Hi,
This is Jessica of the Lotus Pond.
Welcome to your moment of intentional pause.
Happy Lunar New Year.
Across cultures and traditions,
The snake has been a sacred symbol for millennia.
In ancient mythology,
It represents transformation,
Resilience,
Wisdom,
And a deep connection with nature.
In Chinese tradition,
The snake is intuitive,
Graceful,
Strategic.
In Hinduism,
It embodies the kundalini energy,
Our dormant spiritual power.
This Lunar New Year,
The wood snake brings the essence of transformation,
Patience,
And adaptability.
As it weaves through its forestry surroundings,
The ground,
The trees,
The air,
It reminds us of our ability to move with flow and grace.
Before we go further,
Take a moment to reflect.
What does a snake symbolize for you?
What sensations,
Thoughts,
Or emotions does it bring up?
Today,
We will embody the snake's qualities through breathwork and visualization,
Allowing something within us to awaken and unfold naturally.
So find a comfortable position,
Either seated or lying down.
Ease into a posture that feels right for you,
Where you feel both safe and supported.
Allow yourself to settle.
When you're ready,
Gently close your eyes or maintain a still position.
Soft gaze.
Begin to relax your body,
Softening your forehead,
Releasing the tension in your neck,
Your shoulders,
Allowing your back muscles to loosen,
But let go.
And feel yourself grounding into the earth beneath you,
Fully supported by its steady,
Woodsy,
Earthy energy.
Now let's bring our awareness to our breath.
Without changing it,
Simply notice your natural breathing rhythm.
Feel the sensations of each inhale and exhale,
Allowing your breath to guide you like a gentle wave,
Flowing through your body.
Let us deepen our connection to the breath,
Beginning an undulating breath cycle,
An organic,
Wave-like breath that mirrors the movement of a snake.
So on your inhale,
Expand your belly,
Expand your ribs,
And expand your chest,
Holding briefly at the top before exhaling,
Uncaving,
Releasing air from your chest,
Ribs,
And belly.
Let us deepen our connection to the breath.
Flow naturally with this breathing.
Inhale,
Open your belly,
Ribs,
Chest,
Hold.
Exhale,
Release,
Chest,
Ribs,
Belly.
If you feel called,
Feel free to move your body subtly and sync with the breath,
With the movement,
Your spine,
Allowing a natural,
Undulating motion that feels intuitive,
Connected,
Sacred,
Ancient.
Now bring your awareness to the base of your spine,
Your root chakra,
The muddha tara.
This is a center of safety,
Stability,
Foundation.
Imagine this space glowing with a deep,
Red,
Earthy energy.
In ancient yogic tradition,
The snake represents kundalini energy,
Our life force,
Universal consciousness,
Coiled patiently,
Quietly at the base of our spine,
Dormant,
Waiting to be awakened.
With each inhale,
Imagine this energy stirring ever so gently,
Like a snake waking from its rest.
There is no force,
Only a soft,
Natural unfolding,
A trusting process.
That is so natural,
Instinctual within us.
As you exhale,
Release any tension,
Creating space for what is ready to rise.
With every breath,
Visualize this snake-like energy beginning to uncoil from your base,
Spiraling gracefully,
Naturally upwards through your spine,
Through your energy chakras.
Moving past your sacral chakra,
The center of creativity and flow,
Rising into your solar plexus,
Igniting personal power.
Glowing into your heart chakra,
Expanding,
Opening,
Love,
Intuition,
Compassion.
Breathing,
Weaving through your throat chakra,
Clearing your voice,
Extending into your third eye chakra,
Awakening deep intuition.
With clarity,
Finally,
Reaching your crown chakra,
Opening your energy to universal wisdom.
Feel this energy flowing seamlessly from your base,
From the earth to the sky,
Through your crown,
And back again.
Let this energy flow.
Let it awaken you.
Awaken your deep awareness,
Your fluidity,
Your deep inner wisdom.
Take one more deep breath,
Truly feeling the fullness of this inhale and this completeness of your exhale.
Slowly bring your consciousness back by wiggling your fingers,
Your toes,
Gently moving your body,
Listening to your inner needs,
And when you feel ready,
Reopen your eyes,
Returning to this space with a renewed sense of presence,
A renewed awareness of who you are.
As you gently return from this practice,
I invite you to take more moments to reflect.
In silence,
In writing,
Reflect on this practice.
What sensations,
Images,
Or emotions arose?
What is stirring deep within you?
Thank you for sharing your time with me.
May the energy of the wood snake guide you ever so gracefully in the year ahead.
Blessings.
