Hello,
I'm Mark Rowland and thank you so much for joining me today.
Just take a moment to settle in.
Allow your body to find a comfortable position.
That doesn't matter if you're sitting or lying down.
But just let the hands rest easily and the shoulders drop.
And just begin to notice your breath.
No need to change it or breathe in a special way.
Just notice.
Feel the weight of your body where you are.
The points of contact beneath you.
The support that's already here.
Let the jaw soften.
As well as the space around the eyes.
And just allow yourself to arrive fully here.
You have nothing to achieve in this moment and nowhere else to be.
Just be here.
In a moment,
I'm going to share a very old story.
It's simple,
But it has a way of staying with you.
It has with me since the first time I heard this.
And as you listen,
Remember there's nothing you need to try to figure out.
Just see if you can let the words land.
And maybe notice what they stir within you.
A scorpion stood at the edge of a river.
He needed to get to the other side,
But he can't swim.
Nearby,
A frog rested at the water's edge.
The scorpion called out to the frog.
Please,
Frog,
Will you help me across?
The frog looked a bit worried and hesitated.
Hmm,
I could easily carry you across this river.
But you're a scorpion.
How do I know you're not going to sting me halfway across?
And if you do,
We will both surely drown.
The scorpion paused for a moment and then replied.
Why would I do that?
As you said,
If I sting you,
We will both die.
The frog considered this a while.
He thought it did make sense.
And so,
With some reluctance,
The frog finally agreed.
Okay,
Scorpion,
Climb on then.
So,
The scorpion stepped on to the frog's back and they began to cross the river.
The water moved gently around them,
Steady and calm.
They were making good progress.
But halfway across,
Without any warning whatsoever,
The scorpion stung the frog.
The frog cried out.
What are you doing?
Why would you do this?
Now we're both going to drown.
And the scorpion replied.
I couldn't help it.
I'm a scorpion.
It's in my nature.
Let the story settle for a moment.
No need to rush past it.
And just begin to notice what arises for you as you hear it.
Perhaps a thought.
A feeling.
A memory.
Have there been moments where something maybe didn't feel quite right for you?
And yet you moved forward anyway.
Moments where logic said one thing,
But something deeper,
Quieter,
Sensed another thing.
You might notice how that feels in your body right now.
Maybe a tightening or softening.
Maybe nothing at all or something else entirely.
And perhaps,
Gently,
Without any judgement,
You can recognise how human that is.
The need to hope.
To trust others.
To give the benefit of the doubt.
And also,
To begin learning to listen more closely.
Listening to yourself,
To that subtle inner intuition.
You don't need to solve anything here.
Just notice.
Just become a little more aware.
And now,
Gently bringing your attention back to the breath.
Feeling it move in.
And out.
Noticing the body again.
The weight of you here.
The contact with the surface beneath you.
Perhaps a small movement in the fingers and toes,
Giving them a little wiggle.
And let the body reawaken at its own pace.
And when you feel you're ready,
If the eyes have been closed,
Allow them to open.
Taking in the space around you.
There's nothing you need to carry heavily from this.
Just a quiet self-awareness.
Something gently remembered.
That others will be as they are.
And you can stay close to what feels true and authentic for you.
And that wise sense within you often knows much more than you realise.
Thank you for practicing with me today.
Have a beautiful rest of your day.
Go in peace.
Namaste.
