Hello and welcome.
As we stand on the threshold of the autumnal equinox,
We find ourselves at a moment of perfect balance.
Equal light and equal dark.
It's a time when nature begins its great surrender.
Letting go of the old to make way for the new.
Today we will align ourselves with this powerful natural rhythm.
We will take a moment to pause,
To breathe and to release what no longer serves us.
Find a comfortable position,
Whether you are sitting or lying down.
Gently close your eyes or soften your gaze.
Take a deep breath in through your nose,
Filling your lungs,
And as you exhale,
Letting out a soft sigh.
Releasing any tension you may be holding in your shoulders,
Your jaw or your belly.
Breathing in again,
Deeply,
Slowly,
Gently and exhaling.
Letting go of anything that doesn't serve you.
With each breath,
Allow yourself to sink a little deeper to this moment.
There's nothing you need to do,
Nowhere you need to be in this moment.
Just breathing.
Just being.
Now bring your awareness to the soles of your feet.
Feel the ground beneath you,
Supporting you completely.
Imagine roots growing from the bottoms of your feet,
Extending down into the earth.
Anchoring you firmly in this present moment.
Now bring your attention to your legs,
Your hips,
Feel them becoming heavy,
Rested.
Notice your torso,
Your chest,
Your back,
Softening with each exhale.
Your shoulders,
Let them melt away from your ears,
Your arms,
Your hands.
Feel a gentle,
Warm or tingling sensation.
Finally,
Bring your awareness to your neck,
Your head,
Your jaw,
Your face.
Release any tension in your forehead,
Your cheeks.
Let everything go as best you can.
Now imagine yourself as a beautiful,
Sturdy tree.
You have stood tall all spring and summer.
Reaching for the sun,
Growing strong and vibrant.
You have held onto your leaves,
Each one a memory of a lesson learned,
A goal achieved,
Or an experience lived.
The sun has shone on you,
And the winds have blown.
You have flourished.
But now,
You feel a shift in the air.
The days are growing shorter,
The light is changing.
It's time to begin the great letting go.
Look at your leaves,
Some are still green,
Holding tight.
Others are turning to brilliant shades of gold,
Crimson and copper.
Each one holds a story from your past season.
As you look at these leaves,
Ask yourself,
Am I ready to release?
What old beliefs,
Habits or fears are no longer serving my growth?
Perhaps there's a thought that says,
You're not good enough.
See it as a leaf,
Turning brown.
Perhaps there's a past hurt you're holding on to.
See it as a withered leaf on a branch.
Or maybe it's a sense of overwhelm,
Or a need for control.
See it as a dry,
Brittle leaf.
There's no judgement here.
Simply notice what comes up,
And as you identify each one,
Gently release your grip.
Take a breath in,
And as you breathe out,
Imagine a gentle autumn breeze rustling through your branches.
This breeze is soft,
Supportive and kind.
With each breath out,
The leaf detaches,
Gracefully floating to the ground.
You're not forcing the release,
You're simply allowing it.
Feel the lightness in your branches,
Feel the space you're creating.
The leaves are not gone forever,
They're simply returning to the earth,
To become nourishment for the soil.
And you,
The tree,
Are not losing anything.
You're creating space to rest,
To gather your energy.
And to prepare for new life.
Now look at what remains.
See the strength of your trunk,
The resilience of your branches.
See the fruits of your labour,
The friendships you've nurtured,
The goals you've achieved,
The wisdom you've gained.
Hold gratitude for your inner harvest.
Acknowledge your strength and your growth.
You are complete,
Just as you are.
You are standing in this moment of perfect balance.
Slowly,
Bring your awareness back to your breath.
Feel the rise and fall of your abdomen.
Feel the gentle support of the ground beneath you.
Carry the sense of peace and lightness with you.
The autumn equinox is an invitation to find balance,
And to honour the cycle of release and renewal.
When you are ready,
Gently wiggle your fingers and toes.
Take a final deep breath in for this meditation.
And as you slowly exhale,
Opening your eyes,
This meditation is complete.
And you are free.
If you enjoyed this meditation,
Let me know in the comments below.
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Thank you for joining today,
And I wish you a mindful autumn.
