The Harpist and the Labyrinth A guided meditation for peace,
Transformation and possibility.
I'd like to take you on a journey to a place of deep rest and healing.
To an ancient labyrinth deep within a forest,
Where a harpist is playing to soothe,
Settle and calm you.
Let's begin by becoming comfortable,
Ensuring you won't be interrupted as you begin your time of rest.
For this guided meditation,
You can either sit comfortably in a chair,
Or you may like to lie down and create for yourself a nest of comforts using your favourite pillow and a soft blanket that you can snuggle into.
Feel the surface beneath you,
Holding you so you feel safe,
Supported and at ease as we begin our journey inwards.
Let's begin by resting your attention on the natural sensation of the breath as you breathe in and out.
Feel the movement of your chest and your belly,
Rising with the in-breath and falling with the out-breath.
You may like to put your hand on these areas to help you become aware of the sensation of your breath rising and falling.
Notice the feeling of slowing down and air filling your lungs.
Imagine you are grounding yourself with your breath as you breathe into any tense spaces,
Then letting that tension go with each out-breath.
Let's begin our journey.
It is a perfect summer evening and you decide to slip off your shoes and step outside onto the cool,
Soft grass.
Inhale the fresh air and notice it still has a hint of the summer sun.
You see the moon is full and its light shines like a golden disc,
Illuminating your garden.
In the night sky,
The stars are twinkling brightly and there is a gentle breeze blowing through the leafy branches of trees in your garden,
Casting long shadows on the ground.
You can feel the soft wind caressing your face and smell the perfume flowers lining the garden path.
It feels so peaceful that you decide it's a perfect night for an evening walk.
Feeling the cool ground beneath your feet,
You begin walking slowly through your garden and out the back gate,
Following a path that leads to a natural pine forest.
You are familiar with this path,
But it takes on a magical appearance on this moonlit night.
You feel yourself beginning to relax and take another deep breath as you begin walking the path.
At the edge of the forest,
You pause,
Taking note of what you can see,
Feel,
Smell and hear.
The forest takes on a different atmosphere at night.
It feels welcoming and safe.
It becomes alive with the sounds in nature.
A sleek fox moves ahead of you.
Its burnished red fur stands out against the dappled light as it moves into the undergrowth.
Shadows outline the trees,
Reminding you of enchanted fairy tales.
You continue your journey until you are deep within the forest.
You pause for a moment as you can hear something in the distance.
It sounds like flowing water or a breath of wind dancing through the leaves on the trees.
It sounds uplifting yet relaxing,
And you have a longing to see what this magical sound is.
And as the path continues,
You know you are drawing closer.
The breeze becomes still and the scent of pine is growing stronger.
The trees start to thin,
And as you follow the forest path,
You suddenly step into a large clearing,
Revealing an ancient pattern of stones on the ground.
You pause as you have never seen this clearing before.
And then suddenly you realise,
It's a labyrinth.
The stones making up the pathways are covered with moss and lichen,
And you can smell the earthy ground beneath your feet.
You notice with delight,
It is illuminated by dancing fireflies twinkling like small stars.
Majestic trees surround the labyrinth,
Reminding you of a sacred cathedral.
As you look with wonder and delight,
You see her.
In the centre of the labyrinth,
There is a harpist playing gentle rhythmic music.
She looks otherworldly,
As she is wearing a purple gossamer dress that billows in a gust of wind.
And as the fabric catches the moonlight,
It shimmers like a butterfly's wing.
She is wearing a crown of flowers like the ones in your garden,
And you can smell their strong fragrance from where you stand.
You notice her harp is made of buttery yellow wood that gleams.
The light reflects off the strings,
And you feel as if you've stepped into a fairy tale.
The harpist looks up in welcome.
She smiles and gently encourages you to step to the edge of the labyrinth.
A kind voice reassures you saying,
All is well.
When walking the labyrinth,
You cannot get lost,
As there is only one way in and one way out.
There is nothing to worry about here,
Only to enjoy the music,
The surroundings,
And walk this beautiful,
Meandering path.
