Hello and welcome to this elements meditation.
I'm glad that you're practicing with me today.
The elements meditation is a nature-based practice where we will use our visualization and felt body sense to connect with the elements that are all around us.
Let's begin.
Find a comfortable place to sit or lie down.
If there's any chance that you can practice this meditation outdoors,
Even lying on the earth itself is a beautiful way to do this elements practice.
But if you're indoors and sitting in a chair that will suffice.
Let your body settle in,
Feeling gravity,
Pulling your body into the surface beneath you,
Letting yourself settle and come into an alert but restful stance.
We're going to begin with focusing on the earth element.
So I'd like you to get an image of a place where you felt the earth energy strong.
This could be on a hike.
It could be a favorite mountain or meadow.
Perhaps you have some favorite rocks or crystals that you like to hold.
Any image of earth can be really helpful here.
Tap into the sense of groundedness,
Of weight,
Of mass,
Of immovability,
Presence.
The earth as solid elements,
Minerals.
Sensing the strong presence of the earth in your visualization.
Perhaps recalling moments of a hike or of being with the earth in your garden that make you feel connected to rocks and dirt,
Mountains,
Meadows,
Hills.
And then bringing this attention of the earth into your own body and sensing that we too are made of the same elements as the earth.
Sense into your bones firm structural supports for our body.
Minerals of calcium and magnesium and the myriad other minerals that are found in the earth are also inside of our bodies.
Sense the stability of your bones and your skeleton.
This earth element gives us shape.
It keeps us upright.
It helps us be grounded on this planet.
We can feel the effects of gravity through our bones.
And we have a deep intuitive knowing through our bones.
When things are okay and when they're not and to trust in the stability of this wisdom.
If you're lying on the earth during this practice or if later you walk on the earth or touch the earth,
Feel this connection within your own body.
Your bones and all the minerals that were comprised of.
Thanking the earth.
Thanking your bones for being such a solid presence in your life.
Now moving our attention to the water element.
And again see if you can bring into your mind's eye some images and felt sensations of water.
This could be rain or mist.
Could be the bubbling of a creek or stream.
The placid nature of a lake in the early morning.
Or perhaps the strong vast beauty of the ocean with its waves churning or still.
Movement that is so powerful.
Whatever image of the element water that you resonate with most,
Keep that in the foreground of your mind.
Sense the fluidity of water.
How it can move around any boulders or earth element.
Yet it's contained within the banks of a river or shoreline.
Tap into the sense of flow that water offers.
Whether it's rain coming down gently or strongly.
Puddles forming.
Streams moving.
There's this beautiful sense of movement and flow.
Now turning your attention inward to your own body.
It is said that our bodies are comprised of 80% water.
So indeed within our skin we are able to move our attention to the water element.
We are comprised of 80% water.
So indeed within our skin we are a veritable ocean of fluidity.
Within our bodies we have miles of blood vessels and capillaries and veins that move blood and lymph and fluids throughout our system.
We require drinking water and water is released from our bodies.
See if you can sense the connection between the oceans and streams of our beautiful planet to the flow of liquids within your own skin.
Feeling the streaming movement of fluids within our bodies.
Fluids within and between each and every cell.
See if you can tap into this sense of flow.
Flow that happens in nature with all the waterways and oceans as well as within our own body.
And leaving the element of water let's now turn our attention to the fire element.
See if you can gather some images or memories of fire,
The sunshine,
Perhaps a campfire,
Perhaps a candle.
The element of fire is powerful and strong.
It can be devastating as in forest fires.
It can consume everything in its path and yet it can also provide warmth and heat and light.
So sensing whatever image feels appropriate for you at this time.
Perhaps the calm that comes from feeling the sun on your face or warming your hands over a campfire or lighting a candle for a celebration.
Our planet would not be as it is without the sun,
This fireball millions of miles away.
So this element of fire is like a flame that is steadily burning and as we take this image of fire within our own bodies we can tap into the sense of our energy,
The fire of our digestion,
Passion for another loved one or for our work or for the direction in our life.
Energy,
Enthusiasm,
Joy,
Excitement are all expressions of this fire element.
See if you can feel this sense of aliveness in your body,
This spark of creativity,
Of motivation,
Of energy.
Even if it's just a hint,
See if you can fan the flames with your breathing to allow whatever level of energy into your body that you would like today through this element of fire.
Pacing yourself so that you're not scorched or overdoing but that you have a steady flame that keeps you mobilized in the direction of your heart's desire,
That keeps you turning to the light of your mind.
That keeps you turning again and again your attention to those that you love.
And that keeps our body digesting and warm and moving.
Now we'll turn our attention to the air element.
Once again see if you can bring up an image or an experience of the air element.
Perhaps flying an airplane where you see the vast extent of the atmosphere in the sky.
Perhaps you remember a fragrant breeze coming over you in the springtime or the scent of the ocean salt as you approach the beach.
Perhaps in your area the wind is a powerful force.
The wind like fire can be healing but it can also be devastating.
And so sensing what the image of air that is most helpful for you right now.
It could be returning your experience and attention to the breath.
Breathing is an activity where we are actually bringing in the external environment into our own body.
Where our body can use the elements in the air for life.
And feel this intimate connection between you and the air outside of you.
Between your exhalation and the plants inhaling your carbon dioxide.
The symbiotic beautiful interaction with the air element and life itself.
I connect the air element to mental activity as well.
Using the fire of creativity and the airiness of thoughts.
And so notice if you are in the place where you daydream a lot lost in the sky of your mind.
How you use your thoughts.
How you can put out your thoughts.
How you can be a part of your thoughts.
How you can put out into the world your ideas.
Your leanings.
Your intentions and wishes.
The air element is quite ephemeral.
It's very hard to hold on to it.
And yet it's very powerful like thoughts.
It's an element that we absolutely must have if we are to stay alive.
So sensing this amazing quality of the air within your body and all around you.
We are literally swimming in the air like a fish swims in water.
The air is our ocean.
And lastly,
I like to bring in the ether element,
Which is not necessarily considered one of the main four elements but I consider the ether element as our prana or life energy.
Or discernment.
And I would like you to sense right now how it is that you know you're alive.
Can you tap into this quality of ether and prana and life force.
In some ways it's kind of the combination of all the elements.
Are you sensing pulsation and heartbeats and throbbing and air coming in and out.
This sense of aliveness.
And your consciousness,
Your ability to discern make appropriate choices to respond rather than react.
This I feel is embodying the ether element.
Seeing if you can sense your whole body with all these elements,
Earth,
Water,
Fire,
Air,
Ether,
Feeling them move and mobilize within your own body,
As well as noticing them in the world around you.
Feeling your connection to this amazing planet that we're on swirling through space around the sun.
May we care for these elements within our own body.
May we care for this planet that we're on with kindness,
With integrity,
And deep,
Deep care.
As we bring this practice to a close.
Thank you so much for being with me today for being willing to travel through nature and your own body as we connect to the elements,
All around us.
Thank you.
