Welcome to this gentle mindfulness session in which we shall calm the mind and spirit through the flow of the breath,
The guidance of my voice and teachings from the whispers.
Ensure you feel cozy and snug whether you are lying down or sitting upright.
Perhaps dim the lights or cover your eyes and give yourself space and time to rest.
Allow your body to give way,
To melt into the earth,
Surrendering to these moments of pure repose and to nurturing.
During this practice there will be gaps and pauses for you to listen,
Reflect and sense different aspects of your being,
Acknowledging the lessons the whispers impart.
In India there is a special place,
A sacred vista that I have often visited,
Which is simply a ledge specifically created for meditation,
Where one sits peacefully to breathe in the fresh salty air and listen to the hushed murmurs of the waves dancing atop a vast ocean.
There is a large rock at the entrance upon which are carved the words by the philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson,
Let us all be silent so we may hear the whispers of the gods.
I reflect upon these words often as they are not only beautiful,
But to me very soothing.
At this moment our world is in a state of angst and grave uncertainty,
But the sun still shines,
The waves still meander in,
Flowers still bloom,
Birds still sing,
The wind still frolics,
One can hear the sound of life continuing on as it does,
Ambling along at its own pace and in its own rhythm,
Not slightly concerned as to whether we pay attention or not.
Life itself creates the trajectory,
We are embraced by it and carried along for the ride.
So would it not be wise to listen to nature's whispers,
Hear the messages being sent by the gods?
Wouldn't the same apply to listening to the whispers in our body?
What is nature's magnificent creation saying to us?
Wouldn't it be wise to stop absorbing the angst,
Fear,
Aggression and unkindness that has been seeping into our communities?
Let us travel inwards to hear the whispers and to be mindful of the hand that is now being dealt to us.
We need to communicate with ourself and the best way to communicate is to first listen and now be still,
Be very very quiet.
And what is your body requesting?
Can you perhaps sense a tingling sensation at the crown of the head?
It may extend down the spine and or across the forehead.
I feel it often.
In the world of yoga it is believed to be energy flowing down through you,
Having opened up to the universal energy you are receiving.
What can you feel?
What is your body requesting?
Can you perhaps sense a tingling sensation at the crown of the head?
It may extend down the spine and or across the forehead.
I feel it often.
In the world of yoga it is believed to be energy flowing down through you,
Having opened up to the universal energy you are receiving.
Draw your awareness now to the whole of your head.
What does it whisper to you?
Is it overwhelmingly full of thought and distress?
Is it flooded beyond ability to see a clear path?
Does it weigh heavily on your shoulders?
Or does it lift and turn freely,
Able to grasp what is before you and around you?
Can you see in all directions?
The head is the seat of reason and intellect.
The head is the shield of the brain.
We bow our head as a sign of respect.
We nod our head to say yes.
We shake our head when we say no.
The head symbolises leadership and thus kings are crowned.
But does your head ever ache?
Why?
Can you reflect on what these headaches represent or say to you?
Can you sense the air that crosses your brow,
Your forehead,
Your eyes?
Does it tap on your cheek?
Does it purr into your ear?
Does it enter your nostrils softly?
As soft as the breath of a baby nestled into your arms.
Sometimes the air is cool,
Sometimes warm.
Sometimes it flows in one direction and then comes back towards you.
What does the air whisper to you?
That it wants you to take more of it in and to slowly let it out?
Observe.
Observe.
What can you hear outside of you?
Birds chirping,
Beings chatting,
Cars here and there passing by in the distance,
Dogs yapping in the distance,
Breeze scattering leaves,
Perhaps laughter or simply the silence of the night.
Hear these sounds,
Then let them go.
This is being aware.
This is being mindful.
What can you hear?
What can you hear?
What can you hear?
What can you hear?
And again,
Pay attention.
No judgement.
Let all pass by.
Simply,
Silently.
Just observe.
Notice each sound,
Each detail.
When you know you are right here,
Not anywhere else,
Past or future,
Behold this moment.
Pause into the present.
What can you hear?
What can you hear?
What can you hear?
Can you tap into your breathing?
Sensing the breath entering and leaving the body.
As you learn to recognize the subtleties of the breath,
You become more and more sensitive to every sensation in your body.
Breathe.
Breathe.
Breathe.
What is nature telling us?
Is it spewing forth its ash,
Floods,
Fires,
Viruses to help us heal?
Earth is the home to us all.
We are one community.
We are on this globe and in this together.
Can you feel the earth beneath you?
This earth that supports you,
That nourishes you,
That holds you in its lap and reassures you.
What whispers prevail?
Strength,
Courage,
Stability?
What is the whisper coming from this?
Your earth,
My earth,
Our earth.
What is the whisper coming from this?
Now draw your awareness to your belly and to the gut.
You don't need to be specific,
Just in your imagination.
To where does your focus go?
Feel your belly expand and release.
Expand and release.
Expand and release.
Is it soft or tense?
Does it move freely with each breath?
Up and down.
In and out.
Up and down.
In and out.
Do you pay it enough attention?
Your gut is the seat of digestion and indigestion.
Physically and emotionally.
Digestion is how your body turns the food we consume into the nutrients that we require for energy,
Growth,
Transformation and the healing of every cell in our being.
Does this not apply to the digestive tract of the mind?
When we consume healthy perspectives and consume doses of positivity,
Does this not contribute energy,
Growth and repair?
Just draw your attention to your belly for a little while.
What can you feel?
What can you feel?
What can you feel?
And now focus upon your hands.
When your hands become fists,
Are you frightened to let go?
When your knuckles become white,
Reflect on why you would grasp onto anger.
Your hands are one of your greatest tools,
But are they sore and screaming for release and desire to stop clutching on?
What can you feel?
What can you feel?
What can you feel?
Would you consider that as you refine your ability to listen to the whispers,
You'll be able to understand more prompts?
The body will let you know what you need to know about the workings of your body.
The body will let you know what you need to know about the workings and interior of your form and what it really needs.
The body will let you know what you need to know about the workings and interior of your form and what it really needs.
From muscles to bone to heart to the tingling energetic sensations we encounter.
From muscles to bone to the tingling energetic sensations we encounter.
Listen carefully.
Listen carefully.
Listen.
Listen.
Listen.
Listen.
Listen.
Listen.
Now gently bring your hands to your belly and rest them there.
And be very still.
Breath whispers.
Mind whispers.
Heart whispers.
There are whispers in the breeze,
Beckoning to be heard,
And once glimpsed and once entrained,
These whispers become the pupa in the metamorphosis of the spirit.
Om shanti shanti.
Om shanti shanti om.
Be at peace now.
Be at peace.
Be at peace.
