Welcome to a guided meditation for a mindful journey into a desert oasis at twilight.
Begin this meditation in a position that is comfortable for you.
This can be sitting or lying down,
Indoors or outdoors.
Relax into a place that is free from distractions.
If you wish,
You may close the eyes.
Take a deep breath and release it slowly.
As you do so,
Allow the jaw to relax and soften.
Allow the muscles to relax and soften,
Releasing any tension they might be storing.
Bring the awareness to the breath and simply observe the breath without attempting to alter it.
Release any worries or thoughts that compete with your peace.
You will not need those to accompany you on this journey.
In your mind's eye,
See yourself on a walk at twilight.
You take mindful steps along a path that brings you into a land of tranquility,
The Sonoran Desert.
The sun is beginning to set.
It is no longer hot.
It is cooler,
But it's not cold.
And as the sun sets,
A quietness blankets the land before you.
Yet this quiet now gives way to sounds,
Assuring you that life is all around you.
Peaceful sounds,
Such as the coo of a morning dove,
The slow steps of a Sonoran tortoise that are unheard during the day,
A coyote's call far in the distance,
All of them becoming a symphony of the divine.
These sounds do not cause you to become frightened or alarmed.
You find peace in the sounds,
For in them you are hearing the energy of life,
The voice of Spirit.
As you meditate in your sacred space in this desert,
The desert itself begins to speak to you.
It shows you that even in areas that appear void of hope to many,
Life and energy abound.
It calls your attention to the magic of stillness.
It invites you to truly experience contentment.
As you continue opening yourself up to divine love,
You bring your awareness to a nearby prickly pear cactus.
In a land where water cannot be seen for miles,
This desert plant thrives because of its root system,
Its foundation,
Because it relies not upon what is available on the surface.
Rather,
It goes within to find what it needs,
And because of this,
It is able to provide both food and shelter for wildlife,
While at the same time producing some of the most brilliant flowers on earth.
With this in mind,
You now begin to see this desert plant more as a crown sitting at the top of the desert.
The prickly pear cactus invites you to also flourish,
To always know that everything you need is available to you,
Even if you must search and reach for it.
Spend a few moments now admiring yourself for your resourcefulness and your ability to flourish.
Spend a few moments now listening to the desert as it speaks.
Begin to allow the mind to become external now,
Knowing that you can return to this desert sanctuary whenever you wish.
Take several deep breaths.
Become aware of the sounds around you and your current environment.
Simply notice them without attempting to alter them.
Begin inviting subtle movements into the hands and feet,
The fingers and toes.
Be aware of the body.
Be aware of the breath,
And with gratitude,
Open the eyes.
Everything you need is available to you,
Even if you must search and reach for it.
May you always flourish,
And may you never forget that you,
Too,
Wear a crown.
The crow flies from me to thee,
To send the message,
Bless it be.
