Welcome,
Everybody,
To this winter meditation for release and gratitude.
And before we get settled,
I'd like you to find a comfortable position,
Whatever feels right for you and your body in this moment.
And when you're ready,
You can gently allow your eyes to close.
And as you allow yourself to arrive here,
Know that there is nowhere else you need to be other than with this breath.
And next,
I'm going to ask you to imagine or sense yourself in a quiet place in nature.
And I'm going to invite you to imagine that wherever you are is the early season of winter.
It could be a forest or a field.
Whatever feels true for you is exactly right.
And as you settle and arrive in this place,
You notice the quality of the air.
It's clear and spacious quality.
Perhaps you notice the trees or the sky.
Maybe there are birds chirping or animals moving about.
Maybe you notice the ground beneath you,
How solid it is from the cold.
Just simply noticing whatever draws your attention and as you look around,
You might notice how much has already been released,
Maybe it's the fallen leaves,
Growth that was stilted,
Things pared back.
And your body might recognize something in this as well,
Maybe it's a part of you that's also ready to let go,
Something your deeper wisdom knows and that you can trust,
The room to breathe,
The vast space in front of you,
The possibility of freedom.
When things fall away,
We open up space and in that space we also open up to where our own unique possibilities may live.
Somewhere in this experience,
In this vastness in front of you,
You can sense some warmth,
A softness.
It might be a feeling of gratitude,
Or this moment of rest,
Or this permission to let go and simply be in your own experience.
You might put your hand over your heart,
Sending some gratitude for all that it does.
And you might notice that this sense of gratitude brings with it a presence of lightness.
And if there is this sense of delight there for you,
Enjoy it,
Let it surprise you.
You can begin to bring your awareness back,
Perhaps noticing any sounds around you,
Maybe taking notice of the surface beneath you.
You might begin to start gently moving your fingers or your toes,
Whatever wants to move.
Taking in one last breath,
Breathing in,
Letting go and breathing out,
Noticing the spaciousness,
The gratitude,
And the delight that you've cultivated in this time.
And when it feels right,
You can allow your eyes to gently open,
Coming back into the space,
Slowly reacclimating yourself and returning,
Continuing to find trust in your own natural timing.
May you find ease throughout the rest of your day.
