Of this meditation is to connect with the emergence of winter bulbs and with ourselves.
So just settling in,
Getting into a comfortable position,
Taking a moment,
Just bringing your attention,
Your awareness down into the core of your body,
Just settling in to a sense of a real embodied presence,
By which I mean just being here in this moment,
In this body,
Experiencing life from your physical felt experience.
Now bring into your mind's eye,
If you will,
The bulb or seed of a plant resting in the soil in the dark and stillness.
Perhaps imagining yourself as this bulb or seed,
Maybe feeling into any sense of that stillness.
This bulb or seed has its own store of energy,
Its own resources to draw upon.
So just taking a moment with that,
Checking in,
How are your inner resources serving you in this moment of stillness?
Is there a sense that you have all you need right in this present moment?
Nothing needs doing or changing or attending to.
We're not analyzing here.
It's very much about your felt experience.
Even if there's some part that's not completely as you would wish it to be,
Are you able to find a sense somewhere of okayness?
Just rest your attention here.
If it's helpful to you,
You might even go through and make a mental note of anything you find in this state of okayness.
Perhaps a part of your body or something in the soup of thoughts,
Feelings or emotions.
It feels just as it should be in this moment.
Just resting your attention with this and indeed perhaps it is all as it should be.
Even the things that feel trickier and more uncomfortable.
So coming back to our bulb or seed,
There comes a time,
Some change in conditions,
When the seed or the bulb is prompted to start growing.
So now from here there's an invitation,
A choice,
Either to rest a little longer in this dark and stillness or to start to emerge.
Just feeling into what feels right for you.
If we're emerging and first our seed or bulb starts to put down roots,
To grow a single root downwards,
Connecting with the soil or the earth.
If they encounter a stone or obstruction,
They just acknowledge this and grow around it or even through it in some cases.
So inviting you if you wish to imagine putting down your own root,
Connecting with the earth,
Soil and soil organisms,
Claiming your place,
Grounding,
Rooting yourself and making yourself available to receive whatever you need from this grounded connection.
Just noticing what feels supportive,
Nurturing to you.
With our bulb or seed,
Their inner resources and this grounded connection with the earth,
There comes a time when they're moved to grow shoots towards the light above.
Perhaps a light they cannot yet sense,
But they trust that they will find it.
So whenever the time is right,
They will emerge and show themselves to the world above the ground and participate in life and community here.
Perhaps in a quiet,
Almost unnoticed way,
Or maybe later when they've gathered their resources from the soil and the sun and their surrounding community,
They will grow flowers.
So for you,
There's the opportunity to choose whether you wish to use your energy to emerge or whether to rest and gather in the stillness.
How would you like to be in this moment?
And remembering that there is usually the choice to move between these states.
The calm and inner stillness is actually available to us.
The core and below ground plants of the plant are still there,
Even when the leaves have emerged,
Even when they're in full bloom.
And with a little practice we can access this,
Even in times where life is a little noisier or busier.
It can be useful to practice this when things are calmer.
So for now,
Perhaps just noticing what you're drawn to,
Emerging into the light or resting in the stillness.
Perhaps practicing holding the awareness of the stillness whilst showing up in the world and interacting.
Showing up from this stillness and calm,
Anchored with your inner resources and supported by wider nature.
And you might only get the vaguest sense of this at first,
The merest hint,
But as you practice this,
So it will grow and blossom,
Just like your plant.
So to close this practice,
We need to take our leave of that plant and offer our gratitude.
Perhaps there's a sense of warmth towards all the plants that emerge from the winter soil,
Bringing the promise of spring.
Then bringing your attention back to your body,
Back to the surface that you're resting on.
You might like to introduce a little gentle movement,
Maybe wiggling fingers and toes.
Really starting to become aware of your human form,
Then widening your attention to the sounds around you,
To the space that you're in.
And whenever you're ready,
Transitioning from the practice into your day,
Carrying with you whatever resources or intentions you want from this practice.
Perhaps it will be to seek out the plants near to you and to spend some time with them,
Just appreciating how they show up in the world.
And thank you for showing up today to practice with us.
