A Meditation on the South African Greeting Sawubona (“We See You”)
On this guided observe, Shelly Harrell introduces us to a manner of seeing others that encourages liberating consciousness, caring connection, and deep acceptance.
Lately, psychological well being professionals have raised the alarm concerning the rising epidemic of loneliness. Thousands and thousands of individuals really feel separated and remoted, even when they’re surrounded by colleagues or hundreds of social media acquaintances.
In right this moment’s guided observe, Shelly Harrell affords one aware method that may counteract this sense of lonely atomization. It’s the South African greeting of Sawubona, which carries an intentional willingness to see and to be seen, in our fullness, vulnerability, mutual belonging, and radiance.
A Meditation on the South African Greeting Sawubona (“We See You”)
A word from the Conscious Editors:
Right here at Conscious, we give attention to secular mindfulness and meditation for a lot of causes, chief amongst them being accessibility: We wish anybody to really feel that mindfulness will be for them, no matter background.
One factor we’ve realized from the great academics we work with is that accessibility typically seems to be like welcoming other ways of talking about and referring to the observe of mindfulness. Whereas the core which means of mindfulness is identical, completely different individuals have completely different phrases for the sense of present-moment consciousness, self-connection, interconnectedness, and different qualities that come up from the observe. And for some communities, phrases like “spirit” and “soul” will probably be a extra useful framing to faucet into these qualities.
So, within the spirit of accessibility and welcoming various methods of being and pondering within the mindfulness area, we’re welcoming a broader, much less strictly secular vocabulary and you may even see this in among the meditations on this collection.
Learn and observe the guided meditation script under, pausing after every paragraph. Or take heed to the audio observe.
- Sawubona is a South African phrase meaning, “We see you.” It’s typically translated as “I see you,” however it’s necessary to know that in an African worldview context, that is an prolonged “I” because the self is skilled as collective. When greeted with Sawubona, it’s a communication that you’re seen, accepted, and cared about not simply by the person however by the ancestors and the interconnected group that we feature with that. As we speak we’re going to heart on this phrase in our meditation observe.
- Begin by taking a deep centering breath, inhaling deeply to clear area. Gently sweep the muddle in your thoughts. Open a passageway to that deepest a part of your physique. Then exhale a pleasant, lengthy exhale by way of your mouth, settling into your self and full presence on this second, with this observe.
- Take one other centering breath—a deep inhale, opening your coronary heart area, receiving what you want on this second. Exhale slowly to launch any inside blocks or toxins that don’t serve you. Take one other full clearing inhale, obtain what you want. Open your coronary heart. Exhale once more, releasing, and go right down to that inside river, selecting the riverbanks of your soul heart.
- Let’s begin our Sawubona observe. I invite you now to call to mind an individual or group or group that you just care about. It might be somebody going by way of one thing tough who could also be struggling, struggling, who might really feel unseen and unheard. Compassion begins with a willingness to essentially see, hear, and really feel one other individual. Compassionate motion is energized by love and infused with the reality of one other’s lived and embodied expertise. So visualize this individual, group, or group in your thoughts’s eye. Really feel them in your coronary heart and soul.
- Now think about encountering that individual or crew. Greet them with Sawubona and the intentions of its deepest meanings to see, hear, and really feel one other. Assembly them the place they’re. Assembly them and their reality as you greet them. Ship them the vitality of Sawubona with genuineness, humility, and care. Convey them into your thoughts’s eye and your coronary heart heart. If you greet them and say Sawubona, you’re saying, “I see you. I see you thru eyes that transcend my very own sight, that transcend the seen and the fabric. I see you past your situations and circumstances. I see you behind the partitions you’ve put up and the masks you’ve placed on. I see you as greater than what you’ve accomplished or what has been accomplished to you. I see your humanity and your humanness. I see you at your greatest, thriving, hovering, and manifesting your biggest goal and soul’s calling. I see the soul of who you’re. I see you.”
- Take one other deep breath, inhaling by way of your nostril and exhaling by way of your mouth. Convey this individual or individuals into your thoughts’s eye. Greet them and say Sawubona. You’re saying, “I hear you. I hear you thru ears tuned into the whisperings of soul and spirit. I hear you behind what has been silenced or muted. I hear you beneath what you say, beneath the phrases you utilize and the language you converse. I hear you past what I wish to hear. I hear the voice of your deepest longings, your truest intentions, and your highest aspirations. I hear your cries and I hear your celebrations. I hear your music, your story, your reality. I hear the soul of who you’re. I hear you.”
- Take one other deep breath. Convey your individual or individuals into your thoughts’s eye, into your coronary heart. Greet them and say Sawubona. You’re saying, “I really feel you. I really feel you from the vibration of our oneness, the place our souls acknowledge one another. I really feel you behind the seen and invisible limitations that separate us. I really feel you beneath our variations in that area of our interconnectedness with one another and all life. I really feel the facility of the ancestors flowing by way of you over generations, throughout area and time. I really feel your rhythm, your circulation, your vitality, your distinctive vibration on this planet. I really feel your vulnerability and your victories, your struggles and your strengths. Your tears and your triumphs. Your regrets and your risings. I really feel your gentle and your glow. Your goodness and your love. I really feel the soul of who you’re. I really feel you.” Take a deep breath. Sawubona.
- Listed here are a couple of ideas for reflection, dialogue, or journaling. I encourage you to think about your subsequent encounter with the individual or group you’ve visualized and picture greeting them with Sawubona and all meaning. In doing that, what is likely to be completely different in your interplay with them? What wouldn’t it appear to be for you if you happen to have been to deliver the vitality of Sawubona to the way you work together, meet, greet, and see others? Lastly, how may you deliver the vitality of Sawubona to the way you’ll meet, greet, and see your self? Let’s take a remaining deep breath collectively. Inhaling deeply, and exhaling slowly by way of your mouth. Thanks for partaking on this observe with me. Sawubona.