Hello,
And welcome!
We are going to start with some patterned breathing.
This is going to help slow us down and activate our parasympathetic nervous system.
So we will breathe in for a count of 4,
Hold for 7,
And then exhale for a count of 8.
Let's begin.
Take a deep breath in,
2,
3,
4,
And hold,
2,
3,
4,
5,
6,
7,
And exhale,
2,
3,
4,
5,
6,
7,
8,
And inhale,
And exhale,
And inhale,
And exhale,
Inhale,
And exhale.
Now let your breath settle into its natural rhythm,
Each inhale draws in peace,
And each exhale lets go of all that is heavy.
Feel your body begin to soften,
Starting at the very tips of your toes,
And imagine a warm,
Soothing wave of relaxation washing over you,
Melting away any tension.
Your feet become heavy,
Your legs relaxed,
And this warmth moves up,
Loosening your hips,
Releasing your abdomen,
Your shoulders sink effortlessly,
Your jaw softens,
Your forehead smooths,
Everything is slowing down,
Everything is becoming lighter,
Freer as you drift deeper.
Take a deep breath in,
Feeling the warmth of your home all around you,
The soft creaks of the floor,
The faint scent of morning air drifting in through a cracked window.
Outside,
The world is waking.
You slip on your favorite cozy sweater,
Its fabric worn and familiar,
And step towards the door.
As you open it,
A cool breath of crisp morning air rushes in,
Curling around your cheeks.
You can see it,
The faintest wisp of your own breath lingering in the dawn.
The air is fresh,
Holding the scent of damp earth and new grass.
You step outside,
Feeling the cool wood of the porch beneath your feet,
And begin your short walk.
The dew-kissed blades of grass bend slightly under each step,
Leaving the softest footprints behind,
Tiny clovers glistening where the droplets of morning light dot the ground.
A hush lingers in the air,
Uninterrupted only by the call of meadowlarks,
Mockingbirds,
The distant song of a cardinal greeting the rising sun.
Their melodies mix with the gentle rustling of early spring leaves.
The sky above stretches in an endless,
Crisp blue,
Pure,
Untouched.
Sunbeams filter through the trees,
Long,
Golden fingers reaching through the branches.
They illuminate the misty breath of the morning,
Catching in the lingering haze.
Ahead of you stands the grandmother oak,
Towering,
Wise,
Her sprawling branches an embrace,
Her roots knotted and strong,
Holding the earth in a quiet,
Steady rhythm.
She has stood here for generations.
You walk closer,
Your fingers brushing against the textured bark,
Feeling its deep grooves beneath your fingertips.
Beneath the wide,
Ancient canopy of grandmother oak,
You settle into the earth,
Her roots cradling you like loving arms,
A place you have always belonged.
Her presence is timeless,
Steady,
Each breath you take syncs with the slow,
Powerful rhythm of her being.
You lean back against her great trunk,
And she begins to speak,
Not in words,
But in deep knowing.
Her energy flows into you,
Grounding and soothing,
Releasing the old heaviness you no longer need.
And in return,
Your gratitude flows into her,
Your love,
Your presence,
Your breath,
Offering her a moment of renewal.
You are not separate,
You are two beings in sacred exchange,
Healing each other with every heartbeat,
Every still moment,
Every shared silence.
The gentle drip of dew slipping from the leaves,
The rhythmic call of birds in the distance,
The whisper of the breeze through the branches.
You open your eyes,
And the world around you feels alive,
Sunlight dances in shifting patterns on the ground.
The sky above remains vast and open,
Stretching endlessly,
Offering its quiet reassurance.
Here,
In this moment,
Nothing is rushed,
Nothing is needed,
Just you,
The breath in your lungs,
The earth beneath you,
And the steady presence of the oak.
Breathe in deeply,
Taking in the crispness of the morning.
Feel the coolness settle in your chest,
Fresh and invigorating.
Breathe out,
Releasing any tension,
Allowing yourself to sink deeper into this peaceful,
Sacred space.
Let yourself stay here as long as you need.
The grandmother oak will hold you.
The morning will wait for you.
And when you are ready,
You will rise,
Carry this stillness within you,
And step forward into your day,
Knowing that this place,
This peace,
Is always here whenever you need to return.
You are loved.
