Hello and welcome to this guided meditation where we'll focus on the autumn equinox,
A moment of balance and transition and the pause between the breaths and the seasons.
Allow yourself to come into stillness.
Take a moment to settle into your body,
Maybe placing your hands on your belly,
Maybe closing your eyes.
Just allow yourself to become aware,
To become aware of your body,
To become aware of the rise and fall of your breath and feel yourself present in this space.
We're going to reflect today on the autumn equinox,
When day and night stand in perfect balance.
This is a time of transformation.
It's a pause before the deeper quiet of winter.
Similarly,
We'll explore the pauses within our own breath.
Each inhalation and each exhalation is a moment of transition.
So together let's take a deep,
Slow breath in and slowly exhale out.
Continue breathing in whatever cycle suits you and feel the air fill your lungs,
Expanding your chest,
Expanding your abdomen.
As you exhale,
Release any tension or any distractions.
With each breath,
Imagine yourself rooted to the earth.
Feel grounded like a tree.
And like a tree,
Maybe now you're thinking of shedding those leaves in preparation for the seasons ahead.
Feel the solid ground beneath you.
It's supporting you as you settle deeper into the present moment.
Let's take another deep breath together.
Inhale deeply and exhale slowly.
Allow the rhythm of the breath to calm your mind just as the rhythm of nature starts to settle.
As autumn deepens.
As we start to notice the cycle of the breath,
Become aware of that space between the inhale and the exhale.
That pause,
That stillness,
Where there's nothing but potential.
As you inhale,
You feel the air fill your body.
And then just briefly,
There's a pause.
That moment where your breath stops just before you exhale.
That's where transformation happens.
Just as the earth pauses in the autumn equinox,
Before the next cycle begins.
Now allow yourself to exhale fully.
And again,
Just notice that pause.
In this space,
There's no need to do anything.
Simply allow yourself to rest in stillness,
Both in your breath and in your mind.
As you continue breathing,
Observe these small pauses.
Each one is a moment of perfect balance.
It's a space where all things rest in equilibrium,
Just as the day and the night are balanced in the autumn equinox.
The equinox marks a turning point.
It's a time when the earth transitions from the warmth of summer to the coolness of winter.
And this is mirrored within you.
Just as nature is shedding its leaves and preparing for the winter,
We too are constantly in a state of transformation.
I invite you now,
In this moment,
To consider what you are letting go of.
What has served its purpose and is now ready to fall away,
Just like the leaves.
Feel the freedom in releasing what no longer serves you,
Just as the trees release their leaves to make room for new growth in the spring.
And with each breath,
Start to imagine the cool,
Crisp,
Bright light of autumn filling your body with clarity.
You know what you can leave behind.
Embrace this time of transition.
Reflect on what you need to pause and make more space for in your life.
Let's take another breath here together.
Let's inhale in deeply.
Allow your body and mind to align with the quiet wisdom of this time of year and take with you some of its lessons.
With each inhale,
Imagine yourself breathing in stillness.
With each exhale,
Release anything you no longer need.
And with each pause between those breaths,
Know that you know what is best for you.
Let's take one last deep breath together.
Inhaling slowly,
Deeply,
And fully.
And exhaling,
Completely releasing.
In this moment,
Embrace the stillness.
Embrace the balance.
As we start to close this practice,
Gently bring your awareness back to the space around you.
Maybe start to wiggle your fingers and your toes.
Maybe move your spine a little,
Take a bit of a twist,
Or fill your lungs up for a deep yawn.
When you're ready,
Just start to open your eyes.
Take a moment to reflect on that stillness,
On those pauses that you've experienced today.
And give yourself space to pause when you need and permission to let go of what no longer serves you.
Notice the equinox in the world around you.
Maybe take some time to crunch some leaves or pay attention to the light changing in the sky.
Carry this sense of balance and peace with you,
Knowing that you can return to the pause between the breaths and the quiet wisdom of the change in seasons anytime you need.
