This is a practice that can help shift your state,
Bring a new perspective and inspiration.
You might want to try this if you're looking for a fresh perspective on yourself or on a situation you're in.
You want some inspiration for a project you're working on,
Or just a general sense of wanting to tune into the more creative,
Imaginative aspects of yourself.
It's a good way to come out of thought loops and out of our habitual and linear and very limited ways of thinking.
And it opens us up to a different kind of intelligence and knowing.
It shifts the nervous system into a more ventral,
Vagal state of safety,
Connection and even playfulness.
So,
You can do this sitting,
Standing,
Lying down,
Whatever your body needs in this moment.
Find a way to be comfortable and then notice your state,
The condition that you're arriving in.
How are you feeling right now in your body?
What sensations are you aware of?
And what emotion is present for you?
How's your mind?
And without thinking,
I want you to picture an animal,
The first animal that comes to your mind.
Don't go looking for one,
Just see who pops up.
No matter how small or weird or strange this animal might be,
How different from what you might have expected or from the animals that you know,
Just go with the first thing that comes.
And then see this animal in detail in front of your inner eye.
Notice what you notice about this animal,
Its shape,
Its colors,
Textures,
Skin or the fur,
All the little details.
And bring your awareness to the way that you're picturing this animal in what context or landscape or situation you're seeing it.
Is it still or is it moving?
Is it alone or with others?
And what is it doing?
As you continue to connect with and observe this animal,
Just notice what qualities you see this animal embodying.
What is its state of being?
And imagine for a moment stepping into being this animal.
So in your own body,
Finding the posture,
The movement,
Attitude and the qualities of this animal.
And be creative.
You might want to get up and move or you can do this just with your imagination.
Helps if you can allow yourself to make movements.
You might even want to move around your space as this animal to try on what it's like.
See if you want to make sounds.
Notice how this animal breathes.
Really let yourself feel free to inhabit the place of this animal.
And what is that like for you?
What are the impulses from this place,
From this way of being?
What feelings and thoughts are coming up for you?
Is there anything else you're learning about this animal by inhabiting its body,
Its way of being?
And even if this animal,
Of course,
Does not normally speak,
You might want to imagine what it would say.
What it would say about itself or what it would say to you,
To the world.
And you can take as much time as you need with this.
You can stop the recording if you want to spend more time exploring being this animal.
And then I'm going to ask you to step back out and into yourself and look at this animal again to see what other associations,
Qualities,
Characteristics you see now as you look at the animal.
Again you can explore and play with this for as long as you like.
And then when you feel complete for now,
You might like to thank this animal for showing up and offering you a new perspective.
Notice how you feel right now.
How's your body?
How's your feeling state?
What's happening in your mind?
And how are you feeling overall compared to earlier?
And to integrate this practice and any insights you've gained,
You might want to spend some time journaling about your experience and reflect on how the animal that showed up and the experience of connecting with it might be relevant,
Offer you some support,
Some insights,
Some inspiration for your current situation,
For your questions,
Your projects.
Enjoy.
