Here’s how to get in on today’s worldwide feminist meditation

Today is International Women’s Day—an opportunity to recognize and support women around the globe. To mark the occasion, Kundalini yoga teacher Guru Jagat is leading a global meditation. Here, the Well+Good Council member explains the idea behind her new campaign, #WhyImAFeministWhoMeditates. Join the meditation in the livestream below at 11 a.m. Eastern time today, Friday, March 8.

2019 is the year of womxn. And no matter what your gender identification, we all can be supporters of feminism and womanism as a movement of listening and exalting the feminine principle on this planet.

With a record number of 131 women holding congressional office this year (35% of those seats held by women of color!) and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer political representation on the rise, it’s clear that the matrices of political power are changing—and quickly!

Though an intersectional future is closely in sight, there is still a long way to go with many rivers to cross on our collective journey toward social and political inclusion, unity, and power. It’s why I feel it’s a critical and perfect time to launch #WhyImAFeministWhoMeditates.

I believe some sort of contemplative and conscious practice is no longer a luxury.

I believe some sort of contemplative and conscious practice is no longer a luxury—in whatever way inspires inner assessment and deepening awareness. And those personal practices are keystones to the expansion of ruthless compassion for ourselves and others and the momentum accelerators to action as better, more informed, more action-oriented citizens, business people and neighbors. If your meditation or prayer practice isn’t inspiring or fueling some pragmatic real-time service to others… then what is it for, ultimately?

As a kick-off to International Womxn’s Month and the global mass meditation I will hold on International Womxn’s Day (Friday, March 8, 2019, simulcast live on RA MA TV and Well+Good). #WhyImAFeministWhoMeditates is designed to show the world all the bigger things our meditation practice is serving.

Real change starts with self-cultivation as a fuel for activation. It’s through practices like meditation that we create the world that we want all sentient beings to live and thrive in. Here’s how you can get involved!

1. 1.
   Think of who or what inspires you to get up and meditate every day—be it your creativity, your job, your children, or being kinder to others.
2. 2.
   Post a photo to Instagram or Facebook and write your “why” on a piece of paper or in the caption with the hashtag #WhyImAFeministWhoMeditates. We’re following along and will re-post some of them along the way.
3. 3.
   Join the the Intersectional International Womxn’s Day Global Mass Meditation Friday March 8, 2019 | 8:00 AM PST – 11:00 AM PST – 5:00 PM CET – 12:00 AM HKT (+1 day) Simulcast on RA MA TV (and above on Well+Good) to over 200 countries and 3 million on social media. Head here to get on the list for up-to-the-minute details.
4. 4.
   Meditate. Daily meditation delivers real results in your relationships, family, work, and health. It is an offering to your destiny, prosperity, and leadership on a planet in need of contributing citizens. Above all, daily meditation is a statement of personal infinity and love. Here is one of my favorite, simple practices:

Me Within Me Meditation

POSTURE: Sit in a cross-legged position or in whatever way is comfortable to you.MUDRA: Interlace your fingers and place the right thumb into the space between the index finger and thumb of the left hand for women, and the left thumb into the space between the index finger and thumb of the right hand for men. Place this hand posture (mudra) against the heart center.AFFIRMATION: Repeat rhythmically, “Me within Me is the Purity, Me within Me is the Reality, Me within Me is the Grace, I am the master of the this Space.”EYES: Close your eyes and focus them at the brow point.TIME: Continue for 3-11 minutes.END: To end, inhale and hold the breath briefly. Exhale and relax.

Guru Jagat is the founder of RA MA Institute for Applied Yogic Science and Technology, a Kundalini yoga school with locations in Venice, CA; Mallorca, Spain; and New York City, and the author of the best-selling book Invincible Living: The Power of Yoga, The Energy of Breath, and Other Tools for a Radiant Life. In 2017 Guru Jagat created the Aquarian Women’s Leadership Society, which has members in over 20 countries, and she is also the founder and CEO of RA MA TV; RA MA Records; and the RA MA Foundation.

What should Guru Jagat write about next? Send your questions and suggestions to [email protected].