Hello and welcome to this short meditation where we will be working with the connection to an earth spot to resource ourselves,
To find inspiration,
Our fresh perspective or perhaps just some soothing for whatever condition we find ourselves in.
So an earth spot is a favourite place,
Somewhere outdoors,
Where you like to be,
Where you like to spend time.
It could be in your garden,
It could be a place that you have been on holiday,
A place that you visit on your walks,
Perhaps a favourite tree or a rock where you sometimes sit.
Any place really that has special meaning for you and where you feel connected.
I'm actually recording this in one of my favourite earth spots in the Nazna forest near where I live.
You can probably hear some of the water in the background sitting by a lovely river,
By a rock pool.
You don't have to be in your earth spot to connect with your earth spot.
So this meditation is really about connecting to this place that has meaning for you through your body,
Through your embodied imagination.
So let's begin.
Find a quiet place to sit or lie down,
Somewhere where you won't be disturbed.
Good to switch off any devices,
Your phone,
Put it on silent.
And then get comfortable sitting or lying down.
Comfortable enough so you can really relax your body,
But not so comfortable that you might fall asleep.
Although if you do fall asleep then maybe that's a good thing,
Maybe that's just what you needed.
So take a few moments to just adjust your body,
To let yourself settle.
And then take some intentional breaths in through the nose and out through the mouth.
As you breathe out just allow your body to sink a little bit more into the support of the chair or the floor or the couch or the bed that you are on.
With each exhale just relaxing a little bit more into the support that's there.
Just feel the way that your body is supported and held in this way.
Just allowing yourself to be clear that there is nothing that you have to do right now other than be here,
Be supported and receive.
And as you are lying here just noticing the subtle movements of your body,
The way it moves with your breath,
The little micro movements as it shifts and settles and adjusts.
Noticing the quality of feeling and sensation that you are aware of in your body,
In your heart,
In your mind.
If you like you can put your hands on your heart or on your belly or wherever feels comfortable,
Wherever feels good for you right now.
And it's taking a few moments to simply be here,
To receive yourself just as you are.
To welcome whatever is going on in your inner landscapes.
Now let yourself call on your place,
Your earth spot,
The place that is dear to you,
The place that you love to spend time in.
Really give this image time to develop in front of your inner eye.
Let yourself see the details of this spot.
What does it look like when you look around,
The colours,
The shapes,
The light in this place.
The ground,
The plants,
The trees,
Whatever landmarks are there.
And listen,
What sounds do you hear there?
Are there any smells or perhaps even a taste?
And how does it feel for you to be in this place?
What are the qualities you feel in yourself as you look around,
As you take in this special place in all its details?
Really give yourself time to connect to all the different sensations,
The different dimensions and aspects of your earth spot.
And as you stay with this image,
These sensations,
Just let yourself feel who you are when you are in this place.
What are the qualities that emerge in your being?
How do you feel?
And is there anything in these qualities,
In these feelings,
In your experience of being in this place,
In your earth spot that you might want to call on as support for your life as it is right now,
As support or inspiration for however you find yourself today.
Look around your earth spot and really breathe in with your eyes,
With your imagination,
With your breath,
With your body,
All the goodness,
Anything that might be nourishing or supportive for you right now.
And then find a way to thank this place,
To acknowledge all that you have received,
To share your care,
Your love,
Your appreciation for this earth spot.
You might do this through words,
Through a gesture,
Just through holding this feeling of gratitude in your heart.
Take a few deeper breaths,
Intentionally following the journey of the breath in and out of your body a few times.
Become aware of your body supported by the ground or the chair.
Sense for a few moments how you are feeling now.
What do you notice in your body?
What sensations?
How is your heart?
And what is the quality or the spaciousness of your mind?
As you complete this meditation,
Really just taking your time to come back from your earth spot experience into the surroundings of where you find yourself,
Letting your eyes open if they are still closed,
Letting yourself take in your room and bringing with you any goodness that you have received.
