Hello everybody.
This is Coach Tan with a meditation and story today.
The Whisper of the Cedar Tree.
But first,
Let's take a moment to settle into a comfortable position.
Gently close our eyes and bring your awareness inward.
Feel your body supported beneath you.
The chair,
The couch,
The bed,
The earth itself holding you with quiet steadiness.
Let your shoulders soften.
Your jaw unclench.
Your hands rest easily.
Take a slow breath in and let a long relaxed breath out.
Again,
Inhale deeply,
Feeling your ribs expand.
And exhale,
Releasing any tension you do not need to carry right now.
Let your breath find its natural rhythm.
Smooth,
Unforced,
Steady.
Imagine your thoughts beginning to settle like snowflakes falling gently to the ground.
Nothing to fix,
Nothing to solve,
Just arriving in this moment.
This is an old story told in different forms across tribes of the Pacific Northwest.
A story about how the cedar tree came to be and what it teaches us about trusting ourselves when life feels uncertain.
Long ago,
In a village nestled between tall mountains and the edge of the wide river,
There lived a young woman named Anya.
She was known for her quiet spirit,
Observant,
Thoughtful,
Deeply connected to the land,
But she still struggled with one thing.
She did not always trust her own wisdom.
She felt deeply.
She sensed things before others saw them.
She knew when storms were coming.
She knew when the salmon would run early or late.
She knew when someone in the village needed comfort before they said a word.
But because her voice was soft,
Her certainty lived quietly inside her.
She often doubted it.
What if I'm wrong,
She would think.
What if my instincts mislead me?
One year,
The winter storms came earlier than the elders expected.
The air had changed in a way that only Anya noticed.
The wind carried a sharper bite.
The sky turned heavy at dusk.
She felt the warning in her bones.
She approached the council fire and spoke up.
The storms will come sooner this year.
We should prepare.
Some listened politely.
Others smiled at her gently,
Assuming she was mistaken.
Even she wavered,
Unsure if she could,
Should,
Insist.
That night,
Unable to quiet her worry,
She walked into the forest to seek clarity.
She followed a narrow path lit by moonlight until she reached the oldest tree in the village,
A giant cedar that towered above all others,
So ancient that its roots were said to hold the memories of those people.
She placed her hand on the bark.
She closed her eyes.
She asked the tree softly,
How do I know when it's time to believe in myself?
How do I trust what feels true inside me?
For a long moment,
There was only the sound of the wind weaving through the branches.
Then she felt it,
A gentle presence,
A knowing.
And the tree seemed to whisper,
When your heart breaks in a voice that does not shout,
But does not leave,
That is your truth.
Trust the voice that stays.
She breathed in the scent of the cedar,
Sharp,
Earthy,
Grounding,
And felt something shift inside her,
A quiet certainty returning to its home.
She went back to the village at dawn and told the council again,
And this time with a steady voice.
And this time they listened,
Not because she shouted,
Not because she forced them to,
But because her inner certainty felt unshakable.
The village prepared,
And just days later,
The early storm swept down from the mountains,
Stronger than any in memory.
Because they trusted her warning,
The people in their homes were safe.
And when the storm passed,
The elders approached her.
We doubted you,
They said,
But you did not doubt yourself.
That is wisdom.
From that day forward,
The cedar tree was honored as a symbol of inner knowing,
Its branches strong,
Its roots deep,
Its voice soft but certain.
The story says,
Whenever you pass a cedar tree and pause long enough to listen,
You can still hear its whisper.
Trust the voice within you,
Even when it's quiet,
Even when it's unsure,
Even when no one else recognizes it yet.
Trust the voice that stays.
As you breathe now,
Imagine that ancient cedar rising in front of you,
Tall,
Grounded,
And wise.
Feel its steadiness,
Its patience,
Its quiet truth.
Ask yourself gently,
What truth inside me has me speaking,
Even if I've been afraid to trust it?
You don't have to answer out loud.
Just listen.
Let your breath deepen.
Let your heart soften.
Let that inner voice rise,
The one that stays even when doubt tries to cover it.
Know that your wisdom is not loud,
Because it does not need to be.
It is steady.
It is rooted.
It is yours.
Now,
Let's bring your awareness back to your breath.
In.
Feel your body again,
Supported,
Grounded,
Safe.
Gently move your fingers,
Roll your shoulders.
Notice how your heart feels now,
Compared to where you began,
When you're steady,
Take a deep breath in,
And let it go with a long exhale.
Carry with you the cedar's message.
Trust the voice that stays.
And when you're ready,
Slowly open your eyes.
Thank you for joining me.
