When The Day Has Finished With You: A Longer Rest

So many of you asked to stay longer inside this practice, so here it is. The day has finished asking things of you, and this extended evening rest takes its time saying so. A slower settling of the body, unhurried breath, whispered affirmations with long silence around them, and nowhere to arrive. For the night, you want to be held a little while longer.

Transcript

The day has finished with you. Not the other way around. It is done asking. Whatever you gave. It was received. Whatever you could not give. The day has already forgiven. This hour has no more questions. So many of you asked to stay here longer. So tonight. We will not hurry. There is nowhere this practice is trying to arrive. We have time. Take one slow breath in. And let it fall out on its own. And let it go. You do not have to shape the breath. It has carried you all day without instructions. Now let the body put itself down, Piece by piece. Let your jaw unclench. Let your tongue rest away from the roof of your mouth. Let your forehead smooth itself. Let your shoulders fall away from your ears. Let your hands open. Fingers soft. There is nothing left today that needs holding. Somewhere in you, There is still a list. Unfinished things. Words you meant to say. Let the list rest on the night table. It will keep until morning. Lists always do. Let one breath arrive. And let one breath leave. Notice how the bed rises to meet you. How the night holds the room without being asked. The day is complete. Even where I am not. Repeat quietly in your own time. I gave what I had. That was enough. Stay in this quiet a while. There is no next part to get to. If sleep begins to pull, Let it pull. This can wait. Everything can wait. Nothing is asked of me until morning. Let the night do the rest. It is held every day you have ever finished. And it knows how to hold this one. Namaste. This was Meditai. Come back whenever you need to.