Welcome my friend,
Give yourself some time now to come into stillness,
Lying down in a position that feels deeply comfortable,
Really safe and supportive,
Gently close your eyes or if you prefer soften your gaze,
Take a moment to adjust your body so that you can remain effortless and still for this journey.
Feel now the support of the earth beneath you,
Imagine yourself resting upon the ancient lands of Ireland or whatever land calls to your spirit today,
Green hills,
Mossy forests or the wide expanse of a quiet beach.
Sense the land,
Your home,
The earth,
Holding you with kindness as a loving Anamkara,
A soul friend.
Take a deep,
Slow breath in and a gentle,
Long,
Complete breath out.
Again,
Breathe in,
Deep and slow and then on the out-breath,
Sigh it away.
There is nothing at all you need to do,
You are already whole.
You are already held.
Bring to mind your Sankalpa,
Your heart's resolve or intention for this practice,
Perhaps simply I am held in compassion or I welcome deep rest.
Find or settle now on the words that are true for you,
Your heart's resolve or intention,
Planting the seeds.
Repeat your Sankalpa then silently within,
Planting it like a seed in the fertile soil of your being.
Now we journey through the landscape of the body with tender awareness,
Bring attention to your right hand thumb,
Index finger,
Middle finger,
Ring finger,
Little finger,
Palm of the hand,
Back of the hand,
Wrist,
Forearm,
Elbow,
Upper arm,
Right shoulder,
Armpit,
Right side of the chest,
Waist,
Hip,
Thigh,
Knee,
Right heel,
Sole of the foot,
Top of the foot,
Right big toe,
Second toe,
Third toe,
Fourth toe,
Right little toe.
Move awareness to the left side now,
Left hand thumb,
Index finger,
Middle finger,
Ring finger,
Little finger,
Palm of the left hand,
Back of the hand,
Left wrist,
Forearm,
Elbow,
Upper arm,
Forearm,
Left shoulder,
Armpit,
Left side of the chest,
Waist,
Left hip,
Forearm,
Thigh,
Knee,
Calf,
Ankle,
Heel,
Sole of the left foot,
Top of the foot,
Left big toe,
Second toe,
Third toe,
Fourth toe,
Little toe.
Bring awareness to the back of the body,
Right buttock,
Left buttock,
Lower back,
Middle back,
Upper back,
Back of the neck,
Back of the head.
Now to the front of the body,
Crown of the head,
Forehead,
Temples,
Eyebrows,
Space between the eyebrows,
Eyelashes,
Cheeks,
Nose,
Lips,
Chin,
Collarbones,
Chest,
Heart centre,
Upper belly,
Navel,
Lower belly,
Pelvis.
Sense your whole body now as one field of awareness,
Lying here in stillness,
Held by the land beneath you,
Your home,
The earth.
Now become aware of your natural breath flowing like a gentle river,
No need to change it.
Feel the rise and the fall of your belly,
The expansion and softening of your chest.
Imagine your breath as the warm breeze flowing through the sacred groves of the ancient Celts,
Carrying blessings and quietening,
Calming your spirit.
With each exhale release any burdens or worries into the earth.
Knowing she can compost them into new life.
Imagine now the presence of Bridget,
The great goddess and saint of healing,
Poetry and fire.
See her standing beside you,
Radiant with gentle light.
She carries a cloak woven with every colour of dawn,
Soft greens of spring,
Wildflower yellows,
The blush of heather,
Deep ocean teal and quiet twilight purple.
Feel her spreading this cloak over you now,
A cloak of compassion,
Of protection,
Of blessing.
Sense its warmth and softness around your body,
Cocooning you in safety.
Know that within this cloak you are free to rest deeply,
You are nourished,
You are guarded by her eternal flame.
Stay here,
Breathing in her presence,
Allow her to whisper words of comfort to your heart.
You are loved,
You are worthy of rest,
You are part of this earth's beauty.
Lay down your burdens now,
Be at peace.
Sense heaviness in your body,
As if sinking into the earth,
Deeply rooted.
Now sense lightness,
As if your body were weightless,
Floating among the summer clouds,
Heaviness and lightness.
Grounded and spacious,
Allow both to exist within you with ease.
Now imagine yourself walking through a soft green meadow,
With wildflowers nodding in the breeze.
You come to a sacred well,
A place of ancient blessings.
Kneel here in your mind's eye,
See the clear water reflecting sunlight like liquid silver.
Pop your hands and drink,
Feeling refreshment and renewal flow through you.
This is your inner sanctuary,
You can return here anytime for guidance,
Peace and compassionate rest.
Begin to return slowly,
Bringing awareness back to your breath,
Feeling the rise and fall of your belly.
The body resting upon the earth,
Hearing sounds within and beyond the room,
Feeling the air on your skin.
Bring your intention,
Your sankalpa,
The seeds you have sown for yourself,
To mind once more.
Repeat it silently,
Knowing it's truth is already alive within you.
Begin to invite gentle movement back,
Maybe wiggling fingers and toes,
Rolling your head softly side to side.
When you are ready,
Bend your knees and roll onto your right side,
Resting here in a fetal position,
Honouring the rebirth of this practice.
In your own time,
No rush,
No hurry,
Gently press up into a seated position,
Keeping the eyes closed if you like,
Or open with a soft gentle gaze.
Bring your hands to your heart centre in prayer,
Bowing your head.
May Bridget's cloak of compassion continue to surround you.
May you walk gently upon the earth,
Carrying peace within.
May all beings be blessed.
