Hello and welcome,
I'm so glad you joined me today on this guided meditation,
Winter Solstice,
A Light in the Darkness.
Begin by finding a quiet,
Peaceful place where you can fully relax and be present.
Come to rest in whatever way is the most comfortable to you.
Once you have settled into this space,
Let your eyes fall closed,
Feel your body settling into the surface beneath you.
Turn your attention inward,
What are you feeling,
Are there worries,
Stresses or tasks that are keeping you from being fully present in this moment?
If there are,
Acknowledge them and let them go.
There will be a time and a place to address these things,
But for now,
Release them.
You are exactly where you need to be.
As you sit in this stillness,
Turn your attention to your breath.
Notice the rise and fall of your chest as you inhale and exhale.
Feel the cool air brush across your upper lip as you inhale,
And the warm air traveling from the back of your throat and out of your nose as you exhale.
Take a deep,
Cleansing breath in through your nose,
Imagining oxygen and light filling your whole body.
Pause at the top of this breath.
Release the breath as you exhale out of your mouth,
Letting go of any negative or stagnant energy.
Repeat this at your own pace for a couple more breaths.
Check in with your body,
Are there any areas where you are holding tension?
If so,
Draw your attention to those areas and imagine this tension leaving your body on your next exhale.
Continue this body scan with me from the top of your head to your toes.
Relax your face.
Unclench your jaw.
Release the muscles in your neck.
Relax your shoulders,
Your arms,
Your hands and fingers.
Relax your chest,
Abdomen and hips.
Let go of any tension in your thighs,
Calves,
Ankles and feet,
All the way to your toes.
Begin to feel your back release any tension,
Starting at your upper back,
Middle back,
And feel your body being held by the ground beneath you.
You are completely relaxed,
Safe and at peace in this moment.
Imagine you are walking down a snow covered path in an enchanted forest at night.
The snow is softly and quietly falling around you.
The trees glisten and sparkle as little bits of light dance off their snow covered branches.
The crisp winter air awakens your senses and makes you feel more alive.
There is a peace,
Stillness and a quiet in this forest that welcomes you to sit and stay a while.
Bring your awareness to the darkness of the forest around you.
It is the darkness of the winter night,
The quiet,
The pause.
In this space you are reminded of the times when things slow down,
When you rest,
When you are still.
Instead of seeing the darkness as something to fear,
See it as a time for reflection,
For restoration,
For embracing the unknown.
Let yourself feel the depth of this moment,
The stillness and the peace that come with it.
Allow yourself to simply be in the darkness of this forest knowing that it is not an absence but a presence,
A space full of potential waiting to give birth to something new.
Now imagine a tiny spark of light deep within your chest,
Glowing softly like the first flicker of a candle.
This is the light of your inner wisdom,
Your compassion,
Your strength.
It is always there,
Even in the darkest times.
With each breath,
Let this spark of light begin to grow brighter and warmer.
It expands slowly and gently,
Filling your heart,
Your lungs,
And your entire body with light.
The light is soft and warm,
And it radiates peace and comfort.
Allow this light to grow stronger with each breath,
Filling every corner of your being.
Feel the warmth and radiance that comes from this light within you.
It is your unique energy,
Your essence.
You are a beacon of light in the world.
Let your light begin to expand beyond you and into the winter forest surrounding you.
See it radiating like a warm glow that touches everything it meets.
It gently surrounds you,
Filling the space with love,
Kindness,
And peace.
You are the light in the darkness.
You are a source of warmth,
Hope,
And love.
Know that your presence,
Your light,
Has the power to transform the space around you.
Just as the solstice marks the return of light,
So too does your inner light shine brightly,
Bringing hope and renewal to the world.
The once dark forest has transformed around you into a sea of glittering diamonds as your light reflects brightly off the crystals of snow and ice.
Now with your light shining brightly,
Visualize sending this light out into the world.
See it moving outward,
First to your loved ones,
Then to your community,
And then to the world at large.
Watch as your light connects with others,
Creating a web of shared radiance that spreads across the globe.
Know that every small act of kindness,
Every moment of compassion,
Adds to this web.
You are part of something much larger,
A collective of lights that together make the world brighter,
Even in its darkest moments.
As you send your light out,
Remember that you are both the light and the vessel for that light.
You are a radiant being of love,
Shining in the darkness.
As we sit in quiet,
Repeat this mantra with me as we allow our light to shine through this enchanted forest and out into the world.
I am light in the darkness.
My light guides me and the world.
I am light in the darkness.
My light guides me and the world.
I am light in the darkness.
My light guides me and the world.
I am light in the darkness.
My light guides me and the world.
It is time to leave the magical enchanted forest.
Take a moment now to gently bring your awareness back to yourself,
Knowing that your light is always with you.
It will continue to shine,
Guiding you through moments of darkness and helping you navigate life's challenges with grace and strength.
Take a deep breath in and a long exhale out.
Slowly begin to bring movement back into your body,
Wiggling your fingers and toes,
Stretching your arms over your head.
And if you're lying down,
Rolling to one side into the fetal position and coming to a seated position.
And when you are ready,
Open your eyes.
Carry this light with you,
Knowing that no matter how dark it may seem,
The light will always return and you are part of it.
Thank you so much for joining me.
Happy Winter Solstice!
