In today's practice,
We're going to explore a visualization that will help you to find peace and gratitude within your life.
So to start,
We'll just take a few moments to settle in.
So let's begin by taking a deep breath,
Breathing in through the nose and out through the mouth.
As you continue to breathe with each breath that passes,
Just relax your shoulders and your belly.
As you just close your eyes and deepen your relaxation.
As you allow your breath to flow freely,
I would like you to try to clear your mind.
The idea isn't to rid your mind of all thought,
But to encourage a smooth flow of breathing.
Just resting our attention on the breath.
Let's set an intention to bring peace to the mind.
And as we breathe out,
Just let go of any overthinking.
Letting go of any stress or anxiety.
And just releasing anything that distracts you from this experience.
Now with one more deep inhale and a slow exhale,
Bring all of your attention within.
Noticing your breath.
Noticing how your body feels.
With every breath going deeper and deeper inside.
The outside world disappearing and a new scene slowly appearing around you.
Different shapes and colours come into view.
Slowly brightening and sharpening as you look around.
You find yourself in a lush garden,
Surrounded by bright green bushes.
Beautiful statues,
Vibrant plants and flowers.
Just take a few moments to look around,
Taking in your new beautiful surroundings.
You are the creator here.
Dig deeply into your imagination and paint this scene,
Letting your creative juices flow.
Feel the soft grass beneath your feet.
Hear the birds flutter and sing in the trees.
Breathe in the fresh,
Crisp air.
Make it real.
This is your space.
Now walking slowly forward,
You notice there is a path before you.
Its stones are smooth,
Glistening in the sunlight.
Step on this path and continue to walk forward,
Curious about where it leads.
With each step you notice that you are becoming more and more relaxed.
Peacefully following this gentle,
Winding path.
Soon you hear trickling water and find yourself before a great stone fountain.
Just take a few moments to visualise this fountain.
Noticing the subtle details,
The curves,
The colour,
The streaming,
Splashing water.
The sounds that it's making.
You know that this water in this fountain is here to refresh you.
And you eagerly cup your hands and dip them into the flow.
Bringing your hands to your lips you sip the water,
Drinking every last drop.
You feel overwhelmingly grateful for this water.
A deep appreciation that you have never had before.
Feeling so thankful for this healing and rejuvenation.
Thankful for the opportunity to give your body what it needs.
Once more cup your hands and gather more water.
Drinking more slowly now as you continue to express gratitude for this experience.
This fountain inspires you to appreciate the gifts in your life.
This fountain never runs dry,
So long as you keep gratitude alive in your heart.
Feel the water flowing through your body,
Inspiring even more gratitude to arise within you.
Imagine the water that flows from this fountain touching everything in the garden.
Nourishing it.
Seeping down into the soil and travelling up the roots of every plant,
Every flower,
Every tree.
It provides water for the birds and the small animals that call this garden home.
Notice the way the water invigorates these living things,
The way that it invigorates your own body.
The grass beneath your feet is supple.
The trees above you are strong,
Their leaves glistening in the sun.
Filling your hands,
You fill your own cup of gratitude.
Expressing thanks along with all of the living things around you.
There is enough for everyone,
And you are always welcome to come here to this peaceful sanctuary to fill your cup.
Any time you have forgotten to appreciate the very essence of life,
You are called here to bask in this divine experience of receiving and expressing gratitude.
Bring to mind all of the areas of your life that can use a sprinkling of gratitude.
Hold them in your mind's eye as you breathe easily and hold the water in your cupped palms once more.
Gratefully pouring the sacred water on these areas of your life.
Any stagnancies in your home,
Your work,
Your relationships.
Just allowing the water to heal and rejuvenate these areas too.
Envision your life perking up and blossoming with renewed energy.
Appreciation flows effortlessly from you,
As effortlessly as the gentle water flowing from the fountain.
Breathing easily,
Simply enjoy your time in this garden for the next few moments.
Peaceful and relaxed.
Now it's time to bid the garden goodbye.
Once more expressing thanks for this experience and then slowly following the pebble path back to the beginning.
Allow the garden to fade from view with your next exhale.
And your current surroundings to materialize as you inhale deeply.
Opening your eyes.
Always remembering that you can return to this garden whenever you would like to fill your cup with gratitude.
