Welcome to this meditation by Kirsten Docel.
This track,
Chemotherapy Day,
Is one of the collection that I created following close personal experience with cancer diagnosis in a family member.
You may wish to adapt this offering to your personal timing and routine on the actual day.
We commence this routine whilst in the waiting room.
Here,
Bring your attention to your heart space.
You may perhaps be comfortable putting your hands to your heart or perhaps just clasping your hands at your lower belly or in your lap.
Begin by acknowledging with appreciation and thanks the team who are here for you.
Those who prepare and keep the space in order,
The scientists who developed this amazing treatment,
The people who ensure it is here for you,
And those who will be in service to you today.
Extend appreciation to yourself for showing up and of course to your support people and loved ones.
Picture each part of the process that enables you to be here today in receipt of this treatment and give thanks for each link in the chain of care.
The next part is as you settle into the chair or the bed,
The position in which you are going to receive the chemotherapy.
As you settle into this space,
Do so with the utmost care for your body.
Arrange yourself as comfortably as possible.
This practice invites you to notice your now body.
There may be comfort where you had previously experienced pain or you may find another part of your body which is uncomfortable today.
Once settled,
Drop into it.
Allow the support of the surface to meet your body.
If you can,
Feel held.
Notice your breath and let the breath out.
Follow your breath for a moment,
Allowing the breath out to be a little longer than the breath in.
No need for them to be big deep breaths,
Simply your own comfortable range and rate,
Just extending the out breath a little.
Releasing and letting go of muscle tension as procedures are performed can be helpful.
Consciously and deliberately open and soften.
Unclench and release any tight muscles.
Use your breath,
Letting go more with each breath out.
You may wish to go through a whole body release scan,
Allowing yourself to let go instructions at each spot.
You might simply scan your body and notice where the tight areas are and direct attention to those places in need of release.
Open,
Melt,
Surrender,
Let go.
Unclench,
Unwind,
Soften.
Once you are receiving the chemo,
Invite in the image of your choice that is going to augment the effect of the chemotherapy.
You may wish to visualize the chemo as adding extra vigor to your body's white blood cells as they clean up the cancer cells.
You may wish to imagine the chemo and your body's system as magic wands.
Zip,
Zap and the cancer cells are rendered to nothing.
You may like the image of the old-fashioned games where the cancer cells are munched by hungry smiley faces.
You may wish to see the chemo and your body's ability like the combined weed killer and fertilizer mix flowing around neutralizing cancer cells,
Boosting the growth of healthy cells.
You may have a different image that comes to mind.
The sense here is of allowing and supporting your body's natural healing,
Boosting and cooperating with the healing energy of your body and the chemotherapy.
No need for fighting language or mindset.
We are allowing and augmenting.
Invite in the chemo knowing that it is adding to your healing process.
The fact of these medicines is really awesome.
Honor that with awe and appreciation.
Continue with the visualizations of your choice for as long as you wish or return to it every so often throughout your treatment time.
See your cells becoming bright and plump and shimmering,
Joyful cells healthy and whole.
Let the images fade and check back to your breath and body.
Soft breath,
Soft muscles.
I invite you to finish this track by momentarily seeing yourself calm,
Healthy and energized in a place that you love.
Perhaps resting on a beach,
Swinging in a hammock in the bush.
Choose your individual place of joy.
Spend a moment there.
Bring your attention once again back to the here and now,
To your body sitting or lying.
Gently begin to draw in a deeper belly breath as you rearrange yourself to being here now.
Bring a small or large smile to your face.
We wish to once again thank and honor those around you and yourself.
Thank you.
Go well.
Be well.
