Today on Widening Circles,
Healing Body Gratitude.
Our body is one of the most incredible gifts,
But one we often forget to care for.
It's common that we treat our cars better than our own bodies,
Even though unlike cars,
Our bodies are something that cannot be easily replaced.
So this is a guided journey to relax and thank your body,
Which I find is very healing.
Everyone likes to be seen and acknowledged,
And it's the same thing with our bodies.
So settle in,
Get comfortable,
And let this mind melt carry you.
Begin by taking a deep breath from your belly,
The deepest breath you have taken in your day.
Anything you're holding onto,
Any striving held in your body,
Let it all go with the next few breaths.
With every inhale,
Feel relief washing over you.
With every exhale,
Let go of any tension.
We're now going to travel down our bodies,
Relaxing and sending healing gratitude to its parts.
Let your eyes soften and relax the space in between them.
Your eyes,
These incredible sensors that read and interpret light for you to see the world,
Your loved ones,
And your favorite things.
Smile and send a feeling of thanks to them for all their generous work.
Feel this acknowledgement being received with gladness by your eyes.
Now,
Unclench your jaw and relax your lips,
Your teeth,
And your tongue.
Feel gratitude for your mouth,
This amazing creation that allows you to express yourself.
Taste delights and sing.
Send a thank you to your mouth and feel this acknowledgement being lovingly received by it.
Let your attention travel to your nose,
This sturdy chute that warms the air for you,
Fights viruses,
And allows you to smell amazing scents.
Send a thank you to your nose and feel your nose responding joyfully to this acknowledgement.
Now,
Bring your mind to your ears,
These soft cocoons that bring balance and process sound waves for you to hear.
To hear the voices of loved ones,
Beautiful songs,
And the sounds of nature.
These guardians that allow you to hear warnings too.
Let your mind caress your ears with feelings of gratitude and feel your ears delightfully receiving this appreciation.
Now,
Feel your structure made of bones holding you.
Smile to them and send your bones a big thank you.
These amazing structures that not only give you shape,
But also regenerate your blood inside your marrows.
Feel your bones nodding with delight at being noticed and blessed with attention.
Let your attention travel to your heart,
This tireless worker that has been beating all day from the time you were in the womb.
Send a breath of thank you to it,
Allowing this gratitude to soften any muscles around it and dissolve any load your heart does not need.
Feel your heart blooming like a flower for being recognized and celebrated.
Now,
Let your awareness inhabit your lungs,
These miraculous sacs that take in,
Filter,
And process the oxygen that keeps you going.
Send a breath of thank you to it,
Allowing your gratitude to fill it with love.
Feel your lungs responding with happiness for being acknowledged.
Take a moment to think your spine,
All the nerves and discs in there,
Which coordinate your body movements and communicate signals from your head to your toe.
Feel your spine feeling joy for being acknowledged.
The way you feel when someone acknowledges you with gratitude for your hard work.
Traveling down to your belly,
Thank it for all the numerous processes it does to alchemize your food into nourishing energy.
Thank it for taking all the bad stuff you feed it,
Including your negative judgment,
And promise that you will do your best to return its kindness with healthy sustenance.
Feel this gratitude being absorbed by your stomach and intestinal lining,
Letting it soften.
Continuing to travel down,
Reflect on the amazing gift of your legs.
Allow them to rest fully,
Flowing down with nowhere to go.
Imagine for a moment that they were taken away.
How challenging that would be.
Reflect on how they gracefully allow you to explore and interact so freely with the world.
Send a feeling of thanks to your legs and feel this gratitude being joyfully received.
Now let your attention dwell in your feet,
As crucial as the heart in many medicine traditions.
Marvel at all the services you receive from this humble body part.
All the micro adjustments it does every hour to keep you in balance and moving forward.
Send a breath of thank you to your feet and feel this gratitude making your feet stay.
Finally,
Scan your body and sense whether there is any residual tension,
Any part that feels neglected or is calling for your attention.
If so,
Send these parts acknowledging breaths of loving care and gratitude,
Saying,
I see you,
I'm here.
Thank you for all you generously do for me.
Is there something I can do for you?
Stay here for a few moments and listen.
This peace,
This gratitude you feel for your body,
Let it soak into your being as if you were a sponge.
Cultivate the intention of treating your body with more care as you leave this meditation.
We're now going to gently bring ourselves back into the room.
Slowly open your eyes,
Roll your shoulders and take a big delicious stretch.
I will leave you here now,
Wishing you a beautiful,
Healthy and connected day.
