# Elijah Meditation (Part 3): The Earthquake

An episode of [The Daily Meditation with Brother Richard](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1861284240), 12 Sep 2026, 11 min.

Audio: https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/693ebc1df3a6f9e20ac00b64/e/6aa51c5e8c3c473bce2de937/media.mp3

In this meditation, I return to the story of Elijah in the First Book of Kings and to the archetypal map of meditation practice we find in his experience of the cave. In previous meditations, we considered the storm as an image of the thoughts, sensations and emotions that can distract us when we seek stillness, and the fire as an image of our desire for reality to be different from what it is. Today we encounter Elijah’s third trial: the earthquake. The earthquake represents those periods of life when what once seemed secure begins to shake. A relationship may end, a job may be lost, an identity may change, or an understanding we have carried about ourselves may begin to break down. Elijah teaches us to abide. We return to the cave of stillness, to the breath, to the present moment and to divine grace. Every trial has a beginning and an end. The storm comes and goes. The fire comes and goes. The earthquake comes and goes. Our practice cannot prevent difficult circumstances from arising, but it can help us discover a deeper stability from which to meet them. In the midst of change, uncertainty and suffering, we learn to abide in stillness, equanimity and peace. Chapters: 00:00 – Introduction: Elijah and the earthquake 01:09 – Opening bell 01:25 – Entering the cave of stillness 02:07 – Grounding in the body and earth 02:53 – Anchoring ourselves in the breath 03:29 – The storm of thoughts and emotions 04:12 – Allowing the storm to come and go 04:36 – The fire of desire 05:05 – Working with reality as it is 05:27 – Abiding in sacred stillness 05:52 – The trial of the earthquake 06:28 – When what seemed secure begins to shake 06:57 – The breakdown of identity and ego 07:13 – Abiding through difficult times 08:07 – Returning to breath, stability and grace 08:33 – Growing in equanimity and peace 08:47 – Storm, fire and earthquake 09:37 – Nothing can remove our inner stability 10:21 – Remembering the teaching in difficult moments 10:55 – Closing bell Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Shows are listed from Apple Podcasts' charts and directory, and Podcast Index where it is used. Every show and episode belongs to its publisher and plays from the publisher's own feed; this site hosts none of them.