Welcome to your winter solstice meditation.
Winter solstice is the longest night.
Begin by coming into your most comfortable position.
That could be an easy pose,
On your yoga mat,
Laying in your bed,
Or in your most comfortable chair.
Wherever you choose to do this practice,
You cannot get this wrong.
Close or downcast your eyes and connect to your breath.
Allow your belly to rise on every inhale and fall on every exhale.
As you continue to breathe,
Without forcing or controlling your breath,
Scan your body.
Notice where you can relax even more deeply right now.
Let every muscle become heavy with the weight of gravity.
In the busyness of this time of year,
This is your moment to pause.
In your mind's eye,
Imagine yourself transported to an outdoor scene of crystal white snow.
Picture yourself standing on a hilltop of glittering silver crystals.
Snow is all around you.
See the snow clearly.
The sun is sparkling.
The sky is blue.
The air is cold,
But you are warm,
Wrapped in a heavy cloak.
Trust in this image.
With each inhale in,
And each exhale out,
You can see your breath on the cold winter air.
But you are warm.
You begin to follow a pathway that clears before you.
It requires no effort for you to follow this path.
You feel support all around you.
Trust and feel this loving energy.
Feel held,
Supported,
Nurtured,
Safe.
This energy all around you is cleansing and clearing.
Tune into the peace.
Tune into the stillness.
You are light.
You are free.
Winter solstice is a time to turn inward,
To take care of you.
Embrace all of the darkness in the seemingly short days.
Imagine night to your left and day to your right.
Watch as the two sides blend together.
As the days get longer,
We move towards spring.
A light grows.
But during solstice,
Your body,
Your heart,
Your soul,
And your mind are resting.
Embrace this part of winter as we move towards spring.
Feel a warm energy flowing within your body.
This warm energy begins at your toes and moves to your feet.
You feel the warmth spreading through your ankles,
Calves,
Legs.
Let the energy of solstice spread like a mist through your pelvis and your abdomen.
Feel this warmth growing up each vertebrae of your spine.
This warm mist travels through your torso,
Your chest,
Your arms,
Your neck,
And your head.
Take a deep breath into this energy.
Let go of anything that no longer serves you.
Feel your entire body wrapped in this warmth.
Winter solstice is a time of year when we celebrate the return of the sun.
Winter solstice is the longest night.
Honoring the seasons is a beautiful way to receive messages for our own personal journeys.
In this time of maximum darkness,
Find rest,
Sustenance,
And light.
Carry this sense of stillness and presence with you as you move through this busy season.
Winter solstice teaches us that each season serves the next and that rest has value.
Thank you for taking some time in this busy season to nourish your mind,
Your body,
And your soul today.
And remember,
The gift you give yourself of breath,
Movement,
Visualization,
And meditation is a gift to everyone around you.
Thank you for joining me today.
