Welcome to a stillness meditation for grounding and centering.
This meditation is for the autumn months,
When nature calls us to enter a time of grounding and begin a period of rest.
But it can be performed at any time of your choosing.
Begin by coming into a position that is comfortable for you.
This can be sitting or lying down.
Allow the arms to rest comfortably at the sides of the body.
Allow the muscles to relax.
If you wish,
You may close the eyes.
Take a slow,
Conscious,
Deep breath in.
And release it slowly.
As you invite calmness into the body.
Allow the muscles to relax.
Allow the jaw and neck to soften.
Allow yourself to be still and peaceful,
Completely in this moment.
Attune now to the breath,
The natural flow of the breath,
Entering and exiting the body.
Simply observe the breath.
Without attempting to modify it.
Allow the breath to guide you on this journey into stillness.
Allow the entire body to soften and become loose.
Allow the mind to become relaxed.
Relax completely,
But do not fall asleep.
If you notice the mind being drawn to thoughts of previous events and those that are yet to come,
Simply acknowledge those thoughts and move on from them.
With kindness and compassion.
Guide the mind away from both the past and the future.
As you give yourself the gift.
Of this very moment.
Give the mind permission to rest from chasing after distractions and thoughts that do not contribute to your highest good or inner peace.
Enter into a time of stillness.
Contentment.
And observation.
You need not do anything in this moment.
Beyond being still.
And at peace.
In your mind's eye.
See,
Sense,
And feel a brilliant white light of protection forming a circle around you.
Through this circle of light,
No harm may pass.
You are safe here.
You are content here.
You are welcome here.
And you are wanted here.
Become aware of your connection to the Earth.
Feel this connection being established first in your sit bones.
This connection draws energy from the earth into the body.
Feel this energy flowing through the body.
Rising up like a tendril of light.
To offer you contentment.
Nurture.
And support.
Allow this light to shield you.
And provide you with comfort.
And security.
With the body fully relaxed and tension no longer present,
The mind now welcomes images of autumn.
See yourself somewhere in nature.
In a place where the beauty and serenity of nature are undisturbed.
This could be a grove of trees.
A field becoming dormant.
An apple orchard.
Or a pumpkin patch.
The autumn setting that brings you the most joy is the one in which you find yourself now.
Guided by the breath,
You begin to take note of what you see before you and all around you.
And as you welcome these sights into the mind's eye,
Simply observe them.
You do nothing but observe them.
Spend a few moments now noticing the details of what you see in this autumnal sacred space.
Doing nothing more than observing them with complete contentment.
With the breath still guiding you.
The awareness shifts now to the sounds of autumn.
This can be the sound of a light breeze rustling fallen leaves.
Movement sounds of small animals gathering food for winter.
Or birds singing in the distance.
Again,
You do nothing but listen.
Spend a few moments now.
Noticing each of the sounds you hear.
Doing nothing more than listening.
Except,
Perhaps,
Considering what messages these sounds might carry.
Continuing to allow the breath to guide you.
The awareness moves to any smells or scents that might be present in your sacred space.
This could be the smell of hay.
Morning dew.
The light scent of root vegetables.
Allow these smells to awaken within you a sense of grounding.
And rest.
Beyond this,
Do nothing more than observe them.
Spend a few moments now simply recognizing and appreciating these smells.
Doing nothing more than that.
Nature's call to us at the time of autumn is a whisper as opposed to a shout.
As you continue to observe the sights,
Sounds,
And smells all around you.
Spend a few moments now listening to the delicate whisper of nature's voice.
Now the awareness returns to the breath as we begin our journey back to the present.
Attune to the rhythm of the breath once more.
The natural,
Unaltered flow of the breath.
And as you begin to notice the sensations of the present again,
You do so with the understanding that you can return to your autumnal sacred space at any time of your choosing.
Be aware of the body.
Be aware of the breath.
Begin inviting subtle movements into the hands and feet.
The fingers and toes.
Take another deep breath in.
And release it slowly.
And,
At your own pace,
Allow the eyes to open.
Take frequent pauses to invite the stillness that nature offers us in autumn into you as we begin our journey into a time of winter rest.
The crow flies from me to thee.
To send the message.
Blessed Be.
