So often when we retire to bed.
We still hold on to the anxieties of the day.
And with those anxieties also comes those hidden yearnings,
Those deeper places from within that yearn to come out.
And sometimes they come out to play.
Through our dreams.
And so this practice will guide you.
Softly away from maybe some tension you might be holding.
But then also.
Turn and open your heart.
Into that deeper creative space within you.
So that is sealed.
And it continues to speak.
While you were asleep.
And nurture you.
As you wake up.
The next morning.
So if you're not in your bed right now,
Just find yourself in a comfortable position.
And it's best just for now to.
.
.
Lie facing up.
With your legs outstretched and your arms outstretched.
And get a sense of surrender into.
In this comfort of your bed.
Maybe take a few moments to make sure that you're comfortable.
As we began the first part of this sleeping meditation.
So take a few deep breaths and just notice how the Melly rises.
And falls.
As you breathe.
Maybe you can also just.
You feel a little bit more tension.
Let yourself exhale with an audible sigh.
As you exhale.
All as well.
That air,
Anything hidden.
They're going to.
.
.
Work through the body.
And relax and let go of some of the tension that you might not even be aware of.
And so with each inhale,
You're going to tense up that area.
And then on the exhale,
You release it.
And so you can do it on your own time.
So if your inhales are longer or shorter,
Just go at your pace.
So let's draw the awareness to the right foot and right calf.
And on the next inhale,
Tighten up the muscles around the foot and the calf.
And on the exhale,
Let it go.
And then we'll move up to your right thigh.
Just squeezing all of the muscles in your thigh,
Your hamstrings and quads,
Maybe even part of your hips.
Inhale,
Squeeze.
Exhale,
Let it go.
Let's move on to the left leg.
Draw your awareness to your foot and your calf.
And then inhale,
Squeeze those muscles.
Maybe point the toes,
Squeeze the calf.
And then exhale,
Release.
Then move up to the left thigh.
Inhale,
Squeeze,
Press down your knee,
Squeeze the quads,
Dig into the hamstring,
Squeeze all those muscles,
And then release.
And then draw your attention to both legs together.
Inhale,
Squeeze all those muscles,
Squeeze.
And then release.
Now draw your attention to your right hand and your right forearm.
On the inhale,
Squeeze the wrists,
Squeeze the forearm,
Make a tight fist.
And exhale,
Let it go.
Then move on to the upper arm.
Inhale,
Just squeeze those muscles,
Triceps,
Biceps,
Squeeze,
And exhale,
Release.
Now the left arm,
Left wrist.
Left forearm.
Inhale,
Squeeze,
Make a fist,
Squeeze the forearm,
Squeeze the fingers.
And exhale,
Release.
Just notice how that wrist softens,
The hand softens.
Inhale,
Squeeze the left upper arm.
Squeeze it hard.
And the release on the exhale.
Now both arms together.
Squeeze all the muscles on the inhale.
Squeeze them.
And exhale.
Sigh it out.
Now let's focus on your lower torso,
Your pelvis,
Your glutes.
Pelvic floor.
Inhale,
Squeeze all those muscles,
Squeeze them.
And then release.
Now your mid torso,
Your abs.
Your lower and mid back muscles squeeze on the inhale.
And relax on the exhale.
Now let's work on the upper chest.
Inhale,
Press your shoulders into the mattress.
Squeeze your shoulders together.
Press your chest.
Squeeze the chest muscles and back muscles.
Contract them.
And exhale,
Relax.
And then on the inhale,
Press the back of your skull into your pillow,
Squeeze the back of the neck muscles,
Squeeze,
Squeeze and press into the pillow.
Tucking the chin.
And then release.
And then inhale,
Squeeze all the muscles in your face.
There's a ton of muscles in your face.
Squeeze them.
And exhale,
Release.
Now take notice of your body.
Notice if there is any tension in any of those areas and just take a few breaths to squeeze and release.
And then let's do one more squeeze and release together.
Inhale deep,
Squeeze all the muscles in your body,
All that tension,
All that,
Just gather it,
Gather it,
Gather it,
Squeeze,
Squeeze,
Squeeze,
Squeeze.
And then sigh it out,
Release.
Let yourself feel heavy.
So now with the body relaxed.
We can tune our minds.
Into a letter from your future self.
A soul matter.
From the you who has fully claimed your role as an artist.
And a mystic.
The you who has fierce compassion.
And clarity that you might be seeking.
My beloved self.
You can exhale now.
You no longer have to hold your breath.
Waiting for someone to hand you permission.
It was never theirs to give.
You were born with a blessing already braided into your bones,
Your breath.
Your body.
Your hunger to know what lies beneath the surface.
You are the artist and mystic you've always been.
I am you,
Just further down the path,
And I want you to know.
You didn't miss your moment.
You were the moment all along.
You were never too late.
Not when you sat on your childhood bed imagining love.
Not when you walked hallways alone in high school.
Not when you obsessed over people who couldn't hold your devotion.
Not when you stayed in jobs or relationships that dulled your light.
Not even now.
When you feel invisible.
Unseen.
Or uncertain.
I remember how often you thought you had to be productive.
Palatable.
Are proven in order to matter.
I remember that ache in your chest when your creations barely made a ripple.
When silence met your offerings like a closed door.
I remember how you tied your worth to attention.
Even as you begged to be left alone to think,
To pray.
To create.
But listen,
Because this is important.
Your value was never in the response.
That was in the radiance.
The quiet radiance of showing up again.
The trembling radiance of telling the truth.
The unpolished radiance of being deeply human and still reaching for the holy.
You did not come here to convince anyone.
You came to remember who you are.
And once you remembered.
You began to create from a different place.
Not to be loved.
But because you already were loved.
You stopped hiding your depth.
You stopped apologizing for your mystery.
You stop trying to explain your devotion in academic terms.
You let beauty be enough.
You let longing be your compass.
You let silence speak volumes.
Before you retreat again,
I need you to hear this.
You are the light you've been chasing.
You don't have to earn it.
You don't have to fix yourself first.
You don't have to be perfect or even healed.
You just have to be willing to show up as you are.
Let the ones who don't understand fall away.
Let the ones who mock your softness keep their armor.
Let the gatekeepers choke on their credentials.
Let the past rest where it belongs.
Because here's what happens once you fully say yes to this life.
Your words start to land in the hearts of those who've been waiting for them.
Your body starts to move not from survival,
But from sacred rhythm.
Your days don't get easier necessarily,
But they get truer,
More authentic.
And that truth,
That authenticity is worth everything.
So go light your candles.
Walk in the wind.
Write the things.
Create the things.
That make your voice shake.
Say the things that your soul has waited decades to speak.
And love yourself as if you finally see how holy you've been all along.
I will meet you here.
From your future self.
The one who never stopped believing in you.
Even when you did.
Sleep well,
Beloved.
Sleep well,
Creative soul.
May your creations inspire the world.
