You can be laying on your back,
You can lay on your side,
You can lay on your front even.
You can be sitting up with your back against the wall or in a place that position that is really comfortable for you.
Fully embody this willingness to be in relationship with the land,
The land as your ancestor.
Having a willingness to explore what that might look like or be like.
Embodying that and resting into that.
So just a reminder for this practice,
There's no need to try.
You're just here to rest.
Have that be your first priority.
I'm just here to rest.
Knowing that this practice moves past the intellectual part of the mind and into the subtle layer,
Subtle layers of yourself that are connected to the land,
Just as they are connected to your blood ancestors.
The spirit that is within all beings,
Human or non-human,
And all that's needed is a willingness to settle in,
To rest into that.
You don't have to try or use effort.
You don't have to stay awake.
You also don't have to fall asleep or drop into this special place.
You don't have to control your thoughts.
You don't have to stop your thoughts.
You get to just be exactly as you are with no expectations.
So to continue this settling into a deeper rest,
There can be a mindfulness of the non-human beings that maybe gave their life or transformed in some sort of way.
So you could be here in this position right now.
So maybe acknowledging the food that might be in your stomach and the non-human beings that may have given themselves to you to fill your belly.
And the water perhaps that was willing to be consumed,
To be drank,
To hydrate your body.
And acknowledgement of the cotton or the wool or whatever made up this blanket that may be covering you or the pillow that may be under your head or your knees.
Acknowledgement of that being that gave of itself in some sort of way.
Acknowledging perhaps the molecules that shifted and changed to become the mat that's underneath you.
Or acknowledging perhaps the wood that gave of itself to be the floor holding you now.
That acknowledgement is one way to begin that relationship.
And there can be a resting deeper that happens now.
Resting deeper through the entire body,
The molecules that make up this body that really are not so different from the earth herself.
And there can be a deepening of that deepening feeling perhaps into the earth of the body.
And knowing that like calls to like.
So perhaps imagining that your body could settle or rest so deeply that you would feel the connection between the body and the earth.
And perhaps that connection goes through a couple of floors until reaching the earth or maybe it's directly on the earth.
But settling in through the body,
Being curious about fully connecting the earth of the body to the earth herself,
Knowing that there's no need to make anything happen.
It's just inviting it to happen and observing.
And allowing the awareness to come to the breath.
Noticing each inhale and each exhale,
Each breath perhaps dissolving the minds even more between the human body and the earth body.
With each cycle of breath feeling more and more held by the earth herself.
Remembering deeper and deeper the body as the earth herself.
Now be with your chosen lineage of this land,
That plant,
Or body of water,
Or landmass,
Or season that you've chosen.
And what if you could just sit with it,
Be with it,
Imagine it.
Bringing in a sense of patience,
A willingness to just be there with this ancestor of the land.
Maybe asking,
What am I meant to learn or understand today?
Not expecting anything at all.
But asking this ancestor,
If it feels right,
What am I meant to learn or understand today?
And if anything comes,
Knowing that that can be taken as the intention throughout the remainder of this practice.
Or if there isn't anything quite yet,
Bringing with you the intention to be in relationship with the land.
Knowing that this intention will continue along with you throughout the remainder of the practice.
Do even less,
Just invite in a deeper state of rest.
The next stage of the practice,
The awareness will move around to different parts of the body.
Imagining,
Feeling,
Or sensing in some way each point of the body resting.
Resting deeper,
Held by the earth as the earth.
And then bringing the awareness to the point between the eyebrows.
Starting with the point between the eyebrows.
Bringing the awareness to the point between the eyebrows,
Resting deeper,
Fully held,
Resting as the earth herself.
This awareness gently drifting down to the pit of the throat,
The space between the collarbones.
And over into the right shoulder,
Elbow,
Wrist,
The right hand thumb,
Index finger,
Middle finger,
Ring finger,
Little finger,
Right wrist,
Elbow,
Shoulder,
Pit of the throat,
Left shoulder,
Elbow,
Wrist,
Left hand thumb,
Index finger,
Middle finger,
Ring finger,
Little finger,
Left wrist,
Elbow,
Shoulder,
Pit of the throat,
Left wrist,
Center of the chest,
Right chest,
Left chest,
Center of the chest,
Left wrist,
Navel,
Right hip,
Knee,
Ankle,
Big toe,
Second toe,
Third,
Fourth,
And fifth,
Ankle,
Hip,
Left hip,
Hip,
Ankle,
Big toe,
Second toe,
Third,
Fourth,
Ankle,
Knee,
Navel,
Center of the chest,
Pit of the throat,
Space between the eyebrows.
And aware of all of these points of the body.
Aware of all of these points of the body all together,
Resting even deeper,
Resting into the earth as the earth.
And the awareness drifts back to the breath,
Aware of the natural inhales and exhales.
This organic exchange,
This exchange within relationship that happens without even trying,
Completely effortless,
Receiving with gratitude that fresh oxygen with each inhale,
And giving back with each exhale.
What is inhaled is freely given.
What is exhaled is freely given.
To simply observe this exchange as it happens naturally and effortlessly.
Gratitude on each inhale,
Sense of giving back on each exhale.
Continuing to observe this effortless exchange,
Gratitude on each inhale,
Sense of giving back on each exhale,
Allowing that to release and just resting deeper,
And allowing the awareness to move through the body.
To be curious about and imagine the element of earth within the body.
And this element of earth be felt within the body,
Or seen,
Or just known.
There's no need to try.
Exploring through the body to observe the element of water within the body.
That element of water that is there,
A willingness to feel or sense,
Visualize or imagine in some way,
The element of water within the body.
Observing the element of fire within the body.
Observe the element of air within the body.
Letting that go completely and just resting deeper.
And in this place of deep rest,
Again,
Finding yourself with that ancestor of the land that you chose.
To be open to receiving any lessons or understanding from this ancestor.
Knowing there's no need to try,
There are no expectations to receive anything at all,
But just being willing to be here now with this ancestor from the land.
In whatever way that is experienced.
Open to any lessons or understanding,
Anything to be learned from this ancestor.
And perhaps asking them,
In what way can I be in better relationship with you?
There may be a way to use this plant as a medicine or in a ritual.
Or a way to be with or recognize or acknowledge this land.
And then knowing that you'll bring any lessons learned,
Any healing that has occurred,
Whether it was conscious or unconscious,
Whether it was known or understood or not.
Knowing that you'll bring that all with you as you start to bring this practice to a close.
First,
Just by noticing the body breathing.
Those inhales and exhales as they come and as they go effortlessly.
Maybe choosing to allow the breath to remain natural or to choose to deepen or lengthen the inhales and exhales.
And to be aware of the sounds happening in this space.
Be aware of the sounds as they happen here and now.
This awareness of sounds bringing you a little bit closer to the surface,
A little bit closer to wakefulness.
There is an awareness of the body.
Be aware of your surroundings.
Your body resting here and now in this place.
Choosing to allow the body to remain still or maybe choosing to wiggle fingers or toes,
Just inviting in some gentle movement to the body.
Maybe making that movement a little bit bigger as it feels right,
Like circling wrists or ankles,
Rocking the head side to side,
Stretching long through the arms or the legs.
Aware of the body resting here and now and coming even closer to the surface.
Then you make your way onto your side if you aren't there already.
Make your way onto your side,
Maybe moving with your eyes closed.
Choose whichever side feels right to you.
To the right or to the left,
Moving with the eyes closed and just resting there for a moment.
Then as you are ready,
Making your way up to a seat.
Take your time using only the muscles that are absolutely necessary.
Make your way up to a seat.
