Welcome friend,
Tonight you're invited to retreat to the Scottish Highlands.
You'll be guided through a peaceful evening beside a loch,
Before making your way home to a cosy cottage,
Settling in by the fire as the rain falls outside.
There's nothing you need to do,
So get comfy and cosy,
And simply allow yourself to follow along and drift off whenever sleep arrives.
First let's take a moment to settle the mind and body for rest.
Begin by making sure that you are as comfortable as you can be,
And allow the full weight of your body to rest down into your bed.
Notice where you can feel that support connecting with your body,
And as you exhale,
Give yourself permission to soften and let go,
Just a little more deeply.
Take a slow deep breath in through the nose,
And exhale with a gentle sigh out through the mouth.
Again,
Taking the deepest breath you've maybe taken all day today,
And a gentle sigh out,
Letting go.
Nothing left to do,
And nowhere to be.
This time,
As you take a deep breath in,
Gently tense the body,
Hold for a moment,
And as you exhale release every muscle,
Letting your body soften.
Let's do that one more time.
Deep breath in,
Gently tensing all the muscles of the body,
And for a moment holding the breath and the tension,
And release,
Exhale,
Soften.
With your body held,
And breath soft,
Let your mind drift now to the serene landscape of the highlands.
You find yourself standing at the edge of a loch.
The water's surface stretches quietly,
A mirror for the evening sky,
As its light slowly softens.
Beyond the loch,
Tall pines climb the rolling hills,
Which stretch gently into the distance,
Fading softly into the horizon.
Further beyond,
Taller mountains rise,
Their peaks dusted with a light sprinkling of snow,
Still in the evening light.
The land around you feels wild and ancient,
Yet gentle and calm.
It's as though this place has held itself for centuries,
Waiting quietly for you to arrive.
The air feels cool and crisp against your cheeks and nose,
And as you breathe deeply,
You fill your lungs with fresh air,
Carrying the soothing cleansing scent of pine and earth.
In this quiet place,
You sense a deep stillness around you that starts to settle within you.
Your mind clear and calm like the water,
Your body steady and grounded like the ancient earth beneath your feet.
The light begins to softly fade,
And you notice clouds slowly rolling in,
Carrying the quiet promise of rain.
It's time to head home for the night.
You follow the path that winds away from the loch,
Through the trees and towards the village on your way home.
As you draw closer,
The soft inviting glow of lights begin to illuminate the cosy homes,
And gentle smoke curls up from the chimneys into the cool evening air.
From a distance you catch a glimpse through the window of the old pub,
The warm light flickering across a crackling hearth.
This sight stirs a quiet sense of anticipation to curl up in front of your own fire.
You decide to stock up on kindling and firewood,
So you make your way towards the general store and cafe,
Its windows glowing softly in the fading daylight.
Opening the door you are greeted by the sweet scent of home baking from the cafe counter.
After gathering what you need,
The kind shop owner offers a freshly made treat to take home,
Which you warmly accept.
Thanking them and saying your goodbyes,
You step outside again,
Feeling the gentle drops of light rain begin to fall.
You head for home.
You follow the path winding gently uphill through the trees,
Leaving the village behind.
The air carries the rich scent of damp earth and pine,
Filling your nose,
While your coat wrapped cosily around you keeps you warm against the chill.
The soft glow of lights from a few scattered homes guide you onward towards your own sense of comfort.
As the path narrows,
You catch sight of your cottage,
A welcoming shape tucked quietly amongst the tall pines,
And the gentle pool of home feels like a familiar embrace.
You open the front door and step inside,
Taking off your boots and coat,
And for a moment you pause,
Listening to the soft patter of rain on the roof above.
The familiar warmth of home greets you as you move through the cottage,
Settling down what you've brought with you.
In the living room,
You carefully lay the kindling and firewood in your wood-burning stove,
Lighting a match.
You watch as the fire slowly comes to life,
Its soft glow beginning to fill the room.
Down the hall,
The bedroom fireplace brings a quiet warmth of its own,
Ready for when you turn in for the night.
From the kitchen,
A comforting aroma drifts towards you,
A favourite meal gently bubbling away in the slow cooker.
You ladle yourself a hearty bowl and carry it through to the living room,
Settling into your favourite comfy chair by the fire.
Outside,
The rain continues to fall,
Steady and soothing,
Tapping softly against the windows as the cottage grows quieter.
You make yourself a hot drink and unwrap the home baking you got earlier in the store,
Cosying up with a good book.
The room is filled with warmth and a deep sense of ease and peace settles around you.
In this moment,
You feel content as the fire burns low and your eyes grow heavy.
You feel ready to turn in for the night and make your way towards the bedroom,
Settling in under the covers,
Cosy and content,
Resting in the quiet.
You listen to the gentle crackle of the soft fire and the rain against the window.
A comforting lullaby,
Settling your mind,
Body and soul,
Calling you into sleep.
