Today we're going to tap into one of our higher faculties,
Our imagination.
So let's begin by getting comfortable,
Whether lying down or sitting upright,
Choose a position that feels steady and safe and allows you to be fully present right here in this moment.
If it feels right,
Gently allow your eyes to close and just arrive.
Let yourself be here,
There's nowhere else to be,
Nothing else to do.
This is your time.
Begin to connect with your breath.
Take a slow,
Deep inhale and an even slower,
Deeper exhale,
Allowing your body to relax a little bit more with each exhale.
Let's stay with this rhythm for a few moments,
Breathing deeply and slowly.
Now I invite you to imagine yourself standing alone on a gravel road.
In every direction the land is flat,
Open,
Quiet,
Endless.
There are no buildings,
No other people,
Just you and the gravel path stretching forward.
You notice you're wearing a backpack.
It's large and heavy,
The kind you'd carry for a long journey.
Can you feel its weight pressing against your back?
You begin to walk.
The only sound is the crunch of gravel beneath your feet and the gentle rhythm of your breath.
Step by step you move forward.
How does it feel to be alone in this vast landscape?
Notice any thoughts or feelings that arise and just let them pass through.
Remind yourself you are safe,
You are not lost.
Every step is carrying you towards something meaningful.
Now as you walk,
You begin to feel a presence beside you.
You don't need to look,
You simply know it's there.
Is it on your right or your left?
Does it feel like a shadow,
A light,
A figure?
There's no need to define it,
Just notice it.
You hear another pair of footsteps,
Soft and steady matching yours,
And you realize you're no longer walking alone.
With each step,
Your backpack feels just a little bit lighter.
The path feels less lonely.
The presence beside you radiates a quiet comfort,
A warmth that moves through your chest and down your arms.
In the distance,
You see the terrain is changing.
The road rises into what looks like a large hill.
But as you get closer,
You see it's not a hill at all,
But a steep,
Rugged mountain.
There are no other paths,
Just forward.
The presence beside you reaches for your hand.
You take a deep breath,
Steady yourself,
And keep walking.
As the incline sharpens,
Your legs begin to ache.
The air feels thinner.
Each step requires effort.
Still,
You carry on.
And then,
Suddenly,
You're alone again.
The presence is gone.
You scan around,
But there's no one there.
And now the path becomes jagged and rocky.
You're using your hands to climb.
Loose stones tumble beneath you,
Crashing down the mountain.
It feels like the hardest part of the journey.
And you wonder,
Why now?
Why would the presence leave now when I need it most?
You pause,
Exhausted.
You look up,
And the path has vanished into a sharp,
Sheer cliff.
The only way is up.
You stretch your hand toward a narrow ledge,
And suddenly a hand reaches down.
The presence is there,
Waiting.
You feel that same warmth again,
And calm washes over you.
With steady strength,
You climb,
Hand over hand,
Breath by breath.
You lift yourself up and over the edge.
You've made it.
Stand tall now,
Brush yourself off,
And look out from the summit.
The view is endless,
Clear,
Beautiful,
And unhindered.
You can see far into the distance,
Where you've been and where you're going.
And now a quiet knowing arises in your chest.
The presence was never truly gone.
It had simply gone ahead to guide you through what you could not yet see.
It was with you the whole time,
Walking beside you,
Holding your hand,
Lighting the path,
And giving you space to find your own strength when you needed it most.
Let that truth settle deep into your body.
You are never truly alone.
That presence may be your highest self.
It may be something greater than you.
Call it spirit,
Love,
Source,
God.
Whatever name resonates for you,
It has always been there.
And it always will be.
Take a few final breaths.
Let your shoulders soften.
Let your heart open just a little bit more.
Let your body remember the strength and the support that carried you to this summit.
And drink in the view.
Whenever you feel ready,
Gently bring awareness back into the room.
Wiggle your fingers and your toes.
And gently open your eyes.
Take this moment with you.
Take this knowing with you.
You are guided,
You are supported,
And you are far more powerful than you know.
