There's the saying that holding on to resentment is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die.
So holding on to something so tightly is destructive only for ourselves.
And compassion can play a huge role in forgiving others but also ourselves.
So maybe you have someone in your past that you need some forgiveness around,
Some compassion.
Or maybe there's something that you did when you were younger.
Either a child or a younger adult.
That you need some self-forgiveness around.
This practice can be a really deep and healing practice to heal the relationship that you have with that situation.
Sometimes if it's done with another person,
It can be quite triggering.
So maybe work with a situation that's quite manageable for you.
Don't go for something too triggering.
Because otherwise you might feel quite emotional.
Might be quite healing as well,
But try to work with something that feels manageable for you today.
But I was thinking this could be especially helpful for a sense of self-forgiveness.
So something you've done that you're ashamed of or you need healing around.
Because actually forgiveness,
Whether it's with someone else or yourself,
Is an inner experience.
So the outer situation doesn't matter so much,
It's probably past already.
But what's important is how we hold that within ourselves.
In our heart,
In our energy,
In our body.
So that's what we'll work with in this practice.
So maybe you know a situation that you like to work with.
Your younger self,
Either much younger or even last week.
Maybe working with your parents and how they brought you up.
With a friend or could even be a person that's not here anymore.
Because what we're working with actually is our own relationship with it.
That's what we're healing.
So allowing yourself to settle.
Closing the eyes gently.
Beginning with a few deep slow breaths.
Doing those in your own time.
Full breath in through the nose and a really long slow breath out through the mouth.
Allowing your body to relax as you breathe out.
And then just relaxing on the natural breath coming in and out.
And starting to be curious of the sensations that you feel in the body as you breathe.
So maybe deeper down in the body like your belly,
Your ribs rising and falling as you breathe.
Allowing yourself to really relax with each out breath.
So each time you breathe out.
Really allowing the body to settle,
Soften.
And deeply relax.
Beginning to notice your sense of ground below you,
Which might be a bed or a chair or the actual ground.
Notice how much it supports your whole body.
How it pushes up from below you.
How it holds the whole weight of your body.
And each time you breathe out and relax deeply into it,
It holds you safely.
So really giving yourself a little time.
Just be with the breath.
To relax with each out breath.
Be held and supported by the ground.
Knowing that you are safe and you are loved right here.
And as you rest there now in front of you.
Arises the person that you want to work with.
This could be someone else,
Someone from your past.
Someone that's not here anymore or or your younger self.
Maybe there's something that you need a sense of self-forgiveness around.
And really allow them to be there in front of you.
Not visualizing them in the head,
Really feel them there,
The presence of them in front of you.
Sitting cross-legged and looking at you with kind eyes.
Start to become aware of their suffering.
You just start to notice how they're suffering.
Not getting caught in too many stories around it,
But just beginning to notice their suffering.
And you're allowing them to just be there as they are,
So with a sense of compassion.
So zero judgments.
And maybe you get a sense that you like them to be free of their suffering.
And now each time you breathe in.
You breathe in their suffering in the form of light.
But as you breathe it in.
It goes down to your heart and transforms into love and compassion.
And as you do this,
The person or your young self in front begins to feel lighter and freer.
So you're not taking on their suffering,
You're transforming it.
So you're freeing them from their suffering and transforming that into love and compassion.
So I'll give you a little time to just be with that experience.
And now,
As you breathe out each time.
That light of love and compassion goes out from your heart to their heart.
Filling them and their body with love and compassion.
And they slowly begin to feel nourished,
Satisfied,
Love.
So they've been freed from their suffering.
You've transformed that into love and compassion.
And from your heart to their heart.
Send them a light of love and compassion.
And they begin to feel more nourished and satisfied.
And may be seen and loved.
So as I give you a little time to be with that experience,
Also notice how you feel when you do that.
And as you do that,
Allowing the body to relax,
The ground to hold you.
And slowly that cycle of love and compassion begins to dissolve away.
Healing the person or your younger self in front of you.
Healing the relationship that you have with them.
And having a deep sense of forgiveness or self-forgiveness,
Healing that relationship.
Letting go.
Of what you might be holding on to.
And the other person in front of you,
Your younger self maybe.
Says thank you.
Maybe with the hands that the heart gives you a little bow.
And in the form of light they become smaller and smaller.
And dissolve into your heart center,
Transforming again into love and compassion,
Where they feel safe and held.
And when you're ready.
Slowly beginning to open your eyes.
