Hello,
I'm Claire and this meditation for you uses the changes of nature in autumn or fall to support transition,
Letting go and rejuvenation in your life.
It can be useful if you are in a time of change,
Wanting to let go of things you no longer need or want or simply wanting to enjoy the gifts of this mellowing season.
Wishing you the very best in your practice.
Making sure you are safe and comfortable,
Whether sitting or lying,
I invite you to gently shut your eyes.
Allow your attention to fall softly back into your body as if through your eye sockets and spend a moment bringing your focus,
Your attention and your intention into the interior of your body.
Breathing in and out in your own time.
Literally noticing the pressure of your body where it connects to the ground and aware of the space,
That beautiful space over your head,
Coming into the here and now.
My invitation is to bring to your imagination a beautiful wood or forest in autumn.
The leaves are turning from their summer gift of green to all those shades of fall,
Ochres and browns and reds.
It is inviting and warm enough to settle yourself down under a friendly tree.
It may be a place you know and have been to in real life or it may be imaginary.
Be open to receiving whatever image comes to you.
Your woods,
Your forest,
Your autumn,
Your fall.
I invite you to imagine resting,
Leaning your back against the trunk of your tree.
It may be quiet,
There may be the occasional call of a bird.
Most of all it is a place of comfort and safety where you can enjoy the scene and settle into the gifts of this time of change.
As you sit you are aware that some leaves are still on the trees and some are on the ground.
Imagine a gentle breeze allowing some leaves to fall around you,
Drifting down and settling onto the earth.
And now allow yourself to bring to mind anything in your life which has passed its blooming and which it is time to let go of.
It may be a large thing like a relationship or a job.
It may be much smaller,
Something which you feel is holding you back such as too much time on your phone or an unhelpful habit.
There may be one thing attached to many,
Many leaves or there may be several separate things which you want to let go of on several separate leaves.
There is no one way.
Just allow your mind,
Your body,
Your heart to scan what is it I am ready to let go of?
What is it that is past harvest,
Past its blooming?
And trust whatever imagery,
Whatever issues come to mind and find them gently settling on your falling leaves as they drift towards the ground.
Allowing your imagination to gently see those things you no longer need nor want,
Gently falling to earth.
Then when they are there,
Enter magic time and imagine those leaves gradually falling apart and becoming one with the earth.
Those particles getting drawn down into the earth where they become compost and form beautiful nutrition for new life.
Then in the spring that new life will emerge.
Allowing anything you no longer need nor want.
There may be things you don't even know what they are,
They can't even be named.
Just allow your heart,
Your mind,
Your body,
Your soul to let go of that which no longer serves you.
Settle down into the earth where it will be drawn down and become compost,
Become nutrition for the new you.
Letting go,
Letting go,
Settling into the earth,
Becoming new life.
We don't need to know how this will happen,
Just allowing this imagery to start the energetic process of letting go and transitioning into the new.
Enjoying the gentle gift of the seasons change.
And when you feel you have come to a natural close,
Imagine getting up,
Shaking off,
Stretching out and going on your way.
Trusting the rhythms of nature,
Trusting change,
Trusting transformation.
And as I bring this practice to an end,
Know that when whatever the season,
The energy of autumn and fall can always support you.
Thank you for practicing with me,
I look forward to next time.
