Hello: Go Gently

Go gently.

What would it mean to be gentle with yourself?

To stay with a simple,

Gentle rhythm of breath when the mind wanders away?

To be a gentle witness,

Rather than a judge.

Go gently.

Be gentle.

Allow the breath to move gently in and gently out.

Allow the tether of your attention to be gentle.

If the mind wanders away,

No big deal.

Notice where it's wandered,

Gently come back to the rhythm of breath.

Move as gently,

As slowly,

As a seed awakening from winter,

Which is to say,

You're not moving very much at all.

The growth is imperceptible,

Yet steady.

Transformation happening in stillness,

In quiet,

In the dark.

Fertile and friendly,

This space of wintering,

A time to be gentle,

Forgiving,

And still.

Stay with your breath.

Unclench your jaw,

Your belly.

See if you can give over any of the rigidity or tension in your body to the earth.

How would it be to become just a little more gentle with yourself in this moment?

The muscles around the eyes,

The scalp,

The ears,

The gentlest of effort as you allow your body to breathe you.

And you're welcome to stay with this gentle practice as the recording ends.

Continue to breathe and be.

Be at rest.

If you're ready to move on with what's next,

When the music ends,

So will the meditation.

Be gentle with yourself.

Be well.