Jambo and hello dear traveler,
And welcome to Safari and Soul.
This is Reshma,
Your safari guide.
Join me today as the ethereal sun rises over the savannah,
Ushering in a new day and a new beginning.
Good morning.
Find a comfortable position.
Perhaps you are still lying in your bed.
Perhaps you are seated and looking out the window to the morning light.
Allow your body to settle naturally in whatever way feels comfortable to you.
Take a slow breath in.
And as you inhale,
Perhaps stretch your hands up above your head.
Perhaps twist gently side to side.
As you exhale a long breath out,
Move in whatever way feels right in this moment.
In whatever way feels like it is helping you open yourself to this new beginning.
Let your shoulders soften.
Let your jaw unclench.
Maybe give yourself a hug.
Take another deep breath in.
For a count of 1,
2,
3,
4.
Hold for 1,
2,
3,
4.
And exhale for 4,
3,
2,
1.
Feel your breath reach deep into your chest at the center of your ribcage.
With your eyes closed,
Here you are.
With your eyes closed,
Imagine that you are about to watch the sun rise over the savanna.
In front of you,
The sky stretches endlessly.
The air is cool and you feel like you might need to pull over your warm clothes or your blanket just a little bit tighter.
And as your eyes are still closed,
You see in front of you the sky,
Which is divinely painted.
A canvas of magnificent shades,
Where indigo fades into lavender and soft rose.
And the horizon glows with hints of peach and gold.
For a few quiet moments,
The land holds this gentle glow.
As if the savanna itself is waking.
The orchestra of the wild coming alive.
The cacophony of bird sounds and calls from others,
Making this all feel so magical.
The lion roars to its family.
Time to move along from the night's hunt and to find a place of rest for the day.
Slowly,
The first edge of the sun appears and the warm gold begins to spill across the open plains.
The tall grasses shimmer in the early light and the silhouettes of acacia trees stand quietly against the brightening sky.
Take a moment to take this all in.
Be in awe of this beautiful scene unfolding.
The life-giving sun has taken its time to rise above the horizon.
And when it is time,
The orb of light hastens its rise up into the sky that welcomes it.
As you watch the sunrise with your eyes still closed,
Take a slow breath in.
Imagining this golden light spreading across the horizon and bathing you in brilliance,
In abundance of a new day,
In joy.
Then breathe out,
Letting that same warmth settle gently through your body,
All the way to your core,
As you let go of any lingering darkness and heaviness from yesterday.
Feel the warmth on your face.
Feel yourself being charged by the rays of the sun,
Ready for the day ahead.
Feel the warmth spreading from the crown of your head,
All the way down to the tips of your toes.
As this warmth from the sun spreads,
Wiggle your fingers,
Wiggle your toes,
Move.
Feel this energy.
Feel your feet rooted to the earth.
Feel the wind gently caress your face.
Listen to the sounds around you.
The bird songs that welcome the light.
You are supported by something ancient and steady,
This ground,
This space that holds you in embrace.
Now as you feel one with this space,
Allow a gentle intention to form,
A word or a feeling,
A wish for your day ahead.
Let that rise naturally.
And as you choose to live your intention for today,
You are awake,
You are steady,
You are open like the vast savanna to all that will come today.
And with your eyes still closed,
Take a final deep breath in.
Repeat your intention internally and exhale any lingering tension or stiffness.
Take your time.
And when you are ready,
You may open your eyes,
Look around you.
As the majestic sun rises over the African savanna,
You rise too.
Steady,
Open,
Alive and ready for your day ahead.
And always remember,
You may physically leave the wilderness,
But the wilderness within never leaves you.
This is Safari in Soul.
Until next time,
Have a great day ahead.
