This meditation explores the theme of water.
It involves some gentle movement near the beginning before inviting you to take a comfortable position of your choice for the remainder of the practice.
Water is integral to our existence,
Part of our bodies.
It supports critical bodily functions.
We gulp and sip it,
Cleanse our bodies with it,
Use it to create nourishing meals,
Explore and play in it,
Anoint ourselves with it.
Falling from the sky as rain,
It flows over the hills and plains,
Through valleys as rivers and streams,
Sucked up by tree roots for growth,
Flowing over concrete urban jungles,
Through pipes to our homes and workplaces.
Adaptable and flexible,
Water flows through our lives.
To explore the flow of water,
I now invite you to stand for some gentle movement.
You are welcome to choose another position if you prefer.
As I guide you,
Know that my words are simply an invitation.
I encourage you to listen to your own body and do what feels good for you in this moment.
As you stand,
Feel your feet pressing into the earth,
The earth supporting the weight of your body.
Even though water constantly moves,
Gravity draws it to the earth,
Coercing it down slope.
Take a moment to feel gravity softly pulling your body towards the ground beneath you.
Now,
Imagining all the different ways that water flows in nature and as you interact with it,
I invite you to become curious as to how your body may move like water flowing.
Swing your arms from side to side like river rapids.
Move your arms like undulating waves in the ocean.
Trace your fingers lightly over your body,
Like water trickling over you in the shower.
Weave stillness and slight movements together like ripples on a calm lake.
How does this flowing sensation feel in your body?
Spend a few moments exploring here.
Now,
I welcome you to flow into a comfortable position of your choice for the remainder of this practice,
Remembering that you can move or stretch at any time.
This time is for you to be in your own sanctuary.
Now,
Bring awareness to your breath,
Your breath flowing just like water,
Replenishing you,
Replenishing you,
Restoring you.
Become conscious of your breath flowing in and out of your body just as it is in its own natural rhythm,
Whatever it is right now.
Breath flowing like water tumbling over a waterfall,
Trickling from a shower,
Filling your teacup.
As you welcome your breath flowing through your body with each inhale and exhale,
Embrace any thoughts or emotions that arise.
They too can flow through your body like water.
Water has this incredible power to flow around obstacles in its path,
Flowing around large boulders,
Uprooted trees or other debris.
Adaptable and flexible,
It continues to move downstream,
Propelled by gravity.
We all have this capacity for adaptability and flexibility.
Perhaps you can recall a time when a large challenge was placed in your way,
But just like water,
You were able to find a way around this perceived obstacle,
Using your unique talents to adapt to the situation,
To find a solution or discover a different path.
Sense into your body now,
How does it feel to recognize your own capacity to meet and adapt to challenges in the same way that water flows?
I'll leave you for a short time now to let these feelings percolate through your body.
Slowly and gently start to become aware of the space you're in,
Your body supported by the surface beneath you,
Your flowing breath.
Slowly and gently transitioning back into the space.
As you flow into the rest of your day,
Perhaps you can let these feelings and sensations continue to wash over you,
Cascading through your being as you continue to adapt to the movement of life.
You are water and water is you.
