The Paper Lantern

The Paper Lantern is a very experience-driven practice narrated by Brandon Kelley. It is a full experience with sound effects and theatrical soundtrack. By wrapping it in fiction, the Empty Cup guides the meditator on a beautiful journey, while still accomplishing very powerful meditative goals. Release your stress and clear out your negative energy as you meet the water god at the edge of the lake.

Transcript

Welcome to your empty cup guided meditation.

My name is Brandon.

I will be your guide on this journey.

Before we get started,

You'll need to do a few things.

First,

We assume you're listening to this on your headphones.

We ask that you turn your notifications to silent.

We wouldn't want anything to disturb this beautiful experience you are about to have.

Next,

You'll need to find a comfortable place to sit.

A chair or the floor will work just fine.

Finally,

You'll need to let your mind relax.

Regardless of what you've experienced before,

We think you'll enjoy this.

Don't worry if you find that you're having stray thoughts.

When they come,

Acknowledge them and then just let them flow past like a leaf in the stream.

My voice will always be here to guide you back to your path.

Controlling your mind takes time and practice.

You'll get there.

Let's get started.

This is the paper lantern.

Before you close your eyes,

Let's start by taking in three deep breaths.

In through the nose and out through the mouth.

Inhale.

One.

Two.

Three.

Exhale.

One.

Two.

Three.

Inhale.

One.

Two.

Three.

Exhale.

One.

Two.

Three.

Exhale.

One.

Two.

Three.

Now close your eyes and just breathe normally.

We start in a place that is dark.

The light from the outside world doesn't make it in here.

This is a special place.

A place where dreams and visions are born.

Become comfortable with the dark.

Let it exist around you.

I am going to count backwards from five.

Each time I do,

You'll feel yourself becoming more and more relaxed.

Five.

Four.

Three.

Two.

One.

As the wave of relaxation washes over you,

A dim light appears in the distance.

Though you can't make out what is in the light,

You are drawn to it.

You are going to travel towards the light as I count backwards from five.

Five.

Four.

Three.

Two.

One.

As you enter the light,

Your vision begins to clear.

You can see that you are at the base of a massive tree.

Looking up,

You can see that it is taller than any other tree you have ever seen.

It is full of thick leaves and its branches stretch out in a massive display.

Take a moment to admire its grandeur.

Turn your attention to the trunk of the tree before you.

Look at its thick bark closely.

Directly in front of you is a handprint in the bark.

Look down and see your hands.

These are your hands.

The hands you see every day.

The hands that no one knows like you.

Raise your hand and place it on the handprint in front of you.

It is a perfect match.

As if this handprint was made just for you.

You can feel the life of this tree.

You can sense its essence coalesce under your hand.

It wants you to push your essence into it.

But you will need to be more relaxed.

I will count backwards from five.

When I am done,

You will push your essence into this tree.

Five.

Four.

Three.

Two.

One.

Push your essence into the tree.

A glow starts to course out from the handprint.

It leaves from behind your hand and draws out the shape of a door in the bark.

This door is made from the same bark as the tree.

Gaze on the beautiful pattern of the bark.

As you pull your hand away from the tree,

A word is left where the handprint was.

Look closely.

What does that word say?

Whatever that word says,

This is the name of the door.

This door will always be here for you.

Reach out your hand and push the door open.

Feel the weight of the door as it swings out away from you.

On the other side of this door is a field at night.

You can see the field as a full moon in the sky casts a light on everything.

The sound of the environment creeps through the door.

You are drawn to its lushness.

You will walk through the door in 5,

4,

3,

2,

1.

As you step out into this field,

You marvel at its beauty.

The soft grass comes up to your ankles.

It feels like walking on the clouds.

The air is refreshing.

It is the perfect summer night.

A slight breeze washes over you.

Take a moment to feel it flow across your skin and breathe into your soul.

The fireflies that dance in the sky seem to be excited by your presence.

Take a few moments to soak it all in.

Just let your mind relax here.

Look up to the brilliant moon as it sits huge in the sky.

Notice how it casts light on the clouds as they slowly drift by.

Hear the crickets as they sing a song composed just for you.

I am going to count backwards from 5.

When I am done,

You will feel more relaxed and at peace with this environment.

5,

4,

3,

2,

1.

I am going to let you be in this environment undisturbed for 60 seconds.

I will return to you peacefully,

So don't try to anticipate my return.

Be at peace here.

You will have an opportunity to return here at the end of this meditation,

But for now,

There are other things that call for your attention.

All of the fireflies begin to swirl around you in a brilliant dance that calls to you.

They swirl and sway and begin to fly away in a direction in front of you.

It's as if they are beckoning you to follow them,

But you don't need to walk.

Your energy in this field lifts you off the ground and carries you with them.

Enjoy the weightlessness.

Play as you fly through the air.

Feel the wind on your face.

Watch without a care as the fireflies dance around you.

You see a lake in the distance.

This is where the fireflies are taking you.

This is why you are here.

You will reach the edge of the lake in 5,

4,

3,

2,

1.

Landing at the edge of the lake is a beautiful experience.

