In this meditation you will observe some of the fluctuations in life from the safety of your mind's eye.
Writing the tidal-like movements of the breath,
Noticing after each exhale we land home back at our centre.
This centre,
This home,
Is the axis around which all of our experiences revolve.
They can be viewed from the safety of this centre with the breath providing a reliable,
Well-lit pathway back home to you.
Find a space where you won't be interrupted.
Make yourself comfortable.
You might sit on the floor like a yogi on a block or a meditation cushion.
Or maybe you're in a comfortable chair with your feet firmly on the ground.
If you'd like,
You can lie down.
Become aware of your breath now.
Notice as you inhale your lungs fill with air which pushes the diaphragm down so that your belly is pressed out.
Allow it to be soft.
And then as you exhale and your lungs are emptied,
It creates a vacuum so that your diaphragm rises and your belly draws back in.
Inhale,
Feel the lightness as your lungs fill.
Imagine that the air inside of your lungs is helium that's lifting you a little bit higher.
Exhale,
Gravity takes a stronger hold as you soften toward the earth.
Inhale,
Your breath gives you lift,
A gentle rebound away from the gravity of the earth.
Exhale,
You feel the pull of gravity.
It can be surprising,
Unnerving even,
How moods,
Passions and motivations can fluctuate.
One day we have unshakable commitment and another we can sabotage our own plans.
And so often what follows is disappointment,
Frustration,
Perhaps even shame.
On the flip side though,
A dark,
Listless,
Self-indulgent period may soon be followed by one that's inspired.
We feel energized and generous.
Sometimes we're unbeatable,
Lucky,
Exuberant and at other times we can feel crushed and quite unfortunate.
From elation to heartbreak and back again,
We're always transitioning,
Everything in a state of flux.
The thing is to let go of holding on,
Knowing that this tide-like movement of the breath will bring you back home to your center.
Inhale and feel expansion,
A gentle rise.
Exhale,
Feel a softening,
A coming back home.
Gravity pulls you back to center.
That one constant flowing in and flowing out,
Always from your first breath until your last.
Your constant companion,
The fulcrum or the hinge for everything that happens in your life,
Experiences,
Moods and emotions.
Take a moment now to recall a time that you were really yearning,
Really wishing for something to happen and yet it remained elusive.
Perhaps it was a person,
A relationship,
Maybe a job you wanted or a house you wished you could have.
Perhaps it was recovery from illness.
Recall that feeling of not being able to have what you really wanted.
Inhale,
Knowing that you've had times of really yearning.
Exhale,
Feel a softening,
A coming back home to center.
Now recall a time when you felt deeply satisfied.
Maybe you had just achieved something long strived for or perhaps the deep satisfaction came to you from something really simple.
Like a cup of tea sipped in a beautiful garden.
Where were you?
What were you seeing?
Who were you with?
What were you hearing or smelling?
Inhale that feeling of deep contentment.
Exhale,
Feel a softening,
A coming back home to center.
Remember now a time when you felt sadness,
The heaviness that settled upon you,
The low energy associated with this feeling,
Disillusion perhaps.
Inhale and know that you have known periods of sorrow.
Exhale feel a softening,
A coming back home to center.
And now think of a time when you felt joyous,
Elated.
Can you feel the excited energy that surrounded you at that time?
Who were you with?
Can you picture the smile that was on your face and conjure up the things that you were sensing?
What were you looking at?
Who were you with?
What were you hearing,
Smelling,
Perhaps tasting or touching?
Inhale,
Recall the sensations of joy.
Exhale,
Feel a softening,
A coming back home to center.
Has there been a time when you had so many things to get done it didn't feel possible that you would manage?
Recollect the juggling,
How you had to work faster,
Longer hours,
Perhaps call in favours just to make stuff happen.
Inhale and know that at times you've been crazy busy.
Exhale and feel a softening,
A coming back to center.
Avote now the sensations of being truly relaxed.
Are you sleeping with nowhere to be or lost in a novel in your favourite nook at home?
Or perhaps your mind has transported you back to a favourite holiday destination.
Can you conjure the feeling of being truly relaxed?
Inhale you know the feeling of deep relaxation.
Exhale feel a softening,
A coming back home to center.
Just as on a seesaw in life there are times when you are up and times when you are down.
They complement and balance each other.
This sensation and thrilling experience of being on a seesaw needs both the highs and the lows.
Inhale push off and rise.
Exhale descend back home.
The fulcrum point to the whole experience of life is our breath bringing us ever back home.
Gently allow your eyes to open now and take a moment to look around you and absorb your environment.
Notice and listen to the sounds.
Notice and really look at the things around you.
And allow a smile to come onto your face.
And exhale knowing that the breath can always bring you back home to you.
Thank you for joining me in this meditation.
Namaste.
