Take a couple of really deep breaths,
Allowing the body to let go of some of the tension within.
Sometimes we might think we are completely relaxed,
Only to find that there are yet deeper levels of bodily relaxation to ease into.
Imagine that you are a tree.
Visualizing your spine as the trunk of the tree.
Just feel the upright center axis of your body like a trunk.
Connecting with however you feel yourself right now.
Visualizing your branches and foliage in some sort of corresponding way.
For example,
If you feel agitated and worn out,
You might visualize a tree in the wind in autumn.
Or if you feel calm and happy,
You might visualize a tree with bright green foliage and perhaps some blossoms or fruits.
Just take a moment to find a representation of you that feels like a fit.
Now visualize your roots growing down from the base of your spine and down into the ground.
Visualizing these roots growing outwards and intertwining with the roots of the people closest to you,
Like your family or friends or whoever is most important to you.
Some of these people might have strong roots and be people securely settled in the world and some of them might have few or weak roots or be growing in really difficult conditions.
Just visualizing your roots,
Feeling out for how you are rooted in your life and how that intertwines with the lives and roots of the people close to you.
Visualizing your roots growing outwards and intertwining with the roots of the people close to you.
Breathing in,
Sensing the nourishment you get from those that care about you.
Breathing out,
Sensing the caring intentions you feel towards them and imagining your roots growing in that direction.
Breathing out,
Sensing the nourishment you feel towards them and imagining your roots growing in that direction.
I like to visualize that like impulses or bits of light and warmth moving up and down my roots and my body.
Breathing in,
Imagining these bright bits of love drifting up into my spine.
Breathing out,
Imagining my care and compassion moving down and out through my roots.
Breathing out,
Imagining my care and compassion moving down my roots.
Breathing out,
Imagining my care and compassion moving down my roots.
Experiment and find a method that works for you,
Connecting you with the feeling of giving and receiving compassion.
Breathing out,
Imagining my care and compassion moving down my roots.
Breathing out,
Imagining my care and compassion moving down my roots.
Visualizing how we influence and move each other,
How someone's bad day can ripple through the interconnected root system.
Conversely visualizing the ripples of compassionate intentions,
Words,
Actions.
How they get amplified by the words and actions of goodness that they bring about in others too.
So we can see how change in the world comes from individuals,
From the inner peace in individual hearts.
Just as ripples spread out when a single pebble is dropped into water,
The actions of us as individuals can have far reaching effects.
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Noticing how important it is for us to care for ourselves.
If we starve or deprive our own tree of something it needs,
It won't benefit others in the long run.
Nor will it make us a happy tree.
Our capacity to make peace with another person and with the world depends very much on our capacity to make peace with ourselves.
Sometimes we want to help others,
But they might feel out of our reach for some reason,
Through a combination of their lack of receptivity and our limited capacity.
If we're going to grow our roots too far away from our trunk,
It won't be worth it.
It'll cost more than it will benefit.
However,
When we see our influences in the world in light of ripples spreading through the interconnected web of roots,
We see the truth in the statement that helping others is helping yourself and helping yourself is helping others.
Feeling your body and noticing what you feel right now,
There's no right or wrong way of feeling.
It's just what it is.
Just being aware.
By being aware,
We become present and by being present,
We can respond to needs.
And when our needs are being met,
We gain the capacity to be aware of the needs of others.
Working within can change the world around you.
Only when the Hear and Hear are greater than they are.
You
