Settle into a comfortable but alert position.
Let your body guide you to the right shape for you today.
Don't worry about the images you may have in your mind about how you should sit while meditating.
Listen to your body and choose a shape that works for you today.
This could be a seated position,
Maybe you're lying down or propped up on a wall or a pillow,
Maybe you're outside walking.
Find yourself honoring your body's needs.
As you settle in,
Take in a slow deep breath through the nose,
Filling up the belly.
Now open your mouth and as you release this breath,
Feel your shoulders release away from your ears.
Pressing the lips together,
Take another slow deep breath in,
Filling up the belly and the lungs.
In open mouth,
Breathe out any concern or worry.
Taking another deep breath,
As deep as you can,
Filling up belly,
Lungs,
Chest and on the open mouth exhale,
Release all your thoughts,
Leaving your mind completely free.
Return your breath to a normal depth,
Inhaling through the nose and exhaling through the nose.
Imagine that you're resting under a grand old maple tree.
Take the time to fully visualize this location.
What does the sky look like?
Is it clear blue or are there clouds floating by?
Are you sitting on a chair,
A blanket or maybe you're lying on your back,
Comfortable in the soft grass.
As you look up into the tree,
Is it full of leaves?
What season is it?
Are the spring leaves just starting to bud?
Is the tree full of life and green leaves or have the leaves started to change into their fall colors?
As you look out towards the horizon,
Do you see rolling hills,
Mountains,
A lake?
Maybe you see a farmhouse off in the distance.
Take a moment to explore the location that you have created,
Feeling yourself becoming a part of this peaceful scene.
What do you see?
You you Hold on to the peace and stillness you have cultivated through this visualization practice The practice helps us quiet the mind Which makes it easier to tap into our deeper selves?
Now that you have cultivated a little more space in between your thoughts you can sit with a question to see if your inner wisdom will respond Today's deep listening question is inspired by the tarot card the seven of Pentacles This card shows a man leaning on a garden hill Gazing down at his crops he has worked hard to nurture teeny seeds into his thriving garden and Now he can take a break to enjoy the fruits of his labor If you look closely at the card you may notice that he looks tired from the hard work.
He put into the garden the seven of Pentacles encourages you to take a long term view and Assess where you can best invest your time and energy Turn your focus inward as you consider am I investing my time in the right activities Sit with this question without trying to analyze or think and allow any answers to come up from deep within Am I investing my time in the right activities?
You you you you As you practice deep listening you may notice that your inner wisdom doesn't always use words You may have gotten images or impressions or even seemingly random thoughts Take a few breaths to process what came up for you and consider if you want to act on anything that you learned you As we reach the end of today's practice Bring the palms together at heart center slightly bowing your head Take a moment to reflect on your experience Were you able to connect with your inner wisdom?
Did you practice listening and being open?
You you Allow the experience and any insights you have gained to stay with you as You bring your awareness back to your physical surroundings take Your time and when you are ready open your eyes and allow your body any movement that it needs
