Welcome to this bedtime meditation.
This is your moment to release the stress of the day and transition into a deep state of relaxation and rest.
Let's begin by settling into a comfortable position.
If you're already in bed or in a cozy spot,
It might feel nice to lie down and stretch out or sit somewhere comfortably.
Once you get adjusted,
Gently close your eyes.
Take a deep breath in through your nose and a big sigh out through your mouth.
As you exhale,
Allow yourself to be fully present in this moment.
You're here.
You've made it through the day.
There is nowhere else you need to be.
This is your moment to recharge and nourish yourself,
Body,
Mind.
Take another deep breath in through your nose,
This time for a count of four.
Four.
Now hold for four.
One.
And softly exhale through your mouth for a count of six.
One.
Two.
Three.
More times.
To your own count.
Breathing in through your nose for a count of four.
Holding for a count of four.
And then exhaling softly and slowly through your mouth for a count of six.
Each time you exhale,
Allow your shoulders to drop a little bit further.
Allow your jaw to soften and allow your body to sink deeper into comfort and relaxation.
And let's continue to relax your body.
Bring your attention to the top of your head.
Let it flow down your forehead,
Your cheeks,
Your jaw,
The top of your shoulders.
As this golden wave of relaxation moves down,
Allow everything it touches to soften,
To be soothed.
Feel this wave of relaxation melting away all of the tightness of the day.
Move it down between your shoulder blades.
And down.
Let it travel down your arms all the way to your hands and your fingertips.
With every breath,
Feel your body becoming heavier and back.
Loosening and soothing and softening every muscle as it goes.
And it continues down your legs,
Past your knees,
Into your calves,
Finally down to your feet and your toes.
Give them a quick clench and then let them go.
Warm liquid gold of relaxation flows through them.
Take another deep breath in and allow yourself to be really heavy.
I invite you to imagine yourself standing at the edge of a forest path.
The air is fresh and crisp,
Carrying the gentle scent of pine and wildflowers.
Sunlight filters through the leaves,
Creating playful patterns on the soft,
Soft earth beneath you.
Maybe you're barefoot and you can feel the grass and the moistness.
You feel safe here,
Surrounded by nature's quiet,
Gentle beauty.
As you decide to step forward,
You notice the gentle crunch of leaves and grass and the mushiness of the soft earth beneath your feet.
With every step you feel lighter,
As though the worries of the day and the week and the month are just dissolving,
Left behind with each footprint.
The path is inviting you deeper and deeper into this peaceful forest sanctuary.
After a short walk,
You notice a small clearing.
The sun shines so bright and the sky is so blue.
And in the center of this clearing of the forest is a tranquil lake.
The surface is so calm and it reflects the sky above,
Almost like a mirror.
You hear the soft sound of birdsong and the gentle rustling of leaves and grass in the breeze.
Everything about this place feels soothing and peaceful and safe by all the busyness of the day today.
You decide to explore a little further,
Noticing some of the details around you.
Along the edge of the lake,
You find smooth stones warmed by the sun.
You pick one up and it feels comforting in its weight in your hand and its warmth.
And its smoothness as you rub your thumb upon it.
Maybe you decide to toss it gently into the water and watch the ripple spread across the surface,
Each one carrying away any tension or stress you may have been feeling.
Continuing along your path,
You find a cozy wooden bench nestled under a large tree.
And you decide to take a seat.
You're feeling completely at ease.
From here,
You can see the entire landscape in front of you.
The lake,
The trees and the open,
And you can taste the fresh air.
You can feel the warm sun.
A sense of stillness and harmony wash over you.
As if this place was made just for you to rest and recharge.
Take a moment to breathe deeply here.
Notice how the air feels cool as you inhale and warm as you exhale.
With each breath drawing in calm and with each exhale releasing everything that you no longer need.
Spend a moment here soaking in the beauty of this place.
A gentle smile to your face as you watch animals.
And as you sit here,
Maybe a butterfly comes to visit you.
What does it look like?
What does it mean?
What gifts does it bring?
What does it mean?
Continue to breathe deeply.
Feel the earth beneath your feet and imagine yourself rooted.
Rooted in this place,
In this peace.
So as you prepare to say goodbye,
You look around once more and you find a small gift left just for you.
What is it?
Maybe it's a beautiful feather or a delicate flower or a sparkling crystal or anything else that is arising for you.
What gift did you find?
Treasure it.
This gift is a reminder that you can take this peace with you when you leave and wherever you go.
Gently you rise from the bench and begin to walk back along the path you came from.
Admiring the sunlight through the trees and feeling the sun kiss your skin like a warm embrace.
You hear the sound of the forest all around you,
Steady and grounding and alive.
With each step you feel grateful for the stillness and the beauty you've experienced.
As you come to the edge of the forest,
You take one last deep breath,
Filling yourself with the calm and serenity of this place.
When you exhale,
Imagine bringing this peace back with you into your evening and into your dreams.
Now return your focus to your breath once more and let's end with a simple breathing exercise to ease you into sleep.
You're going to breathe in gently for a count of four,
Hold for a count of four,
Hold for a count of four,
And exhale for a count of six.
Repeat this two more times,
Feeling your body sink even deeper into relaxation.
Once you finish your breathing exercise,
Allow your breathing to return to a steady.
Sweet dreams my friend and good night.