Your touch down is soft.

The grass underfoot is lush and cool on the bottom of your feet.

The air is somehow even more fresh than it was in the sky.

There is a cool breeze that blows off the surface of the water.

The smell of moisture fills your nose as you watch the moon dance on the surface of the lake.

In front of you is an old wooden dock.

It sits just above the surface of the water.

You can hear the water as it laps at the bottom of the dock.

Take a step onto the dock.

Feel the warm and smooth wood on the bottom of your foot.

Its texture is solid and smooth.

Bring your other foot onto the dock.

You are here,

Right where you need to be.

Ahead of you,

At the end of the dock,

A floating paper lantern begins to glow as it hovers over the water just beyond the edge of the dock.

This lantern beckons to you.

It pulls at the essence of who you are,

Calling to you.

Begin your walk down the dock.

You will reach the lantern in 5,

4,

3,

2,

1.

The lantern's warm glow is tantalizing,

And it draws your eyes to it.

On the side of the lantern,

Black ink begins to swirl on the paper.

After a moment,

This ink begins to take shape and settles in the form of a name.

It is not your name,

Though you know it.

It is the name of the soul that flows within you.

It is the name of the beautiful essence that sits higher than your waking mind.

You cannot pronounce it with words.

You must speak it with emotion.

Channel that feeling at the top of your heart into this name.

Call it forth into existence within your heart.

The world around you becomes still.

The lantern sinks into the water.

With its light still glowing,

You watch as it sinks beneath the surface.

Around that light,

The water begins to swirl.

It funnels upward and above the surface of the lake.

With the lantern's light at its heart,

The water forms the shape of a person.

It has no face or any details,

But you know this form.

This is your soul,

Speaking through the water.

That light that sits in the place of its heart is the color that your soul should be shining.

It slowly reaches out its hand and holds it up towards you.

Reach out your hand to its.

Place your palm on its palm.

As you do,

The water that creates its hand becomes murky and dark.

But somehow,

You feel just a little better than you did before.

Almost as if it took a bit of darkness that pollutes you into itself.

The water gestures with its other hand that it wants more.

Don't be timid.

Allow your negativity to flow into the water.

Pour every drop you have into the water.

Don't hold back.

Let the water take it all.

This is why you are here.

The water pulls its hand away.

Most of its body has become murky.

It is a testament to how much negative energy you hold onto.

Watch closely as the light from the lantern grows bright.

Still,

It gets even brighter until there is no more murky water.

The water that was dark and clouded has been replaced by water that glows.

The water has purified the negative energy within you.

It moves towards you and places its hand over your heart.

You feel a deep sense of joy.

Let this emotion flood your body as the glow is returned to you as positive energy.

Take the time to soak all of that energy in.

Let it remind you of all the beauty that surrounds you.

The water pulls itself away from you and descends back into the lake.

Remember this place.

You may always return here if you need to.

The awareness of where you are begins to return to you.

You can hear the crickets and the lapping of the subtle waves from the lake.

You can also hear the sound of the wind that blows through the tall grass.

Look up and see the beauty of the moon.

Your spirit is lighter than it has ever been.

The fireflies begin to hover and dance around you once more.

In the distance,

You hear a tone.

That is the sound of reality calling to you.

Let your feet become as light as your spirit and follow the fireflies that take you back to the field.

You will be there in 5,

4,

3,

2,

1.

As you land,

You are once again greeted by the cool breeze that blows across the soft grass.

In the distance,

You can see your door.

That door will always be there for you.

You may stay here in the field or return through the door.

The choice is yours.

The wind is blowing through the trees.

The wind is blowing through the trees.

The wind is blowing through the trees.

The wind is blowing through the trees.

The wind is blowing through the trees.

The wind is blowing through the trees.

The wind is blowing through the trees.

The wind is blowing through the trees.

The wind is blowing through the trees.

The wind is blowing through the trees.

The wind is blowing through the trees.

The wind is blowing through the trees.

The wind is blowing through the trees.

The wind is blowing through the trees.

The wind is blowing through the trees.

The wind is blowing through the trees.

The wind is blowing through the trees.

The wind is blowing through the trees.

The wind is blowing through the trees.

The wind is blowing through the trees.

The wind is blowing through the trees.

The wind is blowing through the trees.

The wind is blowing through the trees.

The wind is blowing through the trees.

The wind is blowing through the trees.

The wind is blowing through the trees.

The wind is blowing through the trees.

The wind is blowing through the trees.

The wind is blowing through the trees.

The wind is blowing through the trees.

The wind is blowing through the trees.

The wind is blowing through the trees.

The wind is blowing through the trees.

The wind is blowing through the trees.

Reviews

Magical story and very calming voice. Loved it!

So creative! I love the tree! -and the other spaces and places. The first time I listened, I was asleep before the tree and slept straight through the night. I used it again for a morning meditation and it was a wonderful clearing- I’m very relaxed. Thank you 🙏

Thank you so much

I

wauw! I had an amazing deep deep journey. Thank you.

This mindfulness helped guide me to a healing place that I will return to in the future ♡. Beautiful.