So welcome to this drum journey and a huge thank you to those of you returning to my Insight Timer page and a warm welcome if this is your first time here.
I invite you now to close your eyes,
Take a deep breath,
Listen and feel the steady pulse of the drum,
Guiding you,
Grounding you in this moment,
With each beat you sink deeper into a more and more relaxed state,
Letting the rhythm take over and draw you inward.
Feel the body relaxed against the floor,
The breath slows,
The beat of the drum contains and holds you,
Keeping you safe,
Allowing you to travel and journey into deeper and deeper states of relaxation.
Breathing out,
Breathing in for the count of four,
Breathing out any residual tension that may have settled in the lower back and the shoulders,
Releasing tension that may have settled in the belly and the chest.
Allow the drum beat to loosen and dislodge any residual tension that the body may be feeling and then sink deeper and deeper into the position that you've taken,
Feeling the solid floor and the earth beneath you as the drum begins to relax and deepen your experience.
In your mind's eye,
See before you an ancient yew tree.
The tree is timeless,
Its branches heavy with dark green glossy needles.
The air is cool here and you can sense the tree is deep,
Ancient.
Approach the tree with reverence and respect,
Place your hands on the rough,
Feel its energy,
Dive,
Full of the knowledge of centuries.
As you stand before the tree,
Notice a doorway at the base of its trunk,
Dark yet inviting.
The doorway seems to pulse with a life of its own,
Like a heartbeat.
Take a step back,
Give yourself a moment here,
Just to silently observe this opening.
How do you feel as you approach this threshold?
What sensations stir within you as you stand at the entrance of something unknown?
Pause at this moment and ask yourself,
Does it feel right for me to enter right now?
As you are walking the yew tree,
Is it okay if I enter right now?
And if the answer is yes,
If you say yes to the unseen and the unknown,
With one big step you enter into the doorway of the yew tree.
Find yourself descending into the earth itself,
Into the realm of the unseen and the unconscious.
As you step through,
Feel the cool damp air around you,
The earthy scent of soil and roots filling your senses.
The space grows darker,
Yet you feel safe,
Guided by the steady pulse of the tree's heartbeat and the dryness of the earth.
The roots of the yew surround you,
Creating a tunnel leading you on deeper.
As you walk and scramble and tunnel your way,
The damp almost spongy,
The quiet rustle of the roots shifting,
The deep,
Vibrant hum of the earth itself.
What do you see here in this underworld space?
What images come to mind?
What feelings,
Sounds,
Sights,
Smells?
What secrets is this world revealing to you?
Do you not doubt your senses,
Trust what you see and feel?
The further you go,
The more you connect with the depths of your own inner world,
Your own unconscious mind,
Like a visual tapestry before your eyes.
What are you being shown?
What feelings or visions come to the surface as you travel deeper?
Let yourself be curious,
Unafraid,
Brave,
Open,
Knowing that this is a place of discovery just for you.
As you continue this path,
You may come across a guide,
Perhaps a being or animal that appears to walk with you,
Or perhaps a symbol that stands out in the darkness.
What do they show you?
What do they want you to know in this moment?
Breath,
Observe and listen.
Take time to explore,
Feel the energy of this other world around you,
And what would you like to take back to the surface?
Spend some time here,
Give in to wonder,
And know that you can return to this space whenever you need.
Bring your mind back to the drumbeat,
Signalling the time to return to the surface world.
Follow the roots of the U,
Back through the tunnel,
Slowly rising towards the surface.
As you approach the doorway once more,
Feel the sensation of the ground firmly beneath your feet.
Step back through the door.
Stand tall in front of the ancient tree again.
Placing a hand against the rough bark,
Bring thanks and gratitude for its solid presence,
The wisdom it shared with you on your journey.
Feel the earth beneath your feet,
And listen to the rhythm of the drum steadying your heartbeat.
When you are ready,
Open your eyes,
Take a moment to feel fully present in your body,
Knowing that this U tree as a doorway to another world,
World of the unconscious,
Is ready for you to return,
Whenever you seek guidance.
