Hello and welcome to this meditation for self-retrieval.
This meditation is designed to help you recover a part of yourself you may have neglected or abandoned.
Perhaps this is a part abandoned in your desire to seek connection from others.
Perhaps this is a part you find challenging to work with,
That feels needy or fearful to you.
For whatever reason this part ended up in exile,
This meditation will help you reconnect with it and repair this connection within yourself.
Begin by making your body comfortable.
You might take a seat or lie down,
Whatever works best for you.
Take a moment to roll the shoulders back and soften the jaw and facial muscles.
Begin to even out the breath,
Breathing in and out through the nose if possible.
If you are having a hard time relaxing the body,
You might squeeze every muscle tight for a 5 second hold and then release.
Once your body has relaxed,
Visualize yourself standing at the head of a trail leading into a dark woods.
This twilight,
The darkness just beginning to settle into the trees,
The sky a deep blue turning to black.
Just a few feet ahead,
Though,
You see a lantern on a hook,
And you know you are meant to take it as you head down the narrow trail.
Though the path is dark,
The woods are peaceful.
You feel enveloped by the darkness,
Carried by it.
Light from your lantern allows you to step with confidence.
You reach a fork in the path and pause.
You listen closely until you hear a faint cry,
Either to your right or left,
And you follow it.
Again,
The path forks,
And again you must pause,
Slow your breath,
And listen for the cry.
It sounds more familiar this time.
You can tell it is your lost part crying for you.
You breathe deeply,
Absorbing this realization and maintain your sense of calm,
Walking with purpose,
But not urgency.
At each fork in the path you listen and follow the cry.
Soon you arrive at the clearing and find this part of yourself seated in the center of the meadow.
You approach,
Making just enough noise so as not to startle this part.
You recognize the part.
Maybe they look like a younger self.
Maybe an older self.
Maybe they look exactly like you.
Sit down next to the part and put your arm around them.
Let them cry if they are crying.
Let them be silent if they're not ready to speak.
Whisper to them that you're sorry you left them alone so long.
That you want to hear what they have to say.
And then,
Listen.
The listening might be hard.
It's likely this part is quite upset and has vulnerable things to share.
Let the part know if you can't hear everything they have to say at once.
Let the part know there'll be opportunities to share later on.
And as you listen.
And after you've heard everything,
You're ready to hear.
Tell the part whatever you feel they need to know from you.
Stay in conversation with this part for a few moments as the music plays.
Now,
Having listened,
Ask if they are ready to join you on the path out.
If so,
Perhaps you walk hand in hand with this part through the dark woods back to the head of the trail.
They are not ready.
Offer them your jacket so they can stay warm.
Let them know you'll come back and check on them again soon.
That they are always welcome to join you.
Take your time leaving the woods,
Following the forking path back to the start.
Your lantern back on its hook and take a moment to express gratitude to the path for leading you to this part.
Into the forest for being a sanctuary for it.
The music will continue for a few more moments so you can stay in this moment of gratitude and reflect as long as you need.
