Today's meditation centers on the ultimate lesson of motherhood,
Surrender.
We first surrender our bodies to the process of conception that we can't control.
And then to pregnancy where our bodies grow and change to a point that we may not even recognize them.
We must surrender to the process of birth,
Its timing and its unfolding,
Something that we must simply allow to happen rather than trying to force and control it.
And then motherhood which continues to ask for complete surrender.
Surrendering our lives as we knew them,
Our schedules,
Our sleep,
Our bodies,
Our expectations,
Our desires for control or perfectionism.
Motherhood requires that we embrace this surrender,
That we learn to go with the flow rather than trying to force our expectations on little people who really have no concern for how we thought it would be.
It's time to get comfortable now.
If you're lying let your whole body relax and become comfortable.
Allow your arms to relax down by your side.
And if you're sitting allow them to relax on your lap.
Close down your eyes.
This is your time now so leave all your worries at the door.
Allow yourself to relax into the flow of the moment.
There is only right here and right now.
Notice any sounds outside of the room.
Acknowledge them and then let them go.
Notice any sounds inside of the room.
Acknowledge them and then let them go too.
Tell your body to relax.
Let your feet and legs soften into position.
Drop your shoulders and relax your hands.
Allow your body to soften down and relax into a natural position.
Take a deep cleansing breath in.
And then let it flow out again.
Breathing out all of the tension in your body.
Keep your awareness on the breath.
Notice the cool sensation as it goes in through your nose,
Down the back of your throat and into your lungs.
And notice as it leaves again through the back of your throat and nose.
Let your breathing fall into its own rhythm.
Just observe it as it moves in and out,
In and out.
If you find that thoughts intrude,
Acknowledge them and then allow them to flow on,
Returning your attention to your breath.
Now as you inhale,
Feel yourself breathing in relaxation.
And as you exhale,
Feel yourself breathe out tension.
Breathe in relaxation.
Breathe out tension.
Allow your breath to find its own rhythm and follow the rhythm.
Follow the flow of your own breath.
Surrender to it rather than trying to control it.
Imagine yourself now floating down a gentle flow of a river.
You could imagine floating on the surface.
Or perhaps you're on top of some sort of float or raft.
Imagine yourself looking up to the clear blue sky above you.
Feel the warmth of the sun on your skin.
And the gentle support of the water lapping beneath you.
Perhaps you notice the trees around you and the contrast of the bright green to the blue crystal.
Maybe you notice the clouds.
Perhaps there's birds singing.
Imagine this beautiful scene as you flow down the river.
Completely surrendered to this experience.
Imagine now that you decide to move in the opposite direction to the stream.
Imagine yourself wading against the stream.
Trying to go in the opposite direction.
Imagine the feeling of struggle as you try and push against the current.
Notice now that the sun above you feels burning hot on your skin.
As you sweat from the effort required to move against the stream.
Be aware of the fact that you are looking down.
That you have no time to look around you and notice all the beautiful sights that you did before.
The trees,
The sky,
The clouds all remain the same but you no longer notice them.
And then take yourself back into the flow.
Allow yourself to again surrender and float down the stream.
Feel your body soften as the tension melts away.
Continue with this visualization.
Seeing yourself going with the flow.
Being aware only of your breath and body supported in your current position.
It's time now to bring yourself slowly back.
Become aware again of your position whether you're sitting or lying.
Become aware of the room that you're in.
Notice any sounds that you can hear around you.
When you feel ready to start stretching the body out.
Reeling fingers and toes.
And slowly opening your eyes and returning to your day.
