The Daily Meditation with Brother Richard

In this meditation, I invite you to pray and meditate with one of the oldest words in the Christian contemplative tradition: Maranatha.

This ancient phrase, often translated as "Come, Lord", has been used for centuries as a simple prayer of the heart. Rather than analysing the meaning, we allow the word to accompany the breath and gently gather the attention.
As we settle into breath awareness, the phrase is repeated slowly within the rhythm of breathing. We divide the word into its four syllables, ma, ra, na, tha, allowing each part to rest softly within the breath.
Over time the mind becomes quieter and the breath naturally deepens. The word becomes a steady anchor, helping us return again and again to stillness.
This daily guided meditation offers a moment of calm, whether you are pausing during the day or winding down before sleep, helping you rest in the breath and return to the present moment.

Chapters
00:00 – Introduction
00:20 – Meditating with a word
00:30 – The ancient phrase Maranatha
00:45 – Meaning of the word
01:10 – The bell
02:50 – Breath awareness
03:20 – Breathing in, breathing out
05:00 – Dividing the word into syllables
08:20 – Noticing the breath change
09:20 – Closing bell
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this meditation, I guide you into a simple practice of placing love at the centre of your relationship with yourself.
Drawing on an ancient contemplative approach, this meditation invites you to recognise that love is not only something we feel, but something we can choose, a steady intention that shapes how we relate to our body and our experience.
We begin by settling into the body and becoming aware of areas of tension, allowing them to soften through gentle attention and breath.
From here, the practice opens into a reflection on self-acceptance, acknowledging the body as it is, without judgement, and choosing to meet it with kindness.
Through simple phrases and awareness of the breath, you are invited to cultivate a more compassionate relationship with your body, recognising it as an essential part of who you are.
This is not about forcing emotion, but about gently shifting towards a more loving and accepting presence.
This meditation offers a moment of calm, whether you are pausing during the day or winding down before sleep, helping you feel more connected, accepting and at ease.
This meditation supports self-compassion, body awareness and emotional wellbeing.

Chapters:
00:00 – Introduction
00:10 – Placing love at the centre
00:35 – The bell
01:00 – Settling into posture
01:40 – Noticing tension in the body
04:00 – Gratitude for the body
04:40 – Love as intention
05:00 – Choosing love for the body
05:30 – Gratitude for the breath
06:50 – Breathing in love
07:15 – Acknowledging difficulty
07:45 – Choosing peace and love
09:30 – I have a body
10:00 – Accepting the body
11:40 – Intention for the day
11:50 – Closing bell
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this meditation, I invite you to practise one of the foundations of the Franciscan contemplative tradition: simple awareness of the present moment.
Beginning with the ancient practice of prosoche, or attention, we notice how we arrive at meditation before gradually bringing awareness to the body, its subtle sensations and the space around us.
Rather than trying to change our experience, we practise noticing it. Through this gentle attention, even the smallest sensations can become an invitation into deeper presence. The more we cultivate awareness, the more available we become to the grace and divine presence already within the moment at hand.
Chapters:
00:00 – Introduction: Cultivating awareness
00:55 – Opening bell
01:11 – Checking in before meditation
01:36 – How am I today?
02:07 – Noticing what you bring to the practice
02:44 – Choosing the here and now
03:14 – Settling into the body
03:27 – Becoming aware of physical sensations
04:03 – Exploring the weight of the hands and arms
04:32 – Noticing subtle sensations
05:10 – Bringing awareness to the face
05:42 – Relaxing the head and neck
06:30 – Releasing tension in the shoulders and jaw
07:14 – Awareness of the whole body
07:49 – Breathing through tension or discomfort
08:33 – Becoming aware of the space around you
09:13 – Noticing thoughts and associations with your surroundings
09:58 – Returning awareness to the breath
10:23 – Cultivating awareness throughout the day
10:59 – Simply being
11:27 – A final check-in: How am I now?
12:03 – Returning to the body
12:13 – Closing bell
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this meditation, we pause with the image of the inner sunrise — a contemplative practice of awakening to divine light, awareness and presence within.
In the meditative tradition, the creative imagination is not fantasy but a sacred doorway into deeper awareness. Through visualisation, we can enter the imaginal space of the heart, where divine grace, peace and love become more tangible.
Together, we begin by grounding ourselves in breath and stillness before entering the landscape of the inner dawn. As the meditation unfolds, we gently allow the sun of awareness to rise across the inner landscape of the mind and heart, illuminating what was hidden and filling our being with warmth, light and peace.
Using simple inner affirmations — I am awake, I am aware — this meditation invites us into a deeper attentiveness to divine presence and helps cultivate clarity, peace and conscious presence for the day ahead.
This meditation offers support for visualisation, spiritual awakening, mindfulness, emotional grounding, stress relief and contemplative prayer.
It can be used as part of a morning meditation practice, for setting intention at the beginning of the day, or as a calming meditation for peace, winding down and restful sleep.
Chapters:
00:00 – Introduction: The inner sunrise
00:59 – Opening bell
01:13 – Arriving with gratitude
02:13 – Settling into posture and breath
02:56 – Witnessing the breath
03:53 – Finding the still point within the breath
04:29 – Entering the creative imaginal
04:47 – Visualising the pre-dawn landscape
05:35 – The first light of awareness
06:02 – “I am awake, I am aware”
06:37 – Receiving divine compassion
07:21 – Choosing awareness in daily life
07:50 – The fullness of dawn
08:42 – Letting the landscape fade, holding the inner sun
09:28 – Filled with divine light
10:32 – Bringing the light into the day
10:52 – Returning to the body
11:17 – Closing bell
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this guided Christian meditation, Brother Richard reflects on one of the great insights of the contemplative tradition: we are always beginners.
Inspired by the wisdom of St Francis of Assisi, who encouraged his brothers to "begin again," this meditation invites you to let go of the past, release anxiety about the future, and discover the freedom that is found in the present moment. Through gentle breath awareness, you'll learn to see every breath as a new beginning, every moment as an opportunity to return to God's loving presence.
Whether your meditation practice is well established or you're starting again after time away, this session offers a compassionate reminder that there is no failure in contemplation—only the invitation to begin once more.
Perfect for daily Christian meditation, contemplative prayer, relaxation, preparing for restful sleep, or anyone seeking peace, renewal and a fresh beginning.
Chapters
00:00 – Introduction: Always a beginner
01:07 – Opening bell
01:17 – Arriving in the present moment
02:12 – Every breath is a new beginning
03:32 – Breathing with your whole being
04:33 – The stillness at the heart of the breath
05:58 – Letting go of past and future
07:27 – Beginning again with every breath
08:58 – Resting in peace
09:01 – Resolution for the day
09:59 – Closing bell
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.