Hello,
Welcome to Imagination Meditation.
I'm Diana.
Today we'll enjoy a nice walk around a pond surrounded by blooming cherry trees.
Let's settle in for our lovely meditation together.
Get comfortable in your seat,
Sit lightly upright or leaning back against your chair.
You can place a blanket over yourself if you'd like.
Place your hands softly in your lap,
Your feet gently touching the floor.
And now,
Feel free to close your eyes or soften your gaze downward.
Let's start by taking some deep breaths.
We often breathe in a more shallow manner,
Especially if we're in a state of stress.
So let's settle ourselves into a nice calming breath.
Breathe with me.
Deep inhale,
Long exhale.
Another long breath in,
Open mouth exhale out.
One more,
A full steady breath in filling up your lungs and let it back out.
Now let your breath settle back to a natural rhythm and simply remember if at any time in your day you start to feel like your body is moving faster than it should.
Take a deep breath to slow down.
Opening your lungs to more air lets a smooth rush of fresh coolness enter your body,
Refreshing you.
And this is the case no matter whether you're indoors or outside.
Just let that full breath of cool air inhale in slowly and fully and you'll automatically begin to slow down.
Breathe here with me for just a few minutes.
Full breath inward.
Let it go.
Full inhale,
Long exhale.
Let the air enter slowly and let it go.
Feel the cool sweetness flow inward and fill you up and surrender yourself to it.
One long breath after another.
Feel your body slowing down,
Your heart rate coming to a slow steady beat.
You can place a hand on your heart if you like.
Breathe in and breathe out.
Cool air enters and warm air exits.
And now that we're in a pleasantly calm state,
Let's set off to today's imagination destination.
You find yourself gazing at a vast pond surrounded by meadows,
Trees and blue skies.
At your feet is beautiful soft lush grass.
You take a step and it feels plush against your feet giving just slightly.
Take a few soft steps on the grass slowly.
Feel the grassy carpet under you,
Taking one step at a time.
Feel it give gently under each footfall until your foot hits steady earth,
The grass acting as a wonderful cushion with every step.
You make your way slowly towards the edge of the pond.
It's quite a large pond,
Irregular in shape,
Not completely circular.
You look at the water nearest your feet.
Is it clear so that you can see all the way down to the bottom?
Or is it perhaps a bit murky,
Disturbed by mud near the water's edge?
Are there any twigs or even logs at the edge of the water,
Settled there after falling from a tree long before?
If you see a log,
Notice it,
See that it's settled,
Stable,
Unmoving,
Calm.
It lets the water move around it,
Rather than letting itself be swept away.
It's simply there.
Let your gaze move farther out into the pond.
Do you notice any ripples?
Perhaps there's a light breeze slightly ruffling the water.
Maybe there's a goose or two or more,
Or a duck or a swan softly gliding along the surface,
Slowly moving effortlessly.
See them moving along the water,
Generating ripples in their wake.
Notice how the ripples go so far,
And then dissipate.
Observe the calmness of the birds as they go about their business,
Gently moving along the surface.
Let your eyes move slightly upward to the tree's the water's edge,
Gorgeous cherry blossoms in full bloom.
The trees are different sizes,
Some younger and shorter,
Some larger,
Letting their boughs shelter over others.
From a distance,
The blossoms look like puffy white lace.
The trees are close together,
So their branches overlap,
Creating an effect of full white clouds.
You walk closer to the trees.
When you get closer,
You see the blossoms are set in clusters along the branches.
Some blossoms aren't even yet open.
They look a beautiful light pink in color,
Just a little darker than a pale pink shade.
They're clustered together,
Hovering off their branch.
Other blossoms are wide open in bloom.
Observe their white petals.
They're small in size,
Each flower about an inch big.
But there are so many clustered together,
Each petal so delicate.
The sun's rays bounce off the flowers,
Making them appear to glow from the reflected light.
The center of each blossom has several thin white filaments with a tiny yellow dot to top each,
Holding the flower's pollen.
So many of these small blossoms in a bunch together,
Like grapes,
So many clusters at intervals along the tree branches.
Take a look at one cluster as a whole.
Feel the petals with your fingertips.
They're incredibly soft,
The feel of a living thing.
Turn just one cluster so that the sun shines through the petals.
See the blossom absorb the sunlight,
Lighting up magically,
As though with an inward glow.
Now use an open hand to slowly brush the blossoms with your palm.
Feel the many tiny petals softly brushing against your skin.
Touch the cluster to your forehead.
Let your forehead sink into its soft pillowiness.
Let the cottony softness ease your forehead.
Feel one with nature,
Letting its beauty fill the air around you.
You can even close your eyes in your imagination and feel the clouds of blossoms around you,
Noticing the patterns of light moving behind your eyelids as the branches sway just slightly in the breeze.
Feel the magic of this spot,
The living,
Breathing trees surrounding you,
The beauty of something so small affixed to something so grand,
The peace of the fresh air around you.
And let's just enjoy being among this beauty.
Let's just enjoy being among this beauty.
Let's just enjoy being among this beauty.
Let's just enjoy being among this beauty.
And now let's say a brief adieu to our cherry blossom secluded spot and let's get ready to come back.
Take a last look around the flowering trees waving in the breeze as if to wave directly at you,
Smiling and waiting to welcome you back again.
The waters of the pond slowly rippling gently,
Their little bird friends gliding along the surface.
The grass surrounding the pond in all its green,
Verdant softness.
And now let's come back to the physical room in which we reside.
Take a nice deep inhale and release the exhale.
Stretch your head upwards to lengthen your spine.
Stretch your arms out and then above your head.
Go ahead and lengthen your body for a nice full body stretch.
Another lovely inhale to replenish your body and exhale to release.
And now whenever you're ready,
Feel free to open your eyes.
Thank you for joining me for today's meditation session.
I hope you feel relaxed,
Filled anew with the wonder and the magic of nature's beauty.
Know that you can always come back to this cherry blossom hideaway whenever you need some time for tranquility and mental peace.
Have a wonderful rest of your day.
Until next time.