All is well.
And you knew that it was.
You sense this is a special place,
And observe that animals such as deer,
Rabbit,
And the fox you saw earlier have come closer to listen,
Relax,
And protect this sacred place.
The harpist continues to play.
The music is rhythmic and beautiful,
And you are aware of this special time and that it's being offered to you to enjoy.
Standing at the edge of these ancient stones,
You take a deep breath in,
Look up at the stars,
And are amazed by the immensity of the night sky,
And take a moment to remember all the things you are grateful for in your life.
When you are ready,
Encouraged by the sound of harp music,
Take a deep conscious breath,
And step onto the labyrinth.
Feel the touch of the soft,
Damp grass beneath your feet,
Smell the pine needles,
And enjoy the sensation of the gentle breeze blowing against your skin.
Walk in wonder to sight of the labyrinth and the harp illuminated by the light of the fireflies.
As you are walking,
What do you notice in your body?
What thoughts are rising up?
Walking this labyrinth is an opportunity to let go of any concerns you may be experiencing in life.
Maybe there is something you are needing to let go of,
Or is there something you need answers to on this inner journey?
The labyrinth has been used as a tool for personal insight for hundreds of years,
So pay attention to what arises.
The harpist smiles and encourages you to continue.
Feel your breath rising and falling in its natural rhythm,
And walk deliberately,
Moving to the harp's gentle rhythm,
The music matching your step as you make your way to the centre.
The centre of the labyrinth is approaching.
There is a small stone bench near the harpist,
And she encourages you to sit down.
There are beautiful flowers and coloured crystals surrounding her harp and your seat.
You smile and notice her long fingers lightly touching the strings.
She plays gently,
And the vibration and sound of the harp ring out,
And up into the cathedral of trees resonating back within the clearing.
At the centre,
You sit and rest for a while,
Listening to the ebb and flow of the music and enjoying the beauty of your surroundings.
You notice not only the sounds you hear,
But the space between the sounds.
Remember that sound comes and goes like the breath.
Take a deep breath,
And let go of any tension or concern that rises up,
And feel the love and peace dwelling within.
The breeze is growing colder,
And you sense it is time to leave the centre of the labyrinth.
You smile in thanks to the harpist,
And feeling your feet firmly on the ground,
Begin walking back to the entrance.
Slowly,
Make your way back through the labyrinth,
Once again breathing deeply,
Inhaling the pine-scented air.
Feel your feet on the ground,
Hear the gentle harp music encouraging you,
And see the light-filled labyrinth and the beautiful harpist playing just for you,
Leaving behind tension and concerns,
Knowing you are returning to everyday life,
Rejuvenated and refreshed.
You are now coming to the beginning or entrance of this ancient labyrinth,
And you may want to offer a closing thought,
Or give thanks for your time here.
As you step out of the labyrinth,
You feel lighter,
And have a sense of possibility.
You look back to once again thank the harpist,
But the moon is now covered by clouds.
The animals have moved back into the forest.
The music is growing faint,
And already the scene before you is fading.
It is time to return home.
Finding the path,
You walk back through the forest,
Taking note of the sights,
Sounds and smells around you.
Think about what will you take with you from this encounter.
The path continues through the forest,
And you walk slowly,
Enjoying the sights and sounds of the night.
You notice once again the fox is just ahead of you,
And you know he's guiding your way home.
Soon you arrive back to your garden gate.
Although you feel you've been walking for a long time,
It seems as if time has stood still as everything is just as you left it.
The moon is still full,
And its light continues to shine like a golden disc illuminating your garden.
In the night sky,
The stars are still twinkling brightly,
And the gentle breeze continues to blow through the leafy branches of trees in your garden,
Casting long shadows on the ground.
As you step back inside your home,
You hear a playful snippet of harp music on the breeze,
And you sense that you can go back to the labyrinth and the harpist in the forest any time you are called to.
You feel calm,
Refreshed and replenished.
All is well,
And you know that it is.
