Hi,
I'm Kim Pask.
Welcome to The Mountain That Allows.
In this practice,
We'll explore radical acceptance through the steadiness of a mountain,
Noticing where resistance lives in the body and creating room for what is already here.
Begin by settling into your position.
Noticing one place of support beneath you.
This might be your feet on the floor.
Your hips in a chair or another surface.
Or the spine lengthening.
For the first minute,
We'll begin by inhaling gently through your nose for a comfortable count of four.
3,
2,
1 and exhaling slowly for 6,
5,
4,
3,
2,
1 breathing in for a comfortable count of 4 3,
2,
1 1,
And exhaling slowly for 6,
5,
4,
3,
2,
1.
Letting the exhale invite your body towards softening.
And continue a few rounds of this breathing without strain.
Begin by taking,
Or continue to take,
Just one more round.
And letting your exhale lengthen.
Inviting your body towards softening further.
Now imagine a mountain.
Steady and grounded.
Weather moves across its surfaces.
Sun,
Wind,
Rain,
Clouds,
And snow.
The mountain doesn't have to like the weather to allow the weather to be here.
And so,
Bring to mind something that is difficult to accept.
Not the biggest or most overwhelming thing,
But just something manageable.
Once you've brought to mind something that is manageably difficult to accept,
Notice what happens in your body when you think.
This should not be happening.
When you're thinking this should not be happening,
Where do you tighten?
Brace,
Or pull away,
Or even collapse.
Now gently,
Let's shift those words.
Shifting the words to,
This is what is happening right now.
Notice the difference.
This shouldn't be happening.
To the shift.
This is what is happening right now.
Notice the difference.
Acceptance doesn't mean approval.
It does not mean giving up.
It means releasing the struggle with the fact that this moment is already here.
And so,
In this way,
Imagine yourself as the mountain.
Let the experience you've brought to mind move across you without requiring yourself to become it.
You might ask your body,
What would softening even 1% if I stopped fighting the fact that this is here?
What would soften by even 1% if I stopped fighting the fact that this is here?
Begin by taking another breath in and out.
And make room for whatever you notice.
You might silently repeat,
I can accept this moment without approving of it.
Again,
I can meet what is here and still choose what comes next.
Take one final breath in.
And exhale like wind moving across the mountain.
Allow the mountain to remain.
And let the weather move.
Bringing your awareness back to your breath.
Bringing your awareness back to a place of security.
And when you're ready,
Returning to your space.
