Sometimes,
Or perhaps often,
It is difficult for you to fall asleep.
I believe this is a problem for many people worldwide,
Because we are all addicted to our screens,
Perhaps through pressure we are facing,
For all sorts of reasons.
So it becomes more and more difficult to relax our system,
Our body,
And also because perhaps we like to live,
We like to experience,
We like to see,
To feel,
To learn,
And therefore actually sacrifice our own bodies,
Our own rest.
And that's why many people,
Including myself,
Turn to meditations,
To a voice which is soothing,
Calming,
A voice which you trust,
Which you can rely on,
In order to get you through this sort of special moment between being awake and falling asleep.
I believe without using screens it's much more easy.
So it is an invitation to just perhaps try this for a few weeks,
By really not using any screen in the evening,
But maybe perhaps reading a book,
Or doing something else,
Going for a walk,
Being creative,
Or just having a conversation with somebody.
Because then it's much more easy to listen to the signals of your body,
Or to be open to them.
You notice them much more easily.
Also,
From the viewpoint of,
For example,
Ayurveda,
It is healthy to sleep around 10 pm in the evening,
And wake up at dawn,
As soon as the first light appears.
In the older days,
This is how people used to live.
There was no electricity,
So it was sort of easy to rest your body,
To fall asleep.
And now I have the task to try to put you to sleep,
To help you wind down,
Calm down.
So first of all,
Observe if you're completely comfortable.
Does your body have enough space?
Are you warm or cold enough,
Depending at what time of the year,
Which season you're living?
Can you imagine that you're being carried by Mother Earth,
Like she's carrying you?
So please,
Relax your body now,
Like you're sinking in your bed,
Or whatever it is you're lying on right now.
Then relax your forehead,
Relax your eyes,
Relax your jaw and your tongue,
Relax your shoulders and your neck,
Relax your entire back,
Relax your legs,
And see if you can sink even more,
Even deeper.
Then become aware of the movement of your breath in your body.
Do you breathe in and out through your nose,
Or breathe in through your nose,
Out through your mouth?
There are no rules right now,
It's just a matter of observing and just feel the pace of your breath,
The rising of your belly and your chest.
And perhaps this image which I already received at the beginning of the meditation will help you.
What I saw is a room in an old mansion somewhere in the world.
It is dark in the room,
But a huge fireplace is lit,
And here and there are some candles.
And you are there on a huge sofa,
Covered with soft sheepskin,
Cushions,
Blankets,
And that's where you are.
On this sofa,
Near the fireplace,
On a well-deserved break,
And in the background you hear the sound of the fireplace,
You hear the wood cracking,
The fire burning.
And it's just you and the element fire.
You and what does the fire do to you right now?
It gives you warmth,
And the heat,
The warmth,
Relaxes you,
Like it makes you mellow.
The smell remembers you of old times,
When there was no central heating,
When people used fireplaces or fires or campfires to stay warm.
It brings you back to nature,
But you can also use the fire to burn some things within yourself which bother you,
Which prevent you from falling asleep.
So all you need to do now is see this fire,
Feel this fire,
And breathe in,
And take some of this energy of the element fire within your system,
And let it burn,
Let it dissolve the worries you are facing right now.
Perhaps the pain,
The sadness,
The judgment,
Your fears,
Your busy mind.
Let the fire take some of this pressure away from you.
So breathe in,
Take this energy of the element fire within your system.
And when you breathe out,
It's like white or black smoke is coming from your mouth.
And it's okay,
Just let it go.
Breathe in again,
Take in the energy of the element fire,
And let it work in all your cells.
Everything you no longer need at this moment,
Which prevents you from falling asleep,
Just burn it.
So just breathe in,
And again,
Breathe in.
So one more time,
Breathe in,
And let go again,
And please know that fire is one of the most potent elements,
Because it carries both energy and clarity.
It really burns away what no longer serves you.
So let it now burn this kind of heaviness that you're feeling,
Or self-doubt,
And let the fire transform this.
It has the energy of alchemy.
It can turn this dense feeling you're facing right now,
Which prevents you from sleeping,
Into something light.
Fire is a pure life force.
So breathe in this life force,
And let it connect with your own inner strength,
Your confidence,
Your determination,
So that you're determined to let go of all of this which is bothering you.
Fire also softens you.
Feel the warmth on your chest,
Your eyes,
Your breath,
Your presence.
And now that you have created this pattern of this breathing to take in this transforming energy,
You can let go of it now,
Because you have again created the path.
This,
And the energy,
This life force will continue to transform this moment for you.
You have put this element into motion within your system.
And now you can really let go.
And sink even deeper,
And deeper,
And deeper.
Feel the weight of your blanket,
Or the sheet which is covering you.
Feel how it makes contact with your skin,
Your body.
And that you have transformed yourself right now.
You have let go of the old.
You have let go of the things that no longer serve you.
And there is this deep intention of wanting to rest right now.
To surrender in this moment.
It's time for your soul to do what it wants.
To travel to other worlds,
To connect with your spirit guides.
But most of all,
To recharge.
So that tomorrow morning you can wake up fresh again.
And perhaps it's also good to know that the element fire helps you to open your heart.
It melts tension.
And it helps you to reconnect.
It's more compassion for yourself,
But also others.
So the fire has released you from negativity,
From the energy also of other people.
Which have left traces on you.
And now you have transformed.
And are ready for a deep sleep.
So that tomorrow you may awaken with an open and soft heart.
Not burdened by things you carry,
But fresh and open to face the world again with an open heart.
You may totally relax now.
This was a perfect ritual of letting go.
To completely surrender to the energy of the night.
So let go.
And I wish you a beautiful,
Good,
Deep sleep.
