Welcome to this practice of connecting to the elements.
This practice is best done outside in a natural environment.
But you can do it inside if you prefer.
So let's start by taking a few moments just to.
.
.
Arrive in the present moment.
And feel grounded.
You can do this practice standing or sitting,
Whichever feels most comfortable.
Just begin by bringing awareness to the contact points between your body.
And the ground or the place that you're sitting.
So perhaps a sensation of the ground beneath the feet.
The contact between your body and the place where you're sitting.
And just get a real sense of the weight of you going down,
Feeling grounded.
Next maybe sit up a little bit taller lengthening through the spine.
And get a sense of the height of you going up.
There's the weight of you going down feeling grounded.
And the height of you going up.
And maybe now just bring your awareness to the breath.
And just become aware of the sensations of the breath and the body.
The gentle expansion on the inhale and contraction on the exhale.
And just rest your awareness here with the breath for a few moments.
Breathing in and breathing out.
Now the invitation is to become aware of the element of earth around you.
Earth represents the qualities of solidity and stability.
So maybe noticing the firmness of the ground beneath your feet.
Notice the trees,
Maybe rocks.
Just become aware of all the things around you.
That have those qualities of stability and solidity.
Next,
Bring your awareness to those qualities of solidity and stability within you,
That element of earth.
Notice the structure of the body,
The bones and the muscles.
Become aware of this quality of earth outside of you and inside of you.
Next,
The invitation is to become aware of the element of water.
This element represents the quality of fluidity and movement.
Maybe you're near a body of water.
Maybe a stream,
A lake,
Or perhaps even the sea.
So becoming aware of that now.
But also becoming aware of the presence of water and moisture within the plants around you and even in the soil.
So just taking a few moments now to really connect to that quality of water outside of you.
Next,
Bring your awareness to that quality of the element of water inside of you.
This quality represents.
All of the fluids in the body.
Saliva in the mouth.
Digestive fluids.
The blood.
And also becoming aware of how much of the body is made up of water.
Taking a few moments now just to really connect to that quality of water within you.
And that quality of water outside of you.
Next,
The invitation is to become aware of the element of fire.
This quality of fire represents light and warmth.
So notice the light around you.
Maybe the sun is shining.
Maybe it's cloudy.
But there's still light.
And also become aware of the quality of warmth.
Whether it's a cold day or a warm day.
The sun still provides warmth.
It's just taking a few moments to connect to that element of fire outside of you.
And next bring that awareness inside of the body.
Becoming aware of that element of fire.
Your body produces heat.
Through lots of tiny chemical reactions happening in all the cells of the body.
Becoming aware now that quality of fire within you.
Bringing your awareness to the quality of fire outside of you and inside of you.
Making that connection between your body and the external environment.
Now the invitation is to become aware of the element of air.
You may be able to feel the wind or the air against your skin.
Perhaps you can hear it rustling through the trees.
Perhaps you can see movement around you caused by the wind.
Taking a few moments now just to connect to this element of air outside of you,
In your environment.
Next,
Bring that awareness inside of the body and become aware of the element of air.
You bring air into your body every time you take a breath in and expel that air every time you breathe out.
So maybe just become aware of the breath right now.
In and out.
And again,
Just becoming aware of that quality of air outside of you and that quality of air inside of you.
Next,
The invitation is to become aware of the element of space.
Take a good look around you and your environment.
Notice the spaces between the objects,
Between the trees,
Between the plants.
You could even extend your awareness outwards,
Beyond our planet,
To the space beyond.
And now bring that same awareness inwards.
Become aware of the element of space within you.
There are cavities within the body.
The ears,
The nostrils,
The mouth.
But even on a cellular level,
A particle level.
There are spaces.
This element of space is present outside of us and inside of us.
So now.
.
.
The invitation is to expand your awareness.
To become aware of that connection between yourself and nature.
Holding all of the elements in mind.
Presence of earth.
Water.
Fire.
Air and space.
We are not separate from nature,
We are part of nature.
Next just bring your awareness to the fact that this practice is now drawing to an end.
And maybe just bring your awareness back to your body,
The contact between the floor and the place where you're sitting.
Maybe bring a little bit of movement back to the body,
Wiggling fingers and toes.
Become aware of the sounds around you.
And have a good look around to become aware fully of your environment.
Before preparing yourself to continue.
With the rest of your day.
This practice has now come to an end.
Thank you for listening.
