Welcome,
Take a moment to arrive,
Allow your body to find a position where it can be supported.
If it feels safe,
Gently close your eyes,
Take a slow breath in,
And a longer breath out.
Again,
In and out,
Nothing to achieve,
Nothing to force,
Your only task is to notice.
Feel the ground beneath you,
The contact points of your body,
The simple fact that right now,
You are held,
Safe enough for this moment.
Let the breath move in its own rhythm.
In your mind's eye,
You find yourself in an open meadow.
In the distance stands a mountain,
Steady,
Ancient,
Unmoved by the changing weather.
There is a path leading upward,
And without hurry,
You begin to follow it.
Not because you must,
But because something in you knows this place.
You arrive at the familiar plateau,
The stone bench is awaiting.
Feel the support of the rock beneath you,
Solid,
Reliable.
Now take a breath here,
And now,
Gently,
Become aware of something you may have been carrying.
The pressures,
The expectations,
The unfinished thoughts.
In this place,
They can appear as weight,
Perhaps stones resting behind you,
Large or small,
And you may notice something else,
For these stones,
Chains extend,
Attached around your waist or your shoulders.
You have been holding them for a long time.
No judgment,
Of course they are there.
Anyone living a human life carries weight.
For a moment,
Simply feel what it is like to sit here while they pull on you.
Notice the effort,
Notice the tiredness.
You aren't doing anything wrong.
Your nervous system has been trying to protect you.
And then,
On the bench beside you,
You see something new.
A tool,
A simple hammer.
Not magical,
Not dramatic,
Just something you can use.
You do not have to free yourself from everything today.
Just choose one chain,
The one that feels most ready.
Take your time.
When you are ready,
Lift the hammer.
Feel its weight in your hand.
Feel your own strength.
And with one clear movement,
Break the link.
Notice what happens.
The chain falls away.
And the stone,
No longer held,
Begins to move.
Slowly at first.
Then it rolls down the mountainside,
Farther and farther,
Until it disappears from view.
What is your body doing now?
Perhaps the breath is easier.
Perhaps there is more space in your chest.
You didn't escape life.
You simply put something down.
Sit here for a few moments,
Lighter.
The mountain remains behind you,
Strong,
Stable.
You can return here anytime.
Now,
Begin to come back.
Feel the room,
The air on your skin.
Move your fingers,
Your shoulders.
Take a deeper breath in.
And let it go.
When you are ready,
Open your eyes.
And notice.
You are carrying a little less.
