Let's begin by finding a comfortable position,
Either sitting or lying down.
This is especially good to prepare ourselves for a sound,
Peaceful,
Comforting night's sleep.
Close your eyes and take a deep breath in through your nose,
Filling your lungs completely.
Hold it for a moment,
Then exhale slowly through your mouth.
Repeat this deep breathing a few more times,
Allowing your body to relax with each exhale.
Relax your shoulders,
Your neck,
Your head and your trunk.
Feel your connection to the ground beneath you.
Imagine roots growing from the base of your spine,
Extending deep into the earth.
These roots anchor you,
Grounding your energy and connecting you to the natural world that we share.
As you continue to breathe deeply,
Visualize now yourself standing peacefully at the edge of a lush,
Dark,
Green forest.
You're perfectly safe and perfectly peaceful.
The air is crisp and clean,
Filled with the scent of pine and earth and soil.
As you stand regarding the beauty of that forest,
You notice a narrow path leading into the trees,
Inviting you to explore.
Take a step along that path,
And another,
And another,
And with each step,
You feel more and more at peace.
More calm,
More relaxed.
The soft earth cushions your feet,
And the gentle rustle of the leaves in the breeze soothes your mind.
You can see sunlight filtering through the canopy above,
Creating a dappled pattern on the forest floor.
As you continue to walk along the path,
And as you walk deeper into the beautiful green of the forest,
You notice the path widening.
And ahead,
You see a stone wall,
Centuries old,
Covered in vibrant green moss.
Nature has reclaimed that wall decades ago,
But in the center of the wall is a thick,
Strong wooden door,
Weathered by time and wind and rain,
But still sturdy.
Touch the door and gently place your hand on its rough surface.
Feel the warmth of the wood from the day's sunlight,
As if it's welcoming you.
Gently push the door open and step inside.
To your amazement,
You find yourself inside a secret magical garden,
A hidden oasis of peace and calm and tranquility.
Look around and take in everything that the garden has to offer,
The flowers,
The moss,
The trees,
The branches,
The stone,
And as you look to your left,
You see a beautiful bench crafted from smooth,
Intertwining branches.
This bench is yours,
And it was made just for you.
It looks inviting and comfortable,
So you make your way to the bench and take a seat.
As you sit and regard the beauty of the garden,
You know now that it's time to close your eyes in the garden and just listen.
Listen to the beautiful orchestra of nature.
You hear the birds singing,
The crickets tweeting.
You hear the gentle sound of a natural stream trickling nearby.
The sound is soothing,
Washing away any remaining tension in your body from the day.
Take a deep breath in,
Savoring the fresh,
Fragrant air of this garden,
Which is especially for you.
It's your secret,
Safe,
Sacred space,
And as you sit in peaceful meditation,
Slowly open your eyes.
You begin to notice colorful flowers all around you,
More than you've ever seen.
Vibrant reds,
Soft purples,
Sunny yellows,
And delicate pinks dot the landscape.
With each breath that you take,
It seems as if new blooms are appearing,
Adding to the beauty of this natural place.
You notice that the light now begins to change as the sun slowly sets.
The sky transforms into a canvas of warm oranges,
Pinks,
And purples.
You watch as the colors shift and dance across the garden,
Casting a magical glow on the stone walls,
On the shimmering moss,
On everything around you.
And as darkness continues to fall,
Something extraordinary happens.
Out of nowhere,
Hundreds of fireflies begin to appear,
Their soft,
Pulsing light illuminating the garden in a calm,
Natural,
Warm,
And loving way.
They float gently through the air,
Creating a living,
Twinkling tapestry of light just for you.
You sit in this enchanted garden,
Surrounded by the gentle glow of fireflies.
You feel the peace and serenity of this moment wash over you,
Cleanses you,
Softens your energy from the day,
And you know that at any time you can return to this secret garden,
Your secret garden,
Whenever you need a moment of calm.
But now it's time to leave,
So take a deep breath in and as you exhale,
Begin to bring your awareness back to your physical surroundings,
Back to the bed or the chair,
Back to the room in which you sit.
Wiggle your fingers and toes,
Gently roll your shoulders,
And when you're ready,
Slowly open your eyes,
Carrying the peace of the secret garden with you,
And knowing that it is yours forever.
We give thanks for all that the garden has provided.
