Welcome to the path meditation.
Close your eyes if that feels okay for you,
Or soften and lower your gaze.
Then find a comfortable sitting posture.
Gently roll your shoulders back and open your chest.
Then take some nice deep breaths.
In through your nose,
Out through your mouth.
On the in breath,
Know that you're breathing in.
On the out breath,
Know that you're breathing out.
Keep breathing.
Now in your mind's eye,
Imagine yourself at the base of a path.
This may be a path you know well,
Or an imaginary path.
Either is fine.
Stand at the base of this path,
And knowing you'd like to go on a journey alone,
See if any of your parts feel uncomfortable about that.
You'll know if they do because you'll feel some kind of trailhead,
Like tension in your chest or stomach,
Muscles in your shoulders tightening,
Feeling anxious,
Restless,
Nervous or agitated.
If you feel any of these trailheads and so know your parts are worried about you taking this journey,
Visualize them standing there with you on the path.
Ask them what they're worried about and listen to their concerns.
Reassure them that you won't be gone long and that this will be good for them too.
If you can,
Get the parts who feel fine about it to look after the ones who are worried or scared.
If you can,
Get the parts who feel fine about it to look after the ones who are worried or scared.
If you can,
Get the parts who feel fine about it to look after the ones who are worried or scared.
And if they really don't want you to go,
That's absolutely fine.
Just spend this time with them,
Hearing their fears and worries,
And understanding why this is so difficult for them.
But if they will let you go,
Thank them and set off down your path.
As you're walking,
Look around you,
To your left and right,
Above you,
Off into the distance up ahead.
What do you see?
Take in the details of this scene as vividly as possible.
Use all of your senses to fully immerse yourself in this journey,
Smelling the air,
Feeling the breeze on your face and sun on your skin,
Whatever you're imagining as you walk along the path.
As you walk,
Check whether you see yourself walking,
Or are just looking out through your eyes at the scene around you.
If you can see yourself,
That's not you,
It's a part.
So gently but firmly ask the part to let you take this journey by yourself,
And go wait for you at the base of the path.
From time to time also check whether you're thinking anything.
Again,
If you are,
That's probably a part that's a bit thinky or distracting.
And if you do notice that,
Ask them to go back to the base too.
Keep walking.
After a while you may find yourself in a flow state,
Completely absorbed in the act of walking along your path.
If so,
That's great.
Carry on walking.
And as you walk,
You might also notice a vibrating energy running through your body.
This might be quite strong,
Or very subtle,
Or not there at all,
Which is fine.
But if you do sense this energy,
However strongly,
Take the opportunity to ask it whether it has any guidance for you in your life.
And if you get an answer,
Spend some time listening to what this energy has to say.
When you're done listening,
There's no rush,
But whenever you're ready,
Just turn around and walk back to the base.
And when you get there,
Greet your parts and thank them for waiting for you if they let you go,
Or sharing their concerns if they didn't.
If they did let you go on a journey,
Ask how it was for them.
Did they learn anything?
Was it as they expected or were they surprised?
Did any of their fears materialise or not?
And if they did let you go,
See whether they might trust you to have more experiences on your own like this,
Understanding that you'll always come back for them when you're done.
Then do whatever you need to finish that up.
And when you're ready,
Bring your attention back to the weight of your body resting on the chair,
The feel of your breath moving in and out of your body.
Then slowly open your eyes and re-engage with your daily activities,
Carrying whatever you just learned into the rest of your day.
