Let's begin this meditation by coming into a comfortable position either sitting or lying down.
Allow your eyes to gently close and your awareness to draw inwards.
The breath is calm and the mind is still,
Clear and open.
Follow me with your imagination.
You are walking down a very peaceful path surrounded by trees and nature.
You feel a cool breeze against your skin and the warmth of the afternoon sun on your face is gently soothing.
You walk slow,
With a steady pace but with purpose as if you are on exactly the right path.
You are right where you need to be.
There is nothing to do,
Nowhere to go.
At the end of the path,
You see a beautiful big iron gate,
Trussed with ivy and vines.
As you approach the gate,
You look through the gaps in the vines and you see the most wonderful garden you have ever seen.
The gate is slightly open,
So you enter.
A rush of joy as you take in its beauty,
The trees,
The flowers.
You notice a wall all around the garden,
You are completely safe.
You close the gate behind you and bend down to remove your shoes,
Stepping barefooted onto the cool soft lawn,
Feeling the grass sneak and tickle between your toes.
Maybe you walk mindfully and slowly through the garden,
Or maybe you run about as you explore its wonder.
The trees are so tall they reach up into the sky,
The branches forming a luscious canopy over your head.
The sunlight trickling,
All watery through the gaps.
Birds chirp and tweet their melodic chatter.
Your favorite flower is in abundance,
You can smell their perfume floating on the air.
Take a bit of time to see your garden,
Just the way it is.
Perhaps a flowing stream,
A fountain or waterfall,
Maybe some animals or creatures come to visit.
This is your garden,
It is safe and secure and it feels so good to be in it.
You are here at just the perfect time.
Standing in your garden,
You take three long deep breaths.
Inhale in the clean fresh air,
Exhale out and relax.
Inhale in the aromas around you,
Sense of the garden.
Exhale let it go.
Exhale peace and happiness and exhale relax even deeper.
You hadn't noticed until now,
But in the center of your garden is a stone statue holding onto a very large bunch of brightly colored balloons.
The balloons all floating high on silk white ribbons.
As you approach the balloons,
You realize that written and printed on each balloon are words and pictures,
Each one representing your fears,
Your worries,
All source of your stress and anxiety,
Things that have been bothering you today,
This week,
This month.
The words and images don't add to these emotions,
But they intrigue you.
You can see and feel them ever so clearly.
In this safe space,
You realize it is time to let go of these things.
You approach the balloons,
Taking their silk white ribbons tight around your hands.
You look up to them,
You see how vibrant their colors are.
You feel how strong the pull of balloons upwards is and you steady yourself to hold on tight.
On the count of three,
You're going to let all the balloons go.
Inhale,
Taking a long slow breath in,
You squeeze your hands,
Arms,
Shoulders very tight,
Tight,
Tighter and then one,
Two,
Three,
Release and exhale,
Letting all the balloons go along with all your stress and tension.
Everything becomes soft.
Notice how easy it was to let that go and see the balloons and your worries floating higher and higher up through the trees towards the clouds.
The balloons get smaller and smaller,
Noticing your fears floating further and further into the distance,
Becoming smaller until they finally disappear.
As the final balloon vanishes from view,
You turn around and make your way back to the gate.
Slip back on your shoes and turn once more back towards the garden.
A breath here and a feeling of gratitude and appreciation for all this garden did for you today.
Make your way back through the gate,
Retracing your steps back down the path.
Notice how much lighter and stronger you feel as you return yourself back into your day.
Be receptive.
Namaste.
