Welcome back!
Today we'll explore a guided standing water element exploration and this is inspired by the experience I co-created with my dear friend Maria Chiara Tirizzoni,
Who is the host of Creative Mornings Milan.
Later on during this exploration there will be the option to engage in gentle movements with your eyes closed while standing.
If this is uncomfortable or not accessible for you,
You're more than welcome to keep your eyes open while guiding your awareness inwards or let one or both of your hands rest gently against a support such as a wall or chair.
Please now find a comfortable place where you feel neither too warm nor too cold and stand comfortably with your feet about shoulder-width apart,
Your knees slightly bent and if it feels good for you,
Gently close your eyes.
Feel the earth beneath you,
Supporting you.
Begin to notice your breath and say silently to yourself,
I am breathing in,
I am breathing out,
I am breathing in,
I am breathing out,
I am breathing in,
I am breathing out.
If your eyes are open and if it feels good for you,
Let your eyes half or fully close.
With your next exhale,
Visualize an ocean,
An ocean as far and as wide and as deep as you can imagine,
Filling the horizon all around you.
See the shades of black and blue extend beyond the horizon,
Merging with the clear blue sky.
Feel the ocean breeze gently caressing you and smell the scent of the fresh,
Airy and salty waves.
Sense the motion of the waves layer upon layer,
Gently lapping and notice the layers of your breath,
Like the waves,
Mirroring this wave-like quality.
Inhale,
A gentle rise.
Exhale,
A soft surrender.
Inhale,
A vitality unfolding.
Exhale,
A relaxation descending deeper.
Continue to allow yourself to yield and relax into yourself as if you are a wave relaxing into the ocean.
As you continue to feel this wave-like quality of your breath,
Gently let your body rock forward and back,
Forward and back,
Oscillating gently,
Leaning gently forward,
Taking up space,
Leaning gently back,
Observing,
Leaning forward,
Embracing your power,
Leaning back,
Allowing what is.
Leaning forward,
Feeling that you are a tiny,
Specific wave.
Leaning back,
Feeling that you are the vast and limitless ocean.
Continue to oscillate between these two movements,
Leaning forward and back,
Rocking forward and back.
And the next time,
Without rushing,
As you find yourself in the center,
As you find your equilibrium,
As you return to the heart of it all,
Let yourself reside there.
From the center and the heart of it all,
Inhale and invite both experiences.
Feel as finite,
Unique,
As a specific wave and as vast and limitless as the entire ocean.
Feel both of these simultaneously in your consciousness as it begins to expand and expand and expand.
Realize that you are not a tiny,
Specific wave only.
You are the entire ocean in specific expression.
Embrace,
Allow and surrender to your ocean nature.
The ocean has a secret.
It has been here since time began.
The ocean has been witness to many things.
During the day,
The sun passes over,
Casting layers of dark and light on the crests and peaks of each wave in the ocean.
And in the evening,
Its calm surface is gently illuminated by the soft glow of the moon.
Each day passes in this way.
The ocean does not judge the day or the night,
Does not prefer one to the other,
Does not yearn the heat of the sun or the coolness of the moon,
Does not push or pull.
The ocean appreciates both sun and moon,
Day and night,
With a simple yet immovable presence.
The ocean is silent and still,
With a wise strength that knows that there is no need to fight the wind or repel the rain.
And in this way,
The ocean remains free from pain and free from suffering,
Trusting in the rhythm of the seasons.
The ocean waits to emerge from behind the passing clouds,
As its face is caressed by the first rays of sunshine during sunrise.
The ocean is patient and present to each moment.
It knows there is no reason to hurry.
In their own time,
Each droplet will evaporate and float to the heavens.
In their own time,
Each rain cloud will gather,
Reach saturation and descend.
In their own time,
Each river will flow and return to the ocean.
You are patient and present to each moment.
You know there is no reason to hurry.
In your own time,
Your droplet will evaporate and float to the heavens.
Your rain cloud will gather,
Reach saturation and descend upon the earth.
In your own time,
Your river will flow and return to the ocean.
You are the ocean,
With its patience,
Trust and acceptance.
You witness your experience and see with new eyes.
You release all that is outside of your control.
You let go of attachment and striving.
You acknowledge,
Allow and embrace times of darkness and winter chill.
You are strong,
Soft and resilient.
You are one with what surfaces in each passing moment.
You trust in what cannot be seen.
You experience yourself in this unconflicted way.
You experience the truth about what and who you are.
As you exhale,
Allow your consciousness to settle in the stillness and peace of your heart.
Here,
Feel that the intent of the universe and the desires and longings of your heart are one and the same.
With your next breath in,
Let your heartfelt intention rise and swell with the breath of your heart.
And as you exhale,
Let it overflow as you become open to whatever guidance your heart,
Your inner teacher has to offer for you through your connection with the universe.
Allow the divine to guide you as you make your most important decision today.
You're welcome to stay as long as you wish here.
If you feel ready to conclude this practice,
Allow your breath to be more audible and allow your body to gently and slowly begin to move with your breath.
And if your eyes are closed,
Gently and slowly,
Let your eyes blink open.
