting go of anything that interferes with being in that feeling of wellbeing and connection.