Welcome back my friend.
Today we journey into the ember that glows inside all of us.
The ember of courage.
Not the loud kind that roars,
But the quiet glow that helps us to face big feelings,
To speak our truth,
And to try again even after we fall down.
So let's begin by getting cozy,
Snuggling into a soft warm place.
Maybe you're wrapped in a blanket or lying with a chair.
Let your body begin to rest.
Take a nice big breath in through your nose.
Hold it and slowly let it out like a dragon's exhale.
Let's do it again.
A dragon's breath in.
Hold.
And a long powerful breath out.
Feel your body start to settle in.
Your legs they soften.
Your shoulders relax.
And your heart feels warm and curious.
Now imagine a path made of golden stones appearing before you.
It winds through a field of soft moss,
Glowing flowers.
The air smells like something that you love.
Can you imagine what it is?
Maybe cinnamon,
Or wildflowers,
Or chocolate,
Or your favorite snack.
As you step onto the path,
You feel strong,
Safe,
And ready.
Up ahead,
A small glowing ember floats in the air.
Soft,
Golden,
Like a firefly.
It dances just ahead of you,
Guiding you toward a beautiful mountain.
This is the mountain of courage.
And it is alive with light.
As you walk closer to it,
What do you hear?
Is there the flap of dragon wings?
The rustle of trees and leaves in the wind?
A song only you can hear?
When you reach the mountain,
A great,
Green,
And gold dragon is waiting for you.
It smiles gently and says,
Welcome back.
Today,
We find your ember of courage.
She invites you to climb onto her back.
And as you do,
You feel her warmth beneath you.
You notice her scales shimmering like emerald fire.
With a gentle leap,
You're soaring into the sky,
The wind kissing your face as the world grows small below.
She flies you into a hidden cave high in the mountain.
The cave itself glows with a soft,
Golden light.
And in the very center of the cave is a small fire.
This fire is yours.
The dragon says,
This is your ember of courage.
Every time you feel afraid,
And you try anyway,
Every time you speak up,
Or tell the truth,
Or feel a big feeling,
This ember grows.
This fire grows.
The dragon shows you how to sit by the fire.
Place your hands near it,
Not too close.
And it glows brighter and warmer.
Now,
Think of something that made you feel nervous or scared recently.
Something that might have felt like a mountain in your heart.
Can you imagine it?
Now,
Tell the fire,
Whisper it,
Or just think it in your mind,
And watch as the fire listens,
The ember grows.
The dragon says,
You are brave when you feel it all.
You are strong when you let yourself cry,
Or laugh,
Or try again.
She invites you to draw a symbol,
Or a word,
Or a picture in the soft,
Golden sand near the fire.
Something that reminds you of how strong you are.
As you draw in the golden sand,
Each piece of what you draw begins to glow,
And tiny little golden fireflies swirl around it.
The whole cave lights up with your courage.
Breathe in,
And feel it settle in your chest.
And breathe out,
Feeling proud of your heart.
The dragon lowers her head.
It's time to go,
Brave one.
You climb up on her back,
And soar once more through the sky,
The mountain of courage behind you,
And your ember glowing in your chest.
When you return to the golden path,
She whispers,
Come back anytime.
Your ember is always with you.
You climb down.
You wave goodbye,
And return to your room.
Gently wiggling your fingers and your toes.
Stretch gently if you like.
And remember,
Courage doesn't mean never being scared.
It means feeling,
Trying,
And being true to who you are.
You did something beautiful today.
