Welcome to Returning to Stillness in Winter Meditation for Peripause.
I welcome you to find a comfortable seat or maybe a reclined position.
Allow your body to settle.
Let your shoulders soften.
Let the weight of your body be held by the earth beneath you.
Take a slow breath in through your nose.
And a long,
Gentle exhale out through your mouth.
Arriving here.
Letting the whole body begin to unwind.
Now start to drop into the season.
Winter is the season of stillness.
A season that invites us inward.
Towards warmth.
Simplicity.
And softness.
Start to imagine yourself stepping into a quiet winter landscape.
Snow is gently falling around you.
The sounds are softening.
The air is crisp and cool.
Everything feels slower.
Everything feels intentional.
Everything feels like an invitation to rest.
Placing a hand on your heart.
And the other on your belly.
Feeling the rise and fall of your breath.
Inhale,
Allowing the warmth to spread through your chest.
Exhale,
Releasing any tension you've been carrying.
With each inhale,
Imagine drawing in that steadiness.
With each exhale,
Imagine releasing the swirl of the season.
The overthinking.
The rushing.
Or the pressure to hold everything together.
Let yourself melt into the stillness with your breath.
Now bring your awareness to your feet.
Imagine them warming,
Softening,
And grounding.
Let that warmth rise slowly up your legs.
Into your arms.
Into your hips.
Your low belly.
Your back.
Allowing your breath to move like a soft winter breeze,
Sweeping up the spine.
Relaxing the shoulders.
Softening the throat.
Easing the jaw.
And calming the mind.
Let your eyes rest heavy.
Let your breath be slow and full.
Now imagine a small,
Soft flame glowing at the center of your heart.
A winter flame.
It's quiet,
Steady,
And unwavering.
With each inhale,
That flame grows warmer.
With each exhale,
It expands gently through your body.
Bringing comfort.
Clarity.
And deep rest.
See this inner light illuminating your whole being.
Your intuition.
Your wisdom.
Your inner steadiness.
This is the place you return to when life feels overwhelming.
This is the place that holds you through the shifts.
The changes.
The beauty and complexity of perimenopause.
Your inner flame is always here.
Taking one more deep,
Nourishing breath.
And slowly let it go.
Begin to bring small movements back to your body.
Wiggling fingers and toes and stretching if that feels good.
When you're ready,
Opening your eyes and carrying your winter flame with you through the rest of your day.
