Welcome to a brief gratitude practice.
We'll begin by finding a comfortable position,
Whether that's seated or laying down,
Or out on a walk,
Or standing up.
Just taking a moment to soften any features of the body that may be holding tension.
And just exhaling through the mouth,
Perhaps with a sigh,
Or sticking the tongue out.
Whether you're in the city,
Or in the country,
This practice is for getting in touch with the natural environment around you,
And feeling our own connection to the land and all the living beings.
If you're inside,
Or in the city,
Or in a place that feels removed from nature,
From the wilderness,
I'll invite you to just visualize the landscape before the city was constructed.
And if you're closer to nature,
Perhaps you can hear birds outside,
Or perhaps you have a better sense of the environment just outside the house.
And just coming into contact with the rhythm of the earth before the city was constructed,
Or even as it is happening right now.
Birds singing,
Worms digging,
Mammals foraging,
Gathering,
Plants growing,
Mushrooms and moss,
Ferns and trees,
Leaves from last season,
Decaying bark,
Just getting into contact with what is happening in this moment on the earth,
Rivers flowing,
Waves crashing,
Wind blowing,
Heating and cooling.
And just for a moment,
Breathing your awareness down into the earth beneath you,
Feeling yourself supported,
And perhaps bringing that awareness into the earth a few inches or a few feet,
And sensing the aliveness that is there.
Mycelium,
Which is a fungus that creates a network that helps plants communicate with each other,
Spreading all throughout the ground beneath you.
All of these elements have spawned life and continue to hold us,
Even when we are not aware of them.
Just taking a moment to appreciate the plants that produce oxygen,
And the mycelium that feeds the plants,
All of the elements that have provided the landscape that we stand on,
And all of the beings,
Humans and creatures and plant life,
That have tended this land long before us,
That are tending this land now,
And perhaps extending that appreciation into the future for all of the humans and creatures and spirits and plants that will tend this land long after we are gone.
And I'll invite you to bring to mind,
Or bring into your heart,
A place in the wilderness,
In nature,
That speaks to you.
Just taking a few breaths,
Inhaling through the nose,
And exhaling through the nose,
And coming into contact with all of the life in that place,
Through all the different seasons and cycles,
Just breathing in the gratitude.
And we'll take about a minute or two here,
Contacting as much as feels comfortable in that wilderness space.
And there's an invitation to bring that gratitude into the body,
Into the heart,
The hands and the feet,
Into the eyes and ears and nose,
Opening up the senses.
And gently returning your awareness to the space you are in,
In whatever position you're in,
And perhaps allowing yourself to maintain the awareness of your space,
While also including any natural elements around you,
Including houseplants,
Or little spiders or bugs,
Trees just outside,
All of the living elements,
And transitioning,
If it feels comfortable,
Bringing hands to the heart,
Or a hand to the heart and one to the belly,
Or to your lap.
And if it feels comfortable again,
Just bowing to yourself and everyone who showed up today.
Namaste.
