Beloved one,
Welcome to this deep sanctuary of rest.
Lie down in the position that offers you the greatest ease,
Allowing your body to be completely still and soft.
We are honoring the deep stillness of the winter solstice,
The quietest moment of the year.
Allow your eyes to gently close.
Let go of any need to hold or arrange the body.
Release any striving in the breath.
Feel the profound support beneath you,
Holding you completely.
You are sinking softly,
Sweetly into the deep,
Quiet rhythm of the earth.
Draw your attention now to the sounds in your space.
Let them simply be.
Draw your attention to your breathing,
Soft,
Slow,
And release all effort,
Allowing the body to settle into the perfect stillness of the solstice energy.
In this profound moment of rest,
Plant the intention,
The simple truth you are choosing to affirm.
In this deepest darkness,
Your intention confirms your light.
State your sankalpa now,
Your deepest intention,
Silently,
Three times,
In the present tense,
As if it is already true.
Plant this gentle seed of truth deep into the fertile quiet of your awareness.
We now begin the rotation of consciousness,
Moving the quiet light of your awareness through the body.
Simply listen and follow the feeling of stillness.
Right hand thumb,
Middle finger,
Ring finger,
Left side of the chest,
Middle of the back.
The entire body has a single feel of stillness.
Bring your awareness to the space between your closed eyelids,
The stillness of the winter solstice.
The sky is deep velvet.
The air is cold and clean.
Bring your awareness to the center of your chest,
Your inner sun.
Visualize a small,
Intensely bright,
Golden light glowing in this space.
This light is your life force.
It is your own sovereign source,
Independent of the external sun.
Feel the warmth of this inner sun expanding softly,
Slowly.
It is melting away any residual cold,
Any sense of waiting,
Any feeling of fear.
The inner sun is perfectly patient,
Perfectly whole,
And it shines with unwavering certainty.
Rest in the warmth and the light of your own quiet power.
Settle back into your heart center.
Holding the warmth and the stillness of the solstice.
Repeat your sankalpa silently three more times,
Confirming the truth of your inner light.
Feel the subtle energy returning to your hands and feet.
Wiggle your fingers and toes softly.
Take a gentle stretch if you wish.
When you are ready,
Turn onto your side and rest there for a moment before slowly returning to your sitting posture.
The period of deep rest is complete.
Carry the quiet certainty of your inner sun with you into your day.
