Hello my loves,
My name is Chris and welcome back to another guided meditation.
Today we'll practice a summertime gratitude meditation.
As you begin your day or any time throughout your day,
Allow yourself to take this moment just for you.
Allow this to be a space to slow down,
Breathe deeply,
And awaken your heart to the blessings that surround you.
Gratitude helps us return to what matters.
In the fullness of summer,
When life is buzzing with energy and light,
This simple practice can help ground us in appreciation and joy.
Even when life feels overwhelming or uncertain,
Choosing gratitude can help soften the edges,
Awaken clarity,
And connect you to the abundance that's already present.
So let this morning or any time throughout your day when you're practicing this to be a fresh start,
A moment to align your heart with the rhythm of the season,
And to begin or to continue your day with that presence and peace.
So allow yourself to find a comfortable,
Maybe seated position,
Or lie down if that's more comfortable for your body today.
Maybe you can gently close your eyes if that's safe or comfortable for you today.
We'll begin our practice by taking three deep cleansing breaths.
How I like to do that,
I'll breathe in through the nose,
Tense whatever I need up,
Maybe the shoulders,
And open the mouth,
Sigh it out,
Release all that tension.
Two more times,
Deep breath in,
Open the mouth,
Let it out.
Last one together,
Deep breath in,
Open the mouth,
Let it out.
Continue to breathe deeply here.
As we ground ourselves a little bit more and more,
Perhaps with each inhale,
You can feel the warmth and the vitality of summer filling your lungs.
And with each exhale,
Let go of any tension or any of that mental clutter.
Again,
Inhale that warmth and vitality.
Exhale all that tension,
That mental clutter releasing.
As you continue to breathe here,
I want you to imagine the sun rising gently above the horizon.
This golden light,
It's casting golden light across your skin,
And it's soft,
It's warm,
And it's energizing.
And with each breath here,
Feel yourself awakening a little bit more and more to this new day with ease and openness.
Now bring your awareness to the crown of your head.
I want you to imagine or feel that warm summer light.
It's shining on the crown of your head,
Gently opening up,
Releasing any of that tension.
This light can go down to your shoulders,
Feel your shoulders as they're softening and dropping away from the ears.
Continue throughout the body to feel the arms,
The hands,
Perhaps your torso,
Your thighs going all the way down to the legs,
The feet,
All relaxed.
Allow yourself to feel your chest expanding with each breath and softening with the exhale.
Your heart is open,
Alive,
And ready to receive.
Now begin to bring your awareness to something in the natural world that you're grateful for this morning or this moment.
The changing of the seasons remind us to constantly maybe honor and be grateful for those changes that we see in nature.
So today,
Maybe you're grateful for the sound or the rhythmic sounds of the cicadas or bird songs that you might hear throughout this time.
Maybe the warmth of the sunlight on your skin,
The scent of the summer flowers in bloom,
Or maybe even the rustling of the green leaves as the breeze flows through them.
Allow yourself to feel the connection to the natural world here as you breathe.
You're vibrant,
Alive,
And ever-giving.
Continue to breathe here as you just rest in that feeling of appreciation for the Earth's summer beauty and what it brings to you.
Now we'll make our journey more inward and we'll begin to call to mind something more personal that you are grateful for today.
This can be something small,
Such as a refreshing drink of water you might have just had,
Maybe a good night's rest,
Or even a kind word that you received,
Or even something big that fills your heart.
Allow this feeling of gratitude to rise gently within you,
Like the sun climbing into a clear summer sky,
Shining and glowing down its radiance and warmth.
Allow it to expand,
It's warm and golden in each breath throughout your entire body.
And now silently or softly repeat these affirmations to yourself.
Perhaps you say to yourself,
I greet this summer day with gratitude and joy.
I am open to the warmth,
Abundance,
And energy this season brings.
You can say to yourself,
I trust in the unfolding of this day and the gifts that it holds.
And finally say to yourself,
I shine my light with kindness,
Purpose,
And peace.
Breathe into these affirmations,
Fully feeling them,
Embodying them.
And we'll end our practice here just as we began,
With our three deep cleansing breaths.
So wherever we're at,
We'll all take a deep breath in.
Open the mouth to release.
And deep breath in,
Tense whatever you need.
Open the mouth to release.
Last time,
Deep breath in.
Open the mouth to release.
Allow yourself to gently wiggle your fingers,
Your toes.
As you feel the energy of this practice anchoring you here today.
Ready to step into the day with perhaps a little bit more grace and clarity.
We'll bring our hands to prayer at heart center.
May you see the brilliance of this summer day and feel the light that lives within you.
We'll bow our heads down to the great wise teacher that resides in each and every one of us.
Thanking you all truly for coming and sharing this practice and this moment with me and everyone here today.
May your day be filled with warmth,
Joy,
And ease.
The God light and everything good inside me bows and honors the God light and everything good inside each and every one of you.
Namaste.
Love you all.
