Just Breathe

Just Breathe

So, let me ask you something: when was the last time you really—I mean really—took a breath? Not just a sigh after a long day or a breath to calm down. But a full, body-opening breath that reminds you that, in this moment, you're alive, connected, and part of something much bigger. Yeah, that breath!

I know you are reading, but I’d love for you to do a simple and intentionally mindful exercise. Pause. Sit, and take one of those deep breaths, in through your nose. Let that breath fill your belly. Hold it. Feel that life pulsing. Now, slowly let it go. And extend that exhale because that’s where the calming activation kicks IN!

Ahhh.

Feels good, right? But it's not just about feeling good. This breath? It’s E-V-E-R-Y-T-H-I-N-G1 It's all sacred.

You know, this reminds me of a moment I had not too long ago. I was rushing through my day, juggling a million daddy-daughter things, house issues (because I always think our house is literally going to fall apart due to middle aged anxiety, which is probably something more deeply rooted in my subconscious that will eventually come out of my shadow self, but I digress...), and I could feel that tension building—the kind of stress that creeps up and suddenly you're in fight-or-flight-or-freeze mode without even realizing it. I was on my way to meet someone for lunch, running late on MillerTime (as usual), and it felt like everything in that odd moment was just spiraling out of control. I was in my head, and I couldn’t get out. You ever have one of those days? We all do!

So, I got to my destination and before I even stepped out of the car, I just sat there for a second. Something withing me told me to stop. I closed my eyes, felt my feet on the floor, and just took a deep breath—one of those deep, slow breaths where you can feel your whole-body release. And I did for about a minute or so, slowly counting the breaths… In that moment, it was like everything reset. The tension in my shoulders, my racing mind, even that tightness in my chest—I let it all go with those sacred breaths.

And I remember thinking, "This is it. This is life, right here. This is what it's all about." It was one of those rare moments when I felt connected to something bigger than myself. I realize I have been holding my breath a lot—not just physically, but in most of my life. Always rushing, always pushing, the brain is always spinning and churning, but never pausing to breathe in the moment. That breath changed everything for me in those few seconds. I’ve been obsessed with the breath for a couple years now, and I think it’s a game-changer!

This breath. It’s everything. It's sacred. It’s the נִשְׁמַ֣ת חַיִּ֑ים—the "Breath of Life"—and it’s right there in the Hebrew creation poem: Nishmat Hayyim. It’s what makes us more than just a collection of cells, more than the sum of our parts. It’s the נֶ֥פֶשׁ חַיָּֽה, the Nephesh Hayya, the living being, sentient self. This breath—it connects us to the beginning of time, to the Divine, to one another. The ancient people knew it thousands of years ago, and science is only reinforcing what we’ve always known.

Pause again.

Take another deep breath with me. Breathe in through your nose, slowly, deeply, filling your lungs, expanding your belly. Breathe in the נִשְׁמַת חַיִּים (Nishmat Hayyim), the "Breath of Life," and breathe out the tension, the clutter, the distractions, the noise. This is the divine exchange happening with each breath, an invitation to embrace the full life, right here, in this moment.

Now, let’s jump over to water because water IS LIFE, and water is precious and sacred, and it’s always where all the creation stories begin. Water—ah, water—is the ancient symbol of life and spirit across so many traditions. Water quenches, flows, transforms. Think of the balance in the practice of QiGong, how Chi - our life force in Chinese tradition - flows like a river, endlessly adapting, restoring harmony. Breath, water, spirit—each of these flows through us, keeping us alive, connecting us to one another, and to something far greater than ourselves.

And speaking of water, let’s add the counter element of FIRE to the mix while we’re at it! There's a clever and super relevant wordplay in Hebrew I just have to share with you. The Hebrew word for "heaven" is שָׁמַיִם (shamayim). (Side note: “Heaven” in Hebrew is not referring a place you go after you die; it’s referencing the reign of Shalom, peace on earth! If you break it down, אֵשׁ (esh) means "fire" and מַיִם (mayim) means "water." The ancient Rabbis said it was like someone took fire and water, ran into the center of the room, and they united into one word: Heaven! 🤯

Think about that for a moment—two forces that seem so contradictory, yet they come together to make heaven! Fire and water, opposites, but together they form the very essence of balance, of possibility. That’s the very nature of heaven, isn’t it? It’s not some distant place—it’s right here in our day-to-day breathing, when opposites meet, when balance is struck, when we breathe in and let life, in all its complexity, unite within us. (P.S. channel this image tomorrow when our country is divided over 2 candidates!)

