A warm welcome to you.
My name is Fleur Chambers and as always,
It's my pleasure to spend this time with you.
Many of us try and control our lives.
We want things to stay the same.
But in truth,
Things are always changing.
And the more we hold on,
The more we suffer.
This meditation is a gentle opportunity for you to feel at ease amidst change and the various seasons of your life.
It's an invitation for you to feel comfortable amidst the impermanent nature of life.
So before you close down your eyes,
Can you cast your eye around the space you're in and acknowledge that all the things you can see and feel in your environment are impermanent.
The couch you sit on,
The pictures in frames,
The food in your fridge,
Even your home won't last forever.
The people you live with,
The dynamics within these relationships,
They are all impermanent.
And without judgment,
Noticing how this makes you feel uneasy,
Fearful,
Grateful,
Calm,
And trust that whatever your experience is,
It's okay.
Closing down your eyes now,
And allowing your awareness to land on your breath.
Each inhale a beginning,
Each exhale an ending.
In every cycle of breath,
There is a birth and a death.
And just for this moment,
Can you allow this to feel okay?
There's no need to hold on to the inhale or the exhale.
Our breath teaches us that life is always changing,
That there are natural rhythms,
And that we are safe to soften into these rhythms.
Each breath gently guiding you into the ever-changing present moment.
Awareness moving now towards the center of your chest,
Or your heart space,
And without any sense of striving or effort.
Simply noticing what's here in your heart today.
Attending to whatever you notice with curiosity and compassion,
And compassion.
Allowing it all to come and go.
Just like the clouds of a summer's sky,
Trusting that with each breath,
You are opening to the energy of impermanence.
And now in your own way,
Imagining that within your heart,
There's a beautiful room.
In this room,
There's a special seat or a couch.
Taking a moment to notice what else is in this room.
And so you take a seat,
Rest in this special place.
And as you sit,
You feel immediately at home,
In this room within your heart.
As you sit,
Time fades.
You feel peaceful and at ease.
Nothing to do,
No one to be,
You're safe to simply notice.
The ebb and flow of life,
The changing season.
You notice that there's a gentle light streaming in through the windows.
Perhaps you can imagine an open window in your room,
And the breeze as it meets your skin.
You feel a sense of spring.
You can hear birds chirping outside.
You take a deep breath into this energy of hope and beginnings.
Your body feels alive and vibrant.
The light streaming in through the window begins to feel stronger,
Brighter.
You notice it holds more heat.
The air in your room feels thicker.
Your body begins to warm.
You sense summer.
You breathe it in.
Your posture shifts.
You notice a growing sense of inner strength and courage.
As you sit in this room of your heart,
Day turns to night.
As you notice the moon,
Breathtakingly full and luminous.
Against the backdrop of the dark night sky,
You bathe in the light of the moon,
Allowing her energy to sweep over you.
Night turns to day,
And a perfect autumn leaf blows in and lands on your lap.
You pick it up.
You notice its details.
Various shades of yellow,
Orange,
Red,
Purple and brown weave together like paint on a canvas.
You enjoy a long,
Smooth inhale.
And on the exhale,
You notice yourself naturally letting go.
You let go of tension within your body,
Of thoughts within your mind,
Of heavy emotions in your heart.
And you trust in your capacity to let go.
The room begins to cool.
The light no longer streams in through the window.
You can hear the wind howling outside.
Winter's arrival invites you deep into your inner landscape,
Safe in the room within your heart.
You ask yourself,
How can the idea of impermanence soothe me right now?
How can it help me accept an aspect of my life I've been resisting?
You trust in this wisdom,
In this moment of insight.
Another question rises from within.
How can impermanence help me to feel more courageous and alive?
And you listen deeply.
Night falls once more,
And you hear the hoot of an owl in the distance.
You know it's time to go.
You thank this special room for showing you how to feel at home amidst the impermanent nature of life.
How to feel at ease amidst the changing seasons.
Awareness returning to your body as it sits in meditation.
The rising and falling of your chest.
And you offer this practice a smile,
For reminding you that it's possible to feel comfortable and at ease amidst the different seasons of your life.
