Hello,
I'm Diana.
Welcome to this new meditation,
When you're wary of winter.
Let's get started.
Find a position that feels supportive.
You might be sitting,
Lying down,
Or slightly curled up.
Whatever your body asks for today.
If it feels safe,
Gently close your eyes,
And then take a slow breath in through your nose,
And let it leave through your mouth,
Without effort.
You don't need to breathe deeply,
Just breathe honestly.
You can let your shoulders soften while you're breathing,
And then let your jaw loosen.
Your body doesn't need to hold itself together right now.
Winter is long.
The days are grey.
The light is scarce.
And if your energy feels low,
Your mood heavy,
Or your patience a bit thin,
That makes sense.
This is not weakness.
This is your body responding to its environment.
Allow yourself to stop resisting how you feel.
Bring your attention to the places in your body that feel tired.
Not to change them,
Just to notice them.
There's relief in being allowed to be as you are.
Biologically,
Prolonged cold and darkness signal the body to slow down,
To conserve,
To rest.
More deeply.
To turn inward.
You were never meant to feel bright and motivated all year long.
Let that truth settle in.
Now imagine yourself somewhere sheltered from the weather.
Inside.
Dry.
And warm.
Perhaps there is a soft light.
Not a bright one.
Just enough.
A quiet sense of protection from the wind and the rain outside.
Here,
You don't need to be cheerful.
You don't need to make the most of anything.
You are allowed to be low,
Quiet and slow.
Bring one hand to your chest or belly,
If that feels comforting.
Feel the warmth of your own presence.
Even when the world feels bleak,
Your body responds to gentleness.
As you breathe,
Imagine warmth slowly returning.
Not as energy,
But as comfort.
Like a hot drink on a cold day.
Like being wrapped up after coming in from the rain.
Nothing dramatic.
Nothing forced.
Just enough.
If emotions arise,
Sadness,
Irritability,
Dullness,
Even numbness,
Let them be here.
They don't need analysing.
They don't need fixing.
They are messages of fatigue,
Not failures of character.
You might quietly say to yourself,
This is hard and I'm allowed to admit that.
I don't need to feel better right now.
Being here is enough.
Stay here for a few slow breaths.
Let yourself be accompanied rather than improved.
And know this,
Winter does not last forever.
But it also does not need to be rushed.
There will be light again.
And movement again.
And expansion again.
For now,
You are allowed to rest in the middle of winter.
Begin to gently bring your awareness back to your body.
Feel the surface beneath you.
Notice the rhythm of your breath.
Carry this permission to be and to rest with you into the rest of your day or into your sleep.
When you're ready,
Softly open your eyes.
You didn't do this wrong.
You're simply human in winter.
Thank you for joining me today.
Till next time.
