Welcome Radiant Souls.
I'm Stacey and today's practice is shadow softening,
A somatic unravelling.
This meditation is here to help you meet a difficult emotion or pattern with gentleness instead of resistance.
Let your body settle,
Let your breath deepen,
And give yourself permission to soften into this moment.
When you're ready,
We'll begin.
Take a slow,
Deep breath in through your nose.
Hold it for a moment and let it fall out naturally.
Pause.
Let your shoulders drop as your exhale softens.
Give yourself permission to arrive here,
In this moment.
Breathe in gently for a count of four.
Pause for two.
Exhale for five.
Again,
Inhale for one,
Two,
Three,
Four.
Pause for two.
Exhale for one,
Two,
Three,
Four,
Five.
Let your breath become an anchor.
Give yourself a moment to just focus on the breath.
Now bring your awareness to the crown of your head.
Notice any tightness or temperature there.
We're not fixing,
We're just noticing.
Let your awareness drift down to your forehead,
Then to your jaw,
Your throat.
Every exhale invites a small release.
Gently call up a shadow,
A feeling,
Behavior,
Or belief that's been tugging at you lately.
Don't analyze it,
Just name it quietly in your mind.
Ask your body where this shadow sits today.
Your chest,
Your stomach,
Your throat.
Wherever it shows up,
It's perfect.
Imagine your breath moving directly into that area of your body.
Inhale,
Creating space around it.
Exhale,
Softening the tension that surrounds it.
With every breath,
The edges loosen.
The pressure fades.
The space becomes safer.
Now I want you to picture this shadow as a shape,
A color,
Or a texture.
Let your mind choose naturally,
But I want you to see it clearly.
Whether it's an outline,
A color,
A scent,
A taste.
Maybe it's just a word that comes into your mind.
Whatever it is,
Allow yourself to experience it,
To see it.
Instead of pushing it away,
I want you to breathe a warm oil around it.
As you breathe in,
Imagine that your body is preparing to enlighten this shadow.
As you breathe out,
Imagine that that light is now surrounding it.
This glow signals,
I'm here.
You can soften now.
Imagine this glow growing warmer.
It's gentle,
Supportive.
And the more that you breathe into this area,
Into this glow,
You notice the shape begins to shift,
Dissolve,
Lighten.
You watch as the shadow starts to become pure light.
Take a minute to call in your higher self.
The highest version of yourself.
The version of you who's patient,
Grounded,
And deeply compassionate.
Imagine them kneeling beside this shadow.
They place a hand over the area of your body where it sits.
And you feel the warmth pouring from your highest self into your own body.
Your highest self whispers words of reassurance that you can feel all the way into your bones,
Into your heart,
Into your soul.
You hear your highest self tell you that you're allowed to rest now.
You're allowed to feel safe.
You're allowed to soften.
As your highest self says these words,
Notice how the shadow responds,
Being met with care instead of judgment.
How is it changing what you see,
Hear,
Smell,
Or taste?
Take one deep breath into the space where the shadow lived.
And when you exhale,
Let the glow seal in softness.
Imagine the entire area smoothing over.
It's now warm,
Open,
Unburdened.
I want you to start returning your awareness back to your breath.
Feel how your body sits a little differently than before.
You feel a little lighter,
A little more understood.
As you continue to bring your awareness back to your breath,
Feel the steadiness that you've created inside your body now.
Offer yourself gratitude for meeting your inner world with compassion today.
When you're ready,
Start to wiggle your fingers and your toes.
Maybe you rotate your shoulders or stretch your neck.
Take one final rounding breath.
And when you're ready,
Open your eyes and know that this wasn't just a meditation.
This was a chance for you to meet yourself with compassion today.
Carry that energy with you for today and for the rest of your days.
If this practice supported you,
Feel free to save it or share it so other radiant souls can find their way here.
I hope you have an amazing rest of your day.
Thank you.
