I invite you now to,
You know,
Do what you need to do to find your comfort place.
In the circumstances that you're in,
You might have total freedom to sit where you want,
To lie down where you want,
To walk slowly in the great outdoors.
You might be somewhat compromised in your freedom.
So I always like to remind you know,
That you can even do this meditation in your imagination.
But I'm going to give the guidance as though you can now find a quiet,
Comfortable position.
Really what you're doing in that,
Is you're signaling to the body,
Ah,
It's okay,
We're taking a pause.
So letting the body know that in some way.
Maybe inviting the body to soften and to settle.
Just allowing some ease and some space.
Nice,
Strong,
Straight back.
Grounding and rooting you in a lovely,
Soft,
Open front.
Softening.
Settling.
And let your breath now,
Just nice and easily become your companion.
Inhaling gently.
And then a lovely,
Easy,
Slow exhale.
Exhale.
Mind is busy,
Emotions are tugging.
Oh,
No problem,
Nothing gone wrong.
Just a wonderful opportunity to notice what is here.
And then coming back.
Maybe again and again.
To the gentle inhale.
And a slow exhale.
Inhale.
Exhale.
Inhale.
You are here now.
This is your time.
A sacred pause in the very heart of your caring.
In the Celtic tradition,
Every moment holds the possibility of encounter.
With source.
With nature.
With the unseen blessings that walk beside us.
Even in sorrow.
Even in exhaustion.
There are glimmers of light.
Joy doesn't ask for grand gestures.
Joy arrives in the smallest of things.
A bird song.
A shared smile.
A quiet sunrise.
Bring your attention now to your breath.
Seeing if you might just notice it.
Without needing to change it at all.
Tuning in to the breath that is here right now.
Letting it anchor you.
With every breath,
Feel the ground beneath you.
The earth.
Your ancient mother is holding you.
Just as you hold the person you care for in love.
The earth itself holds you.
Visualise now roots extending from your feet or from your spine.
All the way down into the earth.
Strong,
Deep roots.
Connecting you with support.
Feel their strength.
Feel the stillness.
You are not alone.
You are connected to a lineage of carers,
Of nurturers,
Of healers.
You are a part of the great web of life.
Grounded.
Rooted.
Connected.
Now in your mind's eye,
I invite you to imagine yourself walking through an ancient Celtic forest.
The canopy above is dappled with soft morning light.
Birdsong weaves through the trees like a gentle hymn.
The air is cool and sweet.
As you walk,
Each step is slow and intentional.
The path is mossy and soft beneath your feet.
The forest holds memories,
Stories and the love of your ancestors.
The trees all around you have witnessed centuries of joy and sorrow.
They whisper now,
You are not alone in this.
Now ahead of you,
You notice a shaft of sunlight piercing through the trees.
It lights up a tiny clearing.
And in that circle of light,
Something stirs now in your heart.
A flicker.
A glimmer of joy.
Let your mind drift now to a moment of joy you've experienced in recent days.
It may be small.
Something tiny.
A shared laugh.
A moment of stillness.
The warmth of a hand held.
The scent of your loved one's favourite food.
Allow your mind to land on a glimmer of joy.
Hold this moment gently.
Let it glow in your heart like a flame.
Let it warm you from the inside.
This is not about denying the sorrow or the weariness or the challenge.
This is about remembering that joy and grief can co-exist.
And that joy is not an absence of suffering.
It's the soul's way of surviving it.
So leaning in to the glimmer of joy in recent days.
And now bring your hands to your heart if that feels right for you.
Or simply hold this gentle awareness of your own sacred presence.
Repeat quietly or silently within.
Even here there is beauty.
Even now there is joy.
I am doing sacred work.
And I am not alone.
Even here there is beauty.
Even now there is joy.
I am doing sacred work.
And I am not alone.
Allow the truth of these words to wash over you.
Let them sink deep into your being.
You are not expected to carry everything.
Let the earth hold some of it.
Let the light in the forest hold some of it.
The Celtic soul knew that we are surrounded by companions.
Seen and unseen.
Who walk the road with us.
Lean on them now.
Let yourself be held.
Even here there is beauty.
Even now there is joy.
I am doing sacred work.
And I am not alone.
Begin now to gently turn the attention back to the breath.
Just noticing the breath that is here all of the time.
Maybe tuning in to it's gentle rhythm.
Feeling the rhythm of this breath in your body.
Noticing the steadiness of your spirit.
Wiggle your fingers or your toes.
Take a deeper breath in now.
Long,
Slow,
Filling the belly with maximum air.
And then sigh it out.
And when you are ready.
Gently,
Slowly.
Opening the eyes or lifting the gaze.
And noticing the space around you.
Carrying with you now this truth.
There will be glimmers.
There will be beauty.
Even in the hardest moments.
The soul can find it's way to joy.
Thank you for listening.
