To get started,
Find a comfortable position and turn your attention to your physical body,
Simply noticing how it feels at the present moment.
Those of you that feel safe to do so may choose to close your eyes or find a place to gently soften your gaze on the ground beneath you,
The wall ahead.
Begin to turn your attention inward by taking a few deep breaths,
Inhaling through your nose as you feel your lungs and belly expand,
Then exhaling slowly as you invite your body to begin to relax.
We're going to spend the next few moments together,
Calling to mind an image of your childhood home,
Seeing it in the distance across a field.
Staying present with whatever image arises,
See if you can notice the front door or entryway to the home.
Begin to walk slowly towards this home and see yourself getting closer and closer to the door or entryway.
As you journey towards the home,
Begin to notice any shifts or changes in your body's sensations.
As you arrive to your childhood home,
Open the door and walk inside as your adult self.
Take a moment or two as you begin to look around.
As you're looking around,
Notice yourself as a small child inside.
Notice what you're doing.
Notice who,
If anyone,
Is also in the home.
Notice what the others around you are doing.
Notice the expression on their faces.
As we continue with this exploration,
Some of you may notice upsetting emotions or uncomfortable shifts in your body's sensations.
As they arise,
Simply notice and continue to breathe more deeply and slowly into your body,
Helping calm any discomfort you may be experiencing.
Begin to see your adult self walk over to this child version of you.
Take a moment to notice how this child feels.
Are they happy,
Lonely,
Scared,
Sad?
Simply notice whatever comes up as you stand next to this child.
Kneel beside your child self now,
Grabbing their hand or embracing them if you choose to or feel cold,
And look into their eyes while you repeat the following.
I'm here with you now.
I know what happened and how painful it was.
The adults here are wounded themselves.
I love you and accept you for exactly who you are,
And I have come to protect you.
From now on,
You are seen,
Heard,
And understood by me,
And we will take care of ourselves together.
Tell your child self that it's time to leave.
And allow them to gather anything they want with them,
Maybe a toy or a favorite blanket.
With them,
Begin to walk up to whoever is present at home and repeat the following.
It is now time for me to create my own life.
I know you did the best you could,
And you have your own unresolved traumas.
I need to begin my healing journey away from here now,
And I detach with love.
Using your last few moments in the home to say goodbye,
Waving,
Hugging,
Or whatever feels most natural,
Begin to slowly make your way,
With your child self in hand,
Back to the front door.
As you and your child self feel ready,
Breathing deeply and slowly,
Begin to walk out the front door.
As you both continue walking farther and farther away from your childhood home,
Begin to notice as a sense of calmness and peace come over you.
Remind yourself that that home is part of your past,
That you and your child self are safe now.
That you are both creating a new version of yourself.
As you continue to walk towards the peace and clarity you are both beginning to see in the distance,
Place your inner child,
Their needs,
Their feelings,
And their wants into your heart as part of you and repeat the following.
This is your home now.
You are fully accepted,
Unconditionally loved,
And you can always be who you are.
Together,
We have begun our new life.
Some of you may decide to pause this recording now,
To continue with this practice,
While others will begin to gently expand your attention outward again,
Returning more fully and presently to the room around you,
Wiggling your fingers and toes,
Opening your eyes if they have been closed,
Remember this practice as you return to your day,
Taking moments throughout to pause,
To connect to the inner child that lives within you,
Always.
