Welcome to a night of animal wisdom and rest.
Last time,
Rabbit guided us to find the feeling of home in our hearts.
Tonight,
Frog will teach us how to trust the gentle flow of life.
As you listen to Frog's wisdom,
I invite your inner guide to consider.
Could I let go and trust the natural rhythm of life?
It was another night in the forest,
When Frog settled beside the pond,
Feeling the steady rhythm of the water as it moved.
As your mind moves towards the deep woods,
While you snuggle inside your cosy bed,
You notice the moon light your way.
At the edge of the woods sits Ashby Cat,
A silver tabby with a white face and pink ears.
She sits with her tail wrapped around her paws,
Seeking the answers to her busy mind.
Before we follow Ashby Cat into the wood,
Let's get comfortable.
Take a few moments to settle into the best position for you.
Maybe you want to move your arm a little or bend your leg.
Allow your body to find a restful place.
Allow your mind to settle.
The only thing to do here is rest.
There is nothing else that is needed.
Nowhere else to be.
No expectations.
Nothing for you to attend to.
Everything can be picked up when you wake.
Right now it is your time to rest.
Take a deep breath in and let it slowly out.
Let your breath find its natural rhythm.
If your mind starts to wander,
Just bring your attention back to your breath and the cosiness of your bed.
You are completely safe.
You are supported.
Mother Nature is holding you and guiding you.
Frog sat in quiet by the pond's edge.
His round eyes gazed out over the smooth surface.
The water moved with a soft murmur.
Ripples spread in slow circles.
Frog took a deep breath.
His skin cooled against the damp ground and let himself sink into the steady flow of the night.
As Frog swam,
He spotted Ashby Cat waiting by the water's edge,
Her green eyes wide.
Frog had heard from the wind that the little cat was seeking answers and he was pleased to be able to offer his wisdom.
Frog sat on a water lily with his croak kept in check so that Ashby Cat wouldn't be afraid.
His black eyes looked deep into Ashby Cat's heart.
Her tail had formed the shape of a question mark.
Frog waited for the question to come in its own time.
When was the last time you felt trust?
Said Ashby Cat's tail.
The water shimmered in the moonlight.
The pond turned liquid silver.
Small waves lapped at the shore.
Their gentle rhythm a heartbeat that pulsed through the night.
Frog felt the green of the lily beneath him,
The deep veins holding him steady.
He watched as a single leaf drifted across the pond's surface,
Carried by the water's unseen hand.
The leaf swayed and turned and moved in easy circles,
Trusting the water to take it wherever it needed to go.
Trust life's rhythm,
Frog said.
Let it carry you.
Frog remembered a time when he resisted the flow,
Always jumping from one place to another,
Never letting the waters guide him.
But now,
As he watched the leaf,
He knew that peace came from letting go,
Allowing himself to be part of the pond's gentle rhythm.
Each night he returned here,
Finding the same quiet pattern that held him safe and steady.
As you fall deeper into sleep,
Imagine yourself as Frog,
Sitting by the pond.
Feel the rhythm of your breath,
Steady and calm.
Let yourself be carried by the soft,
Gentle flow of the night.
Trust life's rhythm,
Let it carry you.
As you drift deeper into sleep,
Allow your mind to rest.
Know that you are safe and secure.
That the stillness and safety you seek is within you now,
And always has been.
It is yours to revisit whenever you want.
In our next lesson,
We'll visit all of our friends once more,
And reflect on their wisdom and the calm they've brought to our nights.
Until then,
Rest my friend,
And carry the wisdom of the animals with you,
For a deep restorative sleep.
