Welcome,
Dear one,
To your guided walking meditation.
This is Lauren Bernard,
And I am so honored to guide you on this magical forest walk today.
As you step into the forest,
Know that you are entering sacred space.
Let this walk be more than just movement through the woods.
Let it be a journey into the heart of stillness,
Into presence,
Into magic.
A walking meditation invites us to slow down and become fully embodied.
To walk,
Not to arrive,
But to awaken.
It grounds us in the present moment,
Connects us to the earth,
And opens our senses to the subtle beauty that often goes unnoticed.
With each breath,
Can you feel yourself arriving?
Can you feel your feet grounding into the earth,
The same earth that holds up the trees,
The rivers,
The lakes,
And all of life?
Beginning to walk slowly,
Gently,
There is no rush here.
Let your breath guide you.
Now,
Can you take a soft inhale through your nose,
And a gentle exhale out your mouth?
And again,
In with every step,
Can you imagine roots growing from the soles of your feet,
Reaching deep into the earth below?
You are supported.
You belong.
Can you begin to notice what is around you?
Now,
Take a moment here to take it all in.
Perhaps noticing the light filtering through the leaves,
The songs of birds,
Or even the rustle of the wind.
Can you take notice of the textures of the bark,
Nature's art,
The scent of pine,
The soft whisper of moss or leaves crunching beneath your steps?
Can you take it all in as if you are meeting the forest for the first time,
Or perhaps remembering an ancient friendship?
You are not walking alone.
The trees are witnesses.
The breeze is your companion.
The forest sees you,
Hears you,
Holds you.
If you feel called,
May you pause for a moment.
Maybe place your hand gently on a tree,
Or reach down to touch the earth.
Can you let your heart whisper a quiet thank you?
Can you feel into the aliveness all around you,
And know that this aliveness is also within you?
Can you sense into the energy of all that is alive around you,
Within you?
And as you continue on your walk,
You may begin to notice sensations in your body,
Perhaps a softening in your shoulders,
A loosening of tension,
The release of any gripping or clenching,
Or even a quiet joy rising from within.
Can you let your mind rest with ease?
Can you let your spirit play?
Imagine that with every step,
You are collecting little pieces of peace,
Little sparks of wonder,
Gifts from the forest to bring home with you.
And as you continue on this journey,
An invitation to silently offer this blessing with each step.
I walk in beauty,
I walk with presence,
I walk in gratitude,
I walk in beauty,
I walk with presence,
I walk in gratitude,
I walk in beauty,
I walk with presence,
I walk in gratitude.
Can you let your pace be slow,
And let your senses be open?
There is no destination,
Only this sacred now.
As you walk today,
Know that this forest is not separate from you.
It is a reflection of your own inner wilderness,
Alive,
Ever-changing,
Resilient,
And wise.
Each breath you take is a gift from the trees.
Each step is a sacred exchange between your body and the earth.
Can you allow yourself to receive the quiet nourishment that nature offers,
The grounding energy of the soil,
The gentle encouragement of the breeze and the winding path,
The healing stillness of the trees?
Can you let the forest simply hold you exactly as you are,
Remind you of the wholeness that has always been within?
As you walk,
Know this,
Being in nature doesn't just feel good,
It is good for you,
On a cellular level.
You might find it interesting to know that studies show that time in natural environments reduces stress,
Lowers cortisol,
Boosts the immune system,
And increases the activity of natural killer cells,
The scent of pine,
The softness of moss,
The dappled light through the leaves.
They're not just beautiful,
They're medicine.
Forest air is rich with phytoncides,
Natural plant compounds that help your body relax,
Restore,
And thrive.
So can you breathe it in,
Breathe it all in,
Into every cell of your being,
The deepest cellular level.
Let the forest restore you,
Body,
Mind,
And spirit.
You may wish to pause this recording and take in the rest of your walk,
Embracing the silence or the natural symphony that nature provides,
And resume the recording when you feel ready to conclude your walk and your meditation.
If you are at the end of your walk,
You may wish to pause once more.
Maybe you stop by a nearby lake,
A tree that invites you into her embrace,
Bask in the warmth of the sunshine,
Or simply sense the earth beneath you and the sky above you.
Can you sense the vibrational,
Subtle energy above you,
Below you,
And all around you?
Be healing into whatever landscape is in front of you.
If you are by water,
Sensing into the healing essence that the water welcomes.
If you are amongst trees,
Knowing that you are loved and protected.
And if you are amongst the sun,
The sky,
And the earth beneath you,
Knowing that you are connected above and below with this infinite source,
This infinite source of life-giving prana.
Come to stillness.
Close your eyes if it feels safe.
Placing a hand on your heart,
Or maybe both hands,
One on top of the other.
Can you feel the beat of your own inner rhythm?
The forest has shared its wisdom.
The earth has walked with you.
Might you bow gently to this sacred space and carry its magic back with you into all the places you go?
Can you bring in this felt sense of being grounded,
Connected,
And deeply,
Beautifully alive?
Thank you for walking with presence,
For walking with love,
For walking with the earth,
And raising the collective vibration.
And for raising the energy into the collective.
And for raising the vibration into our collective energy field.
And every time you practice self-care in any way,
Shape,
Or form,
And know that the essence of what you have cultivated here on this guided walking meditation amongst nature,
Will remain with you long after this practice has ended.
From my heart to yours,
Thank you for walking this sacred path with me today.
May the peace,
Wisdom,
And wild beauty of the forest stay with you always.
Namaste,
Dear one.
