Beloved one,
Welcome to this final,
Tranquil harbor of your day,
A deep,
Healing space of sleep.
I invite you to settle your body completely,
Finding a position that allows you to feel utterly received and held.
Let your limbs gross off,
Releasing their daily tension,
Melting into the mattress that supports you beneath.
The activity of the light is complete.
The work of the mind is reaching its natural pause.
Allow your breath to deepen,
Soft and slow.
There is only the profound rest of being here,
Held by the quiet dark.
During the hours of light,
We are engaged in the acts of building and holding.
We carry the memory of tasks,
We tend to many responsibilities,
And we often keep a subtle,
Protective tension in our shoulders and jaw.
As the dark deepens,
Your soul asks only for a single,
Sweet action,
Yielding.
Yielding is the simple act of letting go of the necessity of control.
Imagine your entire consciousness as a beautiful,
Slow-moving river,
And the concerns you gathered during the day,
They are simply reflections shimmering on the surface.
You are allowing the river itself to absorb those ripples,
Embracing the quiet,
Profound stillness that resides at its deepest bed.
You are simply the water itself,
Bathed,
Flowing,
And perfectly calm.
Allowing yourself to be carried by this current is the kindest action you can take for your spirit.
We bring our whole,
Gentle presence into the body,
Offering complete rest to every part that has labor.
Let your awareness drift down to your feet,
Feel the subtle warmth there.
Allow the muscles of your feet to soften completely into the surface beneath.
Breath.
Move your attention up to your calves and your knees.
Feel the muscles releasing their hold.
Allow your entire lower body to become wonderfully heavy,
Soft,
And complete.
Travel up to your thighs and hips.
This deep center is now spacious and open.
Allow your arms to spread wide,
Trusting the surface beneath you to hold their full weight without any need for effort or bracing.
Bring your awareness to your abdomen and chest.
Notice the gentle expansion of your breath here.
With every soft exhale,
Allow the internal work.
The worries held in the stomach,
The cares resting around the heart,
To simply soften,
Relieve,
And dissolve into the mattress.
Feel the profound sense of ease as you release the necessity of the hold you kept on the day's events.
Move up to your hands and your arms.
Let your fingers uncurl.
Feel your hands resting open and soft.
The shoulders are melting down,
Releasing all tension.
Your arms are long,
Heavy,
And supported alongside your body.
Finally,
Bring your attention to your neck,
Your jaw,
And the delicate muscles of your face.
Softly release your tongue from the roof of your mouth.
Let your jaw hang loose and heavy.
Smooth the skin across your brow,
Easing all expression into tranquility.
Imagine a soft,
Calming presence washing over your scalp,
Soothing every residual sensation,
Every flicker of thought.
Rest in the stillness of your head,
Resting in the safety of this moment.
Your entire body is now wonderfully heavy,
Soft,
And perfectly supported by the surface beneath you.
You are profoundly supported by the vast,
Quiet flow of life itself.
The deepest work of renewal and healing happens as you simply heal.
You are being carried effortlessly to the calm,
Nourishing water of deep sleep.