Speaking of moments—take another breath with me. This time, as you breathe in, imagine the Divine or Eternal Collective Consciousness or Universal Compassion (whatever you want to call it!) breathing right along with you, inside you, filling you with that spark of life!

Ready? Inhale… small hold…

Now, release that loooooong exhale…

Feel that divine energy flow through you; inhale the universe and let it settle deep into your soul!

Now, let's talk a bit about balance, about harmony—because it’s all connected, right? The East has long known this. Daoism speaks of living in harmony with the Tao, the Way. QiGong practices that gentle flow, that balance between movement and stillness, raging fire and calming water. That’s the Daoist way. (And if you are into the Big Lebowski, “The Dude” abides this way too!) In our chaotic world where we are constantly on the go, putting out fires, it seems like an impossible dream. But what if it wasn’t? What if it’s as simple as returning to our breath?

You see, to breathe is to participate in that balance. It’s that divine rhythm pulsing through everything. Even Jewish sages taught that breath connects us directly to the sacred. They associated breathing with the Divine presence and the name of God, the letters Yod, He, Waw, Heh…. The two syllables correspond to the intake and outtake of a single breath. The Rabbis think that every breath we take, we are speaking the name of God. And I just love that practical concept!

Rabbi and philosopher Abraham Joshua Heschel, one of the great thinkers and interfaith social activists of the 20thCentury, and one of my favorite thinkers, got it! He said, “Our task is to cleanse, to illumine, to repair.” To cleanse, like every exhale letting go of our junk. To illumine, like that moment of clarity in meditation. And to repair—to engage in the ancient practice of Tikkun Olam, the repairing of the world. And let me tell you, our world could use some serious repairing right about now!

But we can’t fix the world if we’re running on empty. You know what I mean? We must pause. We have to breathe. I think that’s why breath shows up so much in our traditions. The נִשְׁמַ֣ת חַיִּים  - the breathe of life – these breaths are reminders to slow down, to remember that we are alive, that we are connected.

Alright, do you want to do something fun here? You are going to need to stand up.

We’re going to flow through a little breathing exercise inspired by QiGong, and it’s super simple. Close your eyes – after you read this, of course – if you want.

Just feel your body, standing tall, grounded.

Now, slowly, raise your arms up, palms up, over your head as you breathe in deeply. Imagine you’re gathering in all the good, all the divine energy. Now, slowly, let your arms gently float down, palms down from your head, down your chest as you exhale, releasing anything that doesn’t serve you. Breathe in... breathe out. Again, breathe in life… and let go of all the weight you’ve been carrying.

As your hands come down, feel lighter? I hope so. It’s that chi flowing through you. It’s that divine connection, that balance.

And here’s the beautiful part: whether you call it נִשְׁמַ֣ת חַיִּים, or AUM, or breathe, it’s all inside of you. It’s that breath that connects us all, that joins us in this sacred dance of life. When we live in that awareness—when we stop and actually breathe—we start to see things differently. We start to live with intention, with compassion, with kindness. We start to – as Heschel declares – to cleans, to repair the world starting with our own bodies.

Another breath? Yes? Alright. Breathe in slowly. Hold… feel that connection to everything, to everyone. Now a looooong release. Ahhh. That’s peace. That’s chi. That’s life!

Now, as you go about your day, I want to invite you to carry this awareness with you. Every breath you take can be a moment of grace, a reminder that life, intermixed with fire and water, flows through you—sacred, eternal, and deeply connected to every other being.

The next time you’re stressed, or facing conflict, pause. Find the balance. Breathe in that celestial breath. Let it fill you with peace. And then breathe out compassion, or love, or understanding. This breath is your tool—it’s your gateway to presence, to clarity, to a life lived in harmony with yourself and the world around you. So, may your breaths be full. May your actions be kind. Every breath is an invitation to life, to love, to repairing the world. You’ve just got to take it in.

Prost to that, my friends. Peace to all.

Namaste. And Amen.

 by Ryan Miller