Welcome,
Now take a moment to settle into your space.
When you're ready,
Take a deep breath in and hold it,
And as you hold it,
Squeeze every muscle in your body,
And then when you're happy with an open mouth and a cathartic sigh,
Just let go of all the day's stresses.
Feel free to do it again if it helps you feel more relaxed.
Let yourself settle,
And as you do,
Turn your awareness to the softness of your breath.
Let your breath become effortless,
Gentle,
Rhythmic.
Like the slow rise and fall of waves on a quiet shore.
Let the world fall away for a while,
There's nowhere else to be,
Nothing else to do.
Just this moment,
Just this breath,
Just this stillness.
Now,
In your mind's eye,
Begin to picture yourself standing at the edge of a quiet country lane.
The air is rich after rain,
Earthy,
Sweet,
And fresh.
You can smell damp leaves,
The green brightness of grass,
And something soft and floral,
Perhaps honeysuckle or wild rose blooming nearby.
Tiny droplets still cling to every surface,
Glistening on leaves and grass like tiny jewels,
Catching the soft,
Filtered light that slips between the clouds.
To your left,
A tall wooden fence runs alongside the lane.
It's old,
Weathered and worn smooth by time.
Moss and ivy curl around its base,
The wild fox gloves rise proudly just beyond it.
You can't see what lies beyond the fence,
But there's something quietly enchanting about it,
A sense of mystery,
Of invitation.
As you walk,
Every step makes a soft sound on the damp earth,
A puddle reflects the sky,
A robin flutters on a branch above and watches you pass.
The trees sway gently in the breeze,
Their leaves whispering ancient songs.
Eventually,
The fence ends and you come to a wooden gate.
It's sturdy,
Handmade with iron hinges and an old latch,
And pinned right in the center of the door,
A single note.
Your name is written on it,
In beautiful flowing handwriting.
Just seeing your name here,
In a sacred place feels comforting,
Like a gentle nudge from something greater.
You open the note.
On the back,
In the same familiar hand are the words,
Come in.
A soft warmth blooms in your chest.
You fold the note,
Place it into your pocket,
And rest your hand on the gate.
It swings open easily,
As though it's been waiting for you.
On the other side,
The world opens.
A wide meadow stretches out before you,
Rolling hills dotted with wildflowers,
Buttercups,
Daisies,
Cowparsley dancing gently in the breeze.
The colors are soft and glowing,
Emerald greens,
Soft golds,
Powdery blues.
To your right,
A winding brook sparkles in the sun,
Its water crystal clear.
The gentle bubble of the flow is soothing,
A lullaby sung by nature.
By the brook nestled beneath an old oak tree,
Whose limbs reach wide like protective arms,
Sits a wooden chair.
It looks impossibly inviting,
Worn smooth with age,
Shaped by time,
As if it's been waiting just for you.
You walk slowly toward it,
Feeling the grass brush against your legs,
Hearing the breeze rustling the leaves,
Noticing the occasional buzz of a bee at a safe distance,
Everything alive yet peaceful.
You reach the chair and sit.
It embraces your body perfectly,
Like a memory of something familiar.
The wood is warm from the afternoon sun,
The scent of rain-kissed bark and summer earth surrounds you.
You let out a long,
Gentle sigh,
And then you feel it,
A wave of calm energy beginning at the crown of your head.
It moves down like warm sunlight sliding over your skin,
Across your forehead,
Soothing the muscles around your eyes,
Your cheeks,
Your jaw,
Your neck.
It moves down your shoulders,
Into your arms,
Through your hands to the fingertips,
Your chest softens,
Your belly releases,
Your hips sink deeper into the chair.
The warmth flows down your legs,
Calves,
To your feet,
Right down to the very tips of your toes.
Every part of you is seen,
Held,
And allowed to rest.
You are still,
Peaceful,
Complete.
Now across the brook,
Movement stirs.
An animal emerges quietly from the trees,
Graceful,
Calm,
And steady.
It may be a deer,
A fox,
An owl,
A blackbird,
Or something familiar to you.
Whatever form it takes,
It does not startle you or threaten you,
In fact,
You feel a subtle recognition.
Your eyes meet,
And in that gaze something ancient stirs.
It is as if the creature mirrors your inner world,
As if it sees something in you that even you sometimes forget.
You hold this gaze for a few quiet moments,
A bond forms,
No words,
No need,
Just knowing,
Presence,
Peace.
And then a single golden leaf detaches from the branch above,
Spiraling slowly down,
Dancing on the air until it lands on the surface of the brook.
It floats away gently downstream,
A reminder of time's softness,
Of moments passing,
Of the beauty in letting go.
You return to your breath,
To your body,
To the chair,
And to the calm that now radiates from within.
You slowly rise from your seat,
And instinctively,
Your hand reaches into your pocket,
You unfold the note again,
Blow the words come in,
Another message has appeared,
Written in the same beautiful unmistakable handwriting,
Carry this peace with you,
It lives within.
You press the note to your heart,
Letting its truth settle deep into your being.
You begin your gentle return,
Walking once more through the meadow,
Through the gate,
And down the soft,
Quiet lane.
You carry the stillness with you,
The memory of connection,
And the deep,
Sacred calm that cannot be taken because it's part of you now.
When you're ready,
Slowly return back to your day,
And thank you for joining me on this journey,
Knowing that you can return to this beautiful place at any time when you need to.
Namaste.
