Let's imagine that it's late one afternoon.
It's a beautiful day and you are arriving home.
As you approach the door you find a surprise waiting.
A beautifully decorated box.
You pick it up,
Take it inside and open it where you discover four gourmet truffles are nestled inside.
They are of the highest quality,
Luxurious,
Velvety,
Melt-in-your-mouth.
In celebration of this gift let's take a breath in through our noses,
Out through our mouths.
Imagining now that you go on to open the box.
Pick up the first truffle which is shaped like a square.
Put it into your mouth and gently bite down.
A delicious strawberry cream comes oozing out.
It overwhelms your senses with memories of summer.
The smells,
Sounds and sweet simple days of sunshine.
Feeling into thoughts of light and warmth as we take another breath in through the nose,
Out through the mouth.
Inviting you now to slow your breath for a moment.
As you follow it into your body and then out again can you sense how much air is present,
Moving?
Is it spacious or dense?
Is it flowing easily?
Noticing in your heart space,
In your lungs,
In your mouth and nose.
Just noticing as you breathe slowly for a moment more.
And now imagining that you reach into the box and pick up another truffle.
This time it's more of a rectangle shape and for some reason you are expecting caramel.
But as you begin to chew another flavor flows out.
What is it?
What does this flavor mean to you?
Does it have a message or a deeper meaning to be considered?
Just think about that for a few moments as we continue to breathe.
Again inviting a slowness into your breath.
Feeling it in your heart space.
Observing.
Do you feel in your heart,
In your chest area,
Does it feel open?
Closed?
Somewhere in between?
No right or wrong.
Just noticing how it feels.
And let's go in for another truffle.
This time it's round with a two-toned drizzle effect.
And as you bite in there's crunchy bits of something delicious.
What is it for you?
Is it bits of toffee?
Peppermint?
Coffee beans?
Something else?
Enjoy thinking of this as you welcome a smile.
Letting some movement come into your cheeks.
The corners of your mouth moving upward and thinking of something that just makes you so happy.
Breathe that in and let this smile,
Let it take form,
Let it grow,
Let it expand until it's filling your face.
And perhaps even welcoming it to spread across your entire head.
Just taking a breath here and welcoming once more a slowness into the breath.
But even slower than previously.
See if you can move your breath so slow that you begin to actually tune in to your heart beating.
Pulsing in your chest or maybe another place as you slowly inhale and slowly exhale.
Feeling now into gratitude.
Gratitude for this heart that is beating in your chest.
All that it does providing us with life,
Blood flowing,
Richness,
The experience of love.
Let that wash over you for a moment if you can.
And then let's take the last truffle which is of course shaped like a heart.
And whatever flavor you desire go ahead and just imagine going for it.
Just biting in and letting it soften.
Dissolve in your mouth.
Melting into the very essence of what heart is to you.
Letting that mix with your saliva and trying to stay open to any thoughts or sensations you are having as we spend a few moments here.
Bringing your awareness now into a centered space in your chest and your heart center.
Finding a point there that you can focus on and then breathing in,
Holding and relaxing your body as you exhale.
How does your heart feel right now in this moment?
Observing.
Slowly beginning to bring your presence back into your physical space.
Moving and breathing in a way that feels good.
Opening your eyes when ready.
