Yoga Nidra - Hawthorn Heart Medicine

Welcome to this practice of Yoga Nidra.

I'm Sharon O'Halloran.

Yoga Nidra is a practice of self-love.

It's a key to unlocking your self-regulation system,

A key to healing.

Before we begin,

Just take a moment to gather all you need to be comfortable.

A blanket,

A pillow,

Something to cover your eyes if your room is very bright.

Just make a comfortable nest for yourself and for your practice.

And when you are ready,

You can lie down,

Hands by your side,

Your eyes closed.

All of you is welcome here today.

This is your time.

Your time to be,

To breathe and to be calm.

We're going on a journey today to meet the magical Hawthorne tree.

Our ancestors knew the healing powers of Hawthorne.

They both respected and feared the spirit of Hawthorne.

Long the plant of the heart in folklore.

Long a sacred,

Protective presence.

Long associated with holy wells.

Long associated with fairies.

In Celtic mythology,

It is one of the most sacred trees.

It symbolises love and protection.

Associated with Bjaltanna,

The ancient festival celebrating spring.

The Hawthorne bursts with white blossoms in the springtime.

The blossoming of the Hawthorne is symbolic,

Signalling an end to the dark,

Cold winter nights and the beginning of spring,

Fertility and new life.

It drips with red berries in the autumn.

Hawthorne is said to mend broken hearts.

It connects us to the other realm.

It connected with our ancestors,

And this knowledge lives in our DNA today.

You can begin to remember Hawthorne.

For now,

Feel the weight of your body.

Allow your limbs to sink down into the earth.

Feel any tension in your body and allow it to soften.

Become aware of your breath.

Breathing in through your nose and out through your mouth.

In through your nose.

And out through your mouth.

In through your nose and out through your mouth.

Feel yourself soften with each exhale.

Soften.

Soften.

Soften.

You are loved.

You are protected.

You are connected.

Settle into your heart space.

Settle into the presence of Hawthorn,

The protector of your heart.

This is where we begin the practice of yoga nidra.

If you are using a sankalpa,

Now is a good time to introduce it and repeat it to yourself silently three times.

For those not familiar with sankalpa,

It is a positive I statement,

Declaring the highest desire for you and your life.

If you are feeling unloved,

It can be I am loved.

If you are feeling undervalued,

It can be I am valuable.

I am worthy.

This I statement is your deepest prayer for yourself and for your life.

Allow it to rise.

And now go ahead and repeat your sankalpa three times.

Feel it build inside of you.

Settle into your heart space.

Feel into your heart.

Feel your brow center.

Feel your right temple.

Return to your heart.

Feel your right cheek.

Feel your right shoulder.

Return to your heart.

Feel your outer right ribs.

Feel your upper right thigh.

Feel your right ankle.

And now feel the whole entire right side of your body.

Whole right side.

Full felt awareness.

Glorious presence.

Feel into your heart space.

Now feel your left ankle.

Your left upper thigh.

Feel your outer left ribs.

Return to your heart.

Feel your left shoulder.

Return to your heart.

Feel your left cheek.

Feel your left temple.

Return to your heart.

Feel your midbrain and the space between your ears.

Now feel the whole left right side of your body.

The whole left side of your body with extraordinary presence and felt awareness.

Whole left side.

Now go back to your heart and connect from your midbrain back to your third eye,

Completing the circuit from your heart.

Feel up to your pineal gland,

Which is located at the centre of your brain and then all the way through your entire body.

Whole entire body felt now.

You are whole.

Take a moment to travel back into your heart space.

Begin to notice your breath.

Feel the heaviness of your body in deep rest while you remain aware.

Feel the space inside you.

Feel the space all around you.

Feel your energy body.

Feel its pulsation into space and back to earth.

Into space and back to earth.

Into space and back to earth.

You are deeply connected within space and deeply connected to the earth.

Your energy body is recharged through these connections.

Recharged for your life.

Feel this pulsation into space and back to earth.

Into space and back to earth.

Into space and back to earth.

You are a spiritual being having a human experience.

You are whole.

You are expansive.

You are free.

You are free.

You are free.

Now find yourself at home in your heart space.

What does it feel like to be disconnected?

Unable to plant your feet on the ground.

Unable to recharge your body.

Tired.

Lost.

Adrift.

Disconnected from nature.

Feel this disconnection.

You can let that go now and return to your heart space.

What does it feel like to be connected?

Planting your feet on the ground.

Recharged.

Energized.

Deeply rooted.

Creative.

Connected to the Hawthorn and its wisdom.

Feel this connection.

Now return to your heart space.

What does it feel like to have a closed heart?

Closed to love.

Closed to connection.

Closed to relationship.

Closed to creativity.

Closed to nature.

You can let go of that now and return to your heart space.

What does it feel like to have an open heart?

Open to love.

Open to connection.

Open to relationship.

Open to creativity.

Open to nature.

You can return to your heart space now.

Experience yourself as connected,

As whole,

As loved.

You are unique.

You are blessed.

You are alive.

Picture yourself walking in nature.

It's springtime and the Hawthorn is in full bloom in the fields that surround you.

Behold its white spring flowers.

Feel the spirit of Hawthorn.

Allow it to touch your heart.

Feel its sacred,

Protective presence.

As you walk,

You come to a sacred well that has a Hawthorn tree alongside it.

There are hundreds of rags tied to the branches of the tree.

Pilgrims from all over the world come here to wish at this well.

They leave their rag offering on the Hawthorn tree.

You approach the holy well with your deepest wish for your life.

You kneel and pray by the well and whisper this wish in the presence of the Hawthorn tree.

You then rise and circle the well three times silently and with reverence.

The Hawthorn holds you here.

It's a timeless connection.

You are presence.

You are nature.

Your wish is heard.

You can feel it in your heart.

Grateful,

You take your rag and tie it to the Hawthorn.

You place your left hand on the tree.

Your left arm and hand is your heart connection line.

Hawthorn,

Along the plant of the heart in folklore,

Connects to your heart.

Feel the pulsation of that connection.

Allow that pulsation to grow.

Allow this connection with the Hawthorn to heal you.

You are whole.

You are deeply rooted on the earth.

You are a spiritual being,

Deeply connected.

You can soar.

You are free.

Limitless.

Divine.

Allow your sankalpa to rise within you now.

Allow it to fill you as you repeat it three times.

And so it is.

Become aware of your breath.

Feel your body connected to the earth.

Allow small movements in your fingers and toes.

Welcome home to your glorious body and beautiful heart.

You can increase your movement and perhaps reach into a big body stretch.

Fully back,

Fully home,

Fully alive.

The practice of yoga nidra is now complete.

When you are ready,

You can turn over onto your left side.

And when you are ready,

You can make your way into a seated position.

Eyes still closed.

Bring your hands to your heart.

What is your intention for the rest of the day?

Thank you for practicing with me today.

Go gently.

Hari Om Tat Sat.