Welcome back.
My name is Laura and this is Cultivate Your Wellness.
As we move into a new summer season,
We may feel our energy getting caught up in this transition,
The desire to be in motion and expressive and at the same time being called back into a state of rest and stillness.
This meditation is an opportunity to check in with ourselves as we move through this transition.
It can really be used as we embark on any transition,
Just giving ourselves the opportunity to reconnect and notice,
To be a part of what's happening around us while still staying true to ourselves,
Finding ourselves more in tune with the natural energy and flow of nature and the universe of the earth and of all the things we're part of.
Even if we don't always feel like we are connected,
We are and we always have the opportunity to connect again.
So giving yourself a moment to settle in,
Closing the eyes if that feels good and just noticing your body,
Noticing the space around you,
Noticing what the air feels like,
Perhaps noticing what your skin feels like in that air.
The skin,
Which is our biggest organ of the body,
Constantly keeping us connected to the outside world.
I invite you now to feel that connection.
Feel the air on your skin,
Noticing the temperature.
Is it warm or cool,
Humid or dry?
What does it feel like?
What is your natural reaction to the sensations of the outside world,
Of the space you take up?
And as you do this,
Begin also to connect with your breath,
Noticing the air as it enters your body,
Bringing some of that outside world into your internal world.
As we turn our attention deeper,
Continuing to notice what you're feeling,
What sensations come up as you take the breath in,
Feeling the body expand with the breath and letting it back out,
Noticing the air as it passes through your nose or mouth,
Continuing to just feel the sensations of air moving in and out again,
Perhaps with each exhale,
Letting go a little bit more as you settle into the stillness of the present.
You may notice the muscles of your body beginning to soften,
Your face,
Your shoulders and belly,
Giving your body this moment of pause and rest as we continue on a journey inward,
Creating space in the body,
Space that exists just like the space all around us.
It is a space we can inhabit,
A place we can take up where we can feel safe,
Calm.
Maybe you may notice some discomfort or some distractions may come up.
Maybe they're coming from the mind.
Whatever it is or whatever comes up,
Just acknowledge it's there and let it be.
There's no need to follow the thoughts.
Just continuing noticing,
Knowing that it's okay right now,
Everything as it is in the present.
It's quiet and stillness in this space we're cultivating.
Let yourself feel your body.
Notice the natural reactions it creates,
The chain of events that occur when you begin to notice.
And if we can,
Seeing if just like the thoughts,
We can let it pass by,
Just being aware,
Staying connected,
Connected to the one who observes,
The one who is the true self,
Creating space for whatever exists in your world,
In your internal world,
And practicing taking up that space so that when we interact with the external world,
We can still feel whole,
We can still feel confident,
Calm,
Complete with whatever comes up.
And perhaps now you notice the ground beneath you,
Your connection to the earth.
Try imagining that you're drawing energy up from the earth,
Just as if you were a tree planted steady in the ground beneath you,
Pulling up that energy,
Pulling it up,
Up,
Up towards your head and your arms as you imagine them lifting higher and stronger into the air,
Pulling that energy from below through your arms and your hands,
Moving through your body,
Feeding you.
And then noticing the energy from above coming down through your arms,
Moving through your body,
Just like the sunlight does in the trees,
All the energy from above moving down through your body.
Picture these two energies,
That from below and that from above,
Meeting in the middle,
Perhaps in your heart,
Just bursting into that space,
Too big to even see where it ends.
Just this grand internal space being fed from energy above and below,
Constant,
Expanding movement,
But also gentle and still.
Expanding like the breath expands the chest,
Filling with what is true,
What is you,
And also drawing you deeper inward,
Deeper into the space that feels like you.
And I'll give you a few more moments to spend with this visualization,
Picturing that space being filled with whatever feels good for you,
Taking the breath in again.
As you begin to transition yourself back into the space around you,
Feeling the expanding space within and the energy of the room that you're in,
The sensations of the air on your skin,
And all that energy,
All the things you're experiencing.
And before we go,
Spending another moment to acknowledge ourselves and offer gratitude.
Gratitude for taking this time and dedicating space to the practice.
If you feel like you need a little more time to explore on your own,
You can.
But if you're ready to begin again,
Take the breath in and invite in some gentle movements and let it out.
And when you're ready,
Opening your eyes.
Thank you,
As always,
For taking the time to spend with me today.
I appreciate you and your dedication.
I hope to see you again soon.
Bye for now.
