As you come to find yourself in a comfortable seat,
Notice your spine straightening,
Your neck coming into alignment with your spine,
Your chin slightly tucked,
Your hands and your wrists resting gently,
Your ankles relaxed,
Just starting to connect with your natural breathing pattern,
Noticing the breath without trying to change the breath.
After a few more rounds of your natural breathing pattern,
See if you can extend your inhalations and exhalations,
Making them smooth and as long as comfortable.
With this deeper breath,
See if you can guide it to any areas of discomfort on the inhalations,
Bringing the breath to any areas where there's tension,
Pain,
Discomfort,
And using your exhalations to soften,
To ease,
To release.
Using the in-breath to guide and the out-breath to soften.
Allow yourself to let go,
Let go of the stress,
Let go of the fear,
Let go of expectations,
Let go of pressure in any form.
This is a time to connect deeply with yourself,
Using the breath to cultivate connection.
In your mind's eye,
Begin to visualize the end of summer,
Perhaps it's a favorite memory,
A favorite place,
Or just nondescript time outside at the end of summer.
What can you see?
What colors are dominant across the landscape in your mind's eye?
What can you hear?
What sounds are filling your ears?
What scents or aromas are overwhelming your nasal cavities?
What is the quality of air and the sensations on your skin?
What can you taste?
What tastes of summer linger on your tongue?
And now notice the night coming on and summer slipping away with the night,
As the new season of autumn begins.
And now that it's autumn,
Where are you?
What are you wearing?
What changes are brought with this change of season?
Maybe it's a cozy sweater and a warm mug of comfort,
Aromas of cinnamon,
Nutmeg,
Cardamom fill the space.
Notice how your pace has changed as the heat and intensity of summer dissipates,
And the coolness and relaxation takes its place.
Notice how the sun feels and reflects a little differently.
Notice how your innate wisdom allows you to easily and naturally adapt to these changes.
This innate wisdom is strengthened from listening to yourself.
Listening and innate wisdom bring self-acceptance,
Self-awareness,
Mental clarity,
And stability.
Using your deep and smooth inhalations and exhalations,
Simply bask in your innate wisdom.
Bask in the self-trust you have cultivated.
Know that this deep connection to self is always available to you.
Begin now to come back to your surroundings,
Bringing some gentle movement to your fingers and toes.
Maybe some gentle movements with the neck and shoulders.
And when you are ready,
You can softly open your eyes.
