Welcome to this meditation.
I'm Sarah.
Start by just slowing down.
Take a few moments to pause in your day,
Wherever you are.
The morning,
Just gradually waking up.
The middle of the day,
Taking a break from busy times.
Or maybe the end of your day,
A time to reflect,
Relax,
Breathe.
Maybe you'd like to softly close your eyes or perhaps you'd prefer to soften your gaze.
Look out of your window.
Maybe you study the flicker of a candle's flame.
The leaves moving in the trees or something else that just feels comfortable.
Let's practice being in your body.
Choosing a part of you to connect with.
Your back against the place you're resting.
Your feet on the ground.
Maybe the slow rise and fall of your tummy as you breathe.
It doesn't matter which you choose.
There's no right or wrong,
But give your focus as best you can to that thing.
You might find that your mind wanders and that is completely normal to be expected.
As you notice your mind has gone down some rabbit hole somewhere.
Just pause,
Smile,
Bring your attention back to that place.
Beginning again,
Being kind to yourself.
There's no failure here,
Just steadiness,
Learning.
And as the darker mornings,
Evenings draw in,
We can use this time to nurture ourselves,
To rest,
Heal.
Giving ourselves the chance to slow down.
Creating cozy spaces.
Connecting with nature.
Wrapping ourselves up warm in cozy sweaters.
Giving ourselves the gift of candlelight.
Embracing the crisp old mornings.
Our breath smoky in the dawning light.
Reframing this time as something to accept.
Something to enjoy.
Understanding that this time will pass and spring will come again.
Made even more special by these darker times.
Take this time,
Here and now,
To imagine the ways you can make the most of these winter months.
Creating something new for yourself.
Creating an environment that's cozier,
Quieter,
More connected.
Connecting with the sleeping world around you.
Imagining the kindred souls across the world who are also resting,
Recuperating,
Preparing for the warmer months to come.
Nurturing the tiny seed of excitement that had grown.
Being ready to flourish as the sunshine comes again.
Stronger,
Healthier,
Because of this quieter,
Darker time.
This gift.
We could both imagine your mind,
Your body,
Strengthening,
Evolving each time you listen.
Moving forward to a place of contentment,
Peace.
Where can you feel that in your body now?
How can you embrace that sense of calm,
Peace?
Maybe that feeling is not so easy to notice right now.
Not as strong,
As fully formed as it will be yet.
And that's okay.
These things take time.
Time to grow.
Time to be.
Let's take a moment to imagine whatever is needed to help that sensation grow,
Expand,
Be what it needs to be.
So that as the spring begins to emerge from the darkness,
You can feel ready,
More at ease with your direction,
Your purpose,
The way you need to go.
Each time you listen to this meditation,
Becoming more and more aware of your movement forward,
Your growth as a person,
The feeling of peace.
Growing more and more noticeable,
And more enjoyable.
Resting your mind,
Your body,
To do what it needs to do,
To bring you through the colder,
Darker months,
Back into the light.
So,
Give yourself as long as you need to be with this thought,
Be with this feeling,
Slowly breathing,
Slowly becoming aware of the space around you,
Aware of your place of focus,
Your back,
Your feet on the ground,
Your breath,
Maybe something else.
Only opening your eyes,
Stretching your muscles,
Returning to the room when you're ready.
Ready to continue more calmly,
Peacefully,
More positively,
In your own time.
