You may want to stand for this meditation.
Or you can sit if you don't feel safe or comfortable standing for this amount of time.
And if you feel comfortable,
Close your eyes.
Or have a soft gaze.
And become more aware of your breath.
The rise and fall of your chest and belly.
The way the air feels moving in and out your nose.
Feel the textures on your clothing.
Maybe it's soft or rough.
Cold or warm.
Feel your skin.
And continue to pay attention to your breath as you breathe in and out.
And with each exhale,
Become more aware of your feet flat on the ground.
Rooting in and relaxing in.
With each breath in and out.
And bring to mind a field of sunflowers.
They have not yet opened.
Most are still closed.
Just about ready to bloom.
And one of these sunflowers is you.
In a vast community.
Feeling supported and protected.
And comfortable.
It is early.
Very early in the day.
Dawn is just starting.
The sun is beginning to just peep over the horizon.
Your flower head is maybe bent down just a little.
But as the sun begins to rise.
You feel yourself start to open.
And rise up with the sun.
Feel your petals slowly unfurling.
As you move into the morning.
Feel the wind.
Feel the sunshine warm you.
And all your friends in the community.
And open your petals more and more.
And rise up completely tall.
As you move through the morning.
Your face turns ever so slightly.
Following the sun as it moves across the sky.
And at lunchtime,
Midday.
You are in full bloom.
All petals extended.
Face rising up to meet the sun.
As if you could kiss her.
Feeling the warmth coming down.
Showering on you.
And all your friends and community.
As the sun continues to move across the sky.
Face and body do as well.
Slowly,
Ever so slowly.
You follow the sun.
As it continues.
Later and later in the day.
And still surrounded by your community.
You nod your face down to sleep for the night.
But you can still feel the pull of the sun.
Even though you cannot see her.
And feeling that pull.
Your face slowly turns back.
Back toward the east.
Back toward where the sun will greet you again tomorrow.
And as the light starts to rise in the sky.
You also start to rise.
Feel the warmth as the sun moves through the air.
And the colors start to change.
And the sun greets you again for another day.
And you rise up.
Up.
Up with the sun.
Following.
Across the sky.
Feeling her warm your body.
Feel that golden light showering down.
And just stay here for a little while.
At midday.
Feeling the sun fill you up.
While you are surrounded by community and friends.
All feeling the joy and warmth of being in this moment.
And now thank the sun.
Your community and friends.
And the shining sunflower.
Say goodbye for now.
But continue to feel that warmth and radiant glow.
As you move throughout your day.
Maybe pause for a moment when you can.
Feel the sun across the sky.
Take a few deeper breaths and become aware of your surroundings.
The noises in the room.
Wriggle your fingers and your toes.
Squeeze your hands.
And open your eyes if they were closed.
Opening them more fully.
But still maintaining the awareness and support of the sun and your community.
