Hello,
Welcome to this guided meditation rooted like the rose oaks.
I invite you to begin by sitting comfortably,
Allowing your shoulders to soften,
Observing your breath while you settle in,
Noticing how your body feels,
Allowing each inhale to fill your body with calm.
And each exhale,
Release any tension or anything that doesn't serve you.
Eyes may be closed or soften their gaze,
Whatever is most comfortable.
Observing and you notice how your body feels,
The earth connecting you,
Supporting you,
Noticing the points of connection,
Allowing yourself to settle in,
And take a slow deliberate breath in through your nose,
Feeling your body grow steady,
And then breathe out gently,
Settling into the present moment,
Allowing each breath to anchor you to the earth beneath you,
Observing that.
Breathing in and out with the connection of the earth beneath you.
I now invite you to imagine yourself in a quiet meadow.
See before you two sturdy oaks standing side by side,
Their trunks rise to meet the sky,
Unwavering through the seasons.
Notice how each tree is strong,
Independent,
Yet sharing the meadow's sunlight and air.
Recalling Thoreau's words,
Two sturdy oaks,
I mean,
Which side by side withstand the winter storm and spite of wind and tide,
Grow up in the meadow's pride,
For both are strong.
You too are strong.
You too withstand the many storms of life.
On your next inhale,
Feel the strength of these oaks in your body.
With each breath,
Imagine yourself rooted and resilient,
Picturing that as you breathe in and out.
And now I invite you to shift your awareness beneath the soil.
Visualize the roots of the oaks spreading out and intertwining.
Above ground,
They touch only lightly,
But below,
They are joined at their deepest source.
Thoreau said,
Above,
They barely touch,
But undermine down to their deepest source,
Admiring you shall find their roots are intertwined inseparably.
You too have roots.
You too are intertwined with others.
The strength of community,
Adding and supporting our resilience.
And as you breathe in,
Picture your roots,
Your sense of belonging and inner support.
Reaching out and connecting with the world around you.
With every exhale,
Feel that inseparable bond grounding you,
Visualizing that,
The strength of the roots,
Your roots.
Like that of the mighty oaks,
We have much more below the surface,
The strength of our community.
Allow yourself to hold the image of the oaks on their underground connection,
Picturing them standing strong in that meadow,
Breathing in and out.
Feeling that strength,
That resilience,
Reminding yourself that below the surface,
Below the soil,
There lies the interconnectedness of roots,
Shared strength,
Supporting one another.
Embrace your strength and your deep,
Silent connection with others.
Perhaps bringing this individual or being to mind,
Picturing them supporting you,
Helping you to grow more resilient,
Adding to your inner strength,
Growing stronger.
Again,
Visualizing the mighty oaks,
The roots beneath,
The strength of the support system,
Allowing to grow,
To reach to the sky,
Picturing that,
Thanking,
That what helps to make your roots strong,
What lies beneath your surface,
What helps to nurture you,
Nourishing your roots,
Your strength,
Resilience,
Embracing that.
Roots grow,
Reach out,
Adding strength to the base,
Supporting others,
Intertwining,
The collective strength.
Breathing in and out,
Breathing in and out,
Picturing it,
Sending energy,
The roots,
Energy to what lies beyond the surface,
And realizing that you too are the roots for others.
You too add strength,
Standing next to the other oak,
Together they are shared in their strength,
Standing tall,
Powerful,
Weathering the storms,
Supporting each other,
Growing strong,
Mighty,
Strength of the interconnectedness.
Roots,
Branching out,
Carving over the surface.
When ready,
I invite you to add movement into your body,
Gentle movement,
Noticing how your body feels as you wiggle your toes,
Your fingers,
Perhaps gently stretching,
And if your eyes are closed,
I invite you to open them slowly and gently,
And know like the oaks,
You carry both resilience and interconnectedness through all the seasons of your life.
