Hi there,
And welcome to this gentle evening practice.
This is the winter lantern walk,
And as we step into this,
We're going to bring ourselves some ease,
Relaxation,
And allowing ourselves to drift ever so gently off to sleep.
So taking a moment to get yourself comfortable,
Maybe lying yourself down,
Pulling up your blanket,
Resting your head on the pillow,
Closing your eyes,
Starting to soften your body,
And allowing your breath a moment just to be,
Allowing it to settle,
Relax,
At its own pace,
Inhaling gently,
As though you're sipping the cool night air,
And exhaling slowly,
Letting your body sink deeper into rest,
Taking your time,
As you notice tension start to drift from your body,
And any thoughts in your mind starting to gently float away,
Letting them go,
Imagine yourself stepping out into a crisp winter evening,
The sky above is velvet dark,
Scattered with stars that shimmer like tiny lanterns,
Snow rests lightly on the rooftops,
Glowing faintly under the moon's silver touch,
The air carries a hush,
As though the whole world is pausing to listen,
In your hands you hold a lantern,
Its warm glow flickers softly,
Casting golden light across the path,
Ahead you see others walking too,
Friends,
Neighbours,
Other gentle souls,
Each carrying their own lantern,
Together you weave a trail of light through the quiet night,
The lanterns sway gently,
Their glow reflecting on the snow,
Creating a river of warmth in the cool air,
From a nearby window,
Faint music drifts out,
Soft notes like bells chiming in the distance,
The sound blends with the crunch of footsteps on snow,
A rhythm steady and soothing,
You feel wrapped in a cocoon of peace,
Surrounded by light,
Sound and gentle companionship,
The path leads into a grove of tall evergreens,
Their branches are dusted with frost,
Sparkling as though sprinkled with starlight,
The lanterns illuminate the trunks,
Revealing patterns of bark and shadow,
You pause to breathe in the scent of pine,
Fresh and grounding,
A reminder of nature's quiet strength,
At the heart of the grove,
A circle of lanterns is placed upon the ground,
Their light mingles,
Forming a glowing constellation at your feet,
Everyone gathers here in silence,
Sharing warmth without words,
You feel a deep sense of belonging,
As though the lanterns themselves are whispering,
You are safe,
You are home,
You are safe,
You are home,
As the lanterns flicker,
Your eyelids grow heavy,
The glow becomes softer,
Blending with the stars above,
The music fades into stillness,
And the hush of the forest wraps around you,
You lie down upon a blanket of peace,
The lantern light guiding you gently into dreams,
And as you drift into sleep,
May the glow of the lanterns remain within you,
Steady,
Warm,
And everlasting,
Good night,
Sweet dreams.
