Welcome to this Earthspot practice.
Many of us have places in nature that we love and that soothe us,
That bring a sense of peace or relaxation,
Particularly in times of stress.
We don't need to physically be present in a place that is meaningful to us in order to benefit from this connection.
We can invoke this place in our memory and with our imagination in order to bring its supportive atmosphere and its qualities into our lives wherever we are.
And of course,
Over time,
As we return to our Earthspot over and over again,
Both in the world and in our imagination,
We strengthen this relationship and the pathway that takes us there and we are able to reach for it more easily in times of stress and anxiety.
So,
An Earthspot is any place that is meaningful to us and that we can imagine in all its details,
To draw strength,
To find calm,
To call on qualities we need for our present situation,
Or to gain a different perspective.
So,
Let's go on a journey to your Earthspot.
You can do this practice sitting or lying down,
At home or anywhere you can find a quiet and comfortable place that allows you to go inside.
So,
Making yourself comfortable in whatever position you've chosen and taking a few moments to settle,
Letting yourself be held and supported by the ground,
Whether that's a chair or the surface that you're lying or sitting on,
And offering yourself some deeper breaths,
Perhaps with a sigh on the exhalation,
To really allow yourself to sink into the support of the ground,
The chair,
The sofa,
Letting the weight of your body be held.
And then I invite you to bring to your mind's eye a place that you love.
It could be a place that you visit regularly,
Perhaps a place that you walk to in your garden.
It could be an entire landscape or a very specific spot,
Let's say by a tree or a river.
Really allow yourself to paint a detailed picture of this place in your mind's eye.
Connect to it with your heart,
Through the feelings in your body,
And with all the love and appreciation you feel for this place.
Imagine sitting or standing in your Earth spot right now.
Take a look around.
What do you see in this place?
What are the colors and shapes of this landscape?
And if you listen,
What do you hear?
What are the sounds that you connect with this place,
With this Earth spot?
Imagine what your hands can touch in this place.
What are the textures,
The surfaces that you might reach for?
And perhaps there's smells or tastes in this place,
The taste of the air,
The smell of the plants and trees and flowers,
Of water or soil.
Letting your Earth spot really come alive through all your senses,
In as much detail as you can imagine.
Notice how you feel in your body.
Notice what's happening in terms of the sensations as you spend time in this beautiful place.
What is the quality of being,
The state that you enter as you connect more deeply to your Earth spot?
How is your breathing?
And what thoughts and feelings arise in you here in this place?
You could simply spend some time here,
Pausing the recording and exploring a little bit more how much you could bring this place alive inside of you right now.
Or if you'd like to take another step.
And I invite you to think of a small challenge or a question that you're sitting with in your life right now.
And perhaps you'd like to imagine holding this question,
This challenge in your hands and placing it on the ground in this Earth spot where you are.
So that whatever is heavy can be held by this landscape alongside you,
Can be held by a force much bigger than you.
You might like to ask your Earth spot and all that is present there for its support,
For its guidance.
So you could speak your question out loud.
You could share what's on your mind and in your heart with this place and listen for its wise response.
What are the qualities of being that you need right now in your life to rise to these challenges?
Or to simply navigate through your day-to-day?
Can you find these qualities present in the Earth spot,
In the landscape of your Earth spot?
When you feel ready to come back,
Taking a moment to acknowledge and thank this place,
Your Earth spot,
Through words,
Perhaps through gestures,
Perhaps with a promise to return.
And then bringing a hand to your heart,
Receiving yourself as you are right now with all that's alive inside of you after this short journey.
Feeling your physical body supported by the ground where you are.
Feeling the breath moving in and out of your body and the way the body moves and responds to the breath.
And if your eyes are not already open,
Then slowly allowing them to open and letting the world come to you,
Gently,
Slowly.
