Let's begin by taking a slow,
Deep breath into the center of your chest.
As you exhale,
Allow yourself to release everything that came before this moment.
Breathing in gently through the heart center.
And exhaling,
Letting go of anything already reaching toward the future.
For now,
There is nowhere else to be,
Nothing to solve,
Nothing to carry from the past.
Nothing to prepare for the future,
Only this body,
Your body,
This breath,
Your breath,
This moment,
Your moment.
Begin to notice the places where your body is touching the chair,
The floor,
Or the earth beneath you.
Imagine now.
From the base of your spine,
The soles of your feet,
A living root system growing downward.
Let those roots travel through the soil,
Through the layers of the earth and stone,
All the way to the earth's center.
And when they arrive,
Imagine them gently connecting.
You are connected.
You are held.
You are rooted and supported.
Now bring your awareness above you.
Imagine the sun,
A glowing sphere of light.
This may be the warmth of the sun itself.
It may be the energy of the universe.
It may be God as you understand God.
Or simply loving-kindness itself.
Allow this golden light to pour gently down through the crown of your head and through your whole body.
Let it soften anything that has become tight,
Warm anything that has become cold,
And touch anything that has become tired or overused.
If there is any burden you no longer need to carry.
Allow the golden light to surround it with warmth and compassion.
Reach out and gently set it down onto the earth.
The Earth knows what to do with what you no longer need to carry.
The sun above you,
The roots beneath you,
And the golden light within you.
Together they begin to create good medicine.
Medicine that restores.
Medicine that remembers you.
Medicine that nourishes the one who so often nourishes others.
Now imagine the golden light expanding around you,
A sphere of warmth and protection.
As the light grows,
An opening appears before you and you step through.
And you find yourself standing in a forest clearing.
The air is cool.
And alive.
Ahead,
The clearing opens into a beautiful pasture.
And within that pasture is a herd of horses.
Some graze quietly,
Some stand together,
Some lift their heads and notice you.
Take a moment to simply be in their presence.
And now,
One horse begins to connect with you.
You do not need to choose it.
It simply notices you.
And you notice it.
Take a moment to see this horse clearly.
Notice its eyes,
Its breath.
Its presence.
Allow your breath to connect with the horse's breath,
Your heart with its heart.
The horse is your guide for this journey,
A guide who understands strength without force and gentleness without weakness.
The horse begins to walk.
You follow.
Together,
You make your way toward a mountain rising beyond the pasture.
As you climb,
The path becomes lined with sage.
The air feels clear and fresh.
And before long,
You arrive at a cabin built into the mountainside.
Golden light glows from its windows and outside stands a human spirit guide.
Perhaps an ancestor.
An angel,
A beloved presence.
Maybe a wise being sent to help you remember what you need most.
The guide welcomes you inside.
The cabin is warm.
The fire burns quietly.
Shelves hold jars of herbs and medicines and gifts.
The guide invites you to choose what would nourish you today.
Perhaps rest,
Compassion,
Courage,
Boundaries,
Trust,
Joy,
Self-forgiveness.
A sense of worthiness.
Or something else entirely.
Take a moment to notice what calls to you.
The guide gathers these gifts and places them into a small bowl,
And together you warm them over the fire.
The guide reminds you,
Good medicine is not made through force.
It's made by bringing together what is true and what is needed.
As the medicine warms,
A beautiful scent fills the room,
And something inside you begins to remember.
I am allowed to receive.
I am allowed to rest.
I am allowed to be cared for.
I am allowed to belong to myself.
When the medicine is ready.
The guide places it into a small satchel and offers it to you.
You place it around your neck warm.
Fragrant,
Filled with intention.
Your horse guide waits outside.
Together,
You continue climbing toward the summit.
Night has fallen and moon shines above.
At the top of this mountain,
A fire burns within a circle of stones.
Beside it stands another guide.
A protector,
A guardian,
A loving presence.
This guide invites you to sip with me.
Right beside the fire.
Holding the satchel in your hands,
Allow an intention to come forward.
Perhaps a wish,
A hope,
A truth you want to remember.
Perhaps,
Let me remember myself.
Let me be restored.
Let me carry what is mine and release what is not.
Take a moment now to let your intention become clear.
When you are ready,
Place that intention into a satchel.
Hold it to your belly.
Your heart.
And then your forehead.
Take your time.
And now,
Offer it to the fire.
The fire receives it,
Transforms it,
And smoke rises into the sky.
Is carrying the scent of your medicine,
The warmth of your intention,
The breath of your wish.
The smoke rises toward the moon.
And from the moon appears a great heron.
Ancient,
Graceful,
Wise.
The heron carries your intention into the great cycle of light.
Moon to Heron,
Heron to Sun,
Night to Morning,
Rest to Renewal.
As you watch,
You feel something settle within you,
Something remembered.
Something restored.
As dawn begins to arrive.
You notice your intention written on your left arm.
The arm closest to your heart.
It's not a task.
Not as a demand.
But as a remembering.
A sign of the good medicine you now carry.
Your horse guide.
Now turns toward the path.
Together,
You make your way back down the mountain,
Back through the trees,
Back to the pasture.
The herd is waiting.
Peaceful study.
Your horse guide pauses before returning to the herd.
Take a moment to offer your thanks.
Maybe a breath,
A touch,
A bow,
Whatever feels right.
Then watch as the horse rejoins the others.
You carry the medicine right with you now.
Not in a jar.
Not in a task,
But in your body.
Your breath.
Your intention,
And your heart.
Begin to feel your roots once again.
Feel the earth beneath you.
The golden light above you.
Notice your body,
Your feet,
Your legs,
Your belly,
Your chest,
Shoulders,
Hands,
And face.
And then your heart.
Take a slow breath in.
And a long breath out.
And know this place remains available to you whenever you need steadiness,
Restoration,
Protection,
Or a remembering.
Place one hand on your belly,
One hand on your heart,
And silently say,
Horse Guide,
Steady me.
Cabin guide,
Restore me.
Fire Guide,
Protect and remind me.
Help me return to the medicine I already carry.
Take one final breath.
And when you are ready,
Gently return to this moment,
Rooted and warmed.
You you you
