Settle yourself down.
You may want to close your eyes.
Sit down or lie down,
Whatever is safe and comfortable for you.
Start to slow and deepen your breathing.
Notice how deep or shallow,
Slow or fast it is when we start.
And just constantly and consciously slow down the pace.
Turn down the rhythm.
Pull the air in deeper and exhale evenly,
Slowing down.
Coming into this moment of meditation and visualization.
Noticing the air on your skin.
Noting the tone of your muscles.
The mobility of your joints.
The solidity of your bones.
The power of your organs drawing in with your mind and your breath.
Like a mother bird on its eggs,
We each care for things that are small and precious.
We worry,
We fret,
We nurture,
We love.
Draw to mind something precious and innocent in your life.
A pet,
A book,
A child,
An heirloom,
Small and precious.
Continuing to breathe.
Deep inhale,
Slow exhale.
Drawing in with your mind's eye.
When you think of this small and precious object or person,
Even if it's just in a memory,
What do you feel?
Joy,
Concern,
Empathy,
Satisfaction?
Connection?
Continuing to breathe.
Noticing this defenseless and precious thing.
Where do you feel those feelings?
Perhaps delight in your face?
Concern in your heart?
Vigor in your back?
Where do you connect?
What do you do to safeguard the identity of this precious thing?
Or person?
How do you watch over it?
And how do you feel when you do?
Like a mother bird on its nest?
Return to your breathing as you do.
Notice where you are.
Be in this moment of reflection.
As you breathe deeper.
Is there a limit to what you can do or even should do for this precious item?
And what's more,
How does that make you feel?
Maybe that brings up anxiety.
If so,
Just follow your breath back to a calm place.
Continuing to go inward with your mind's eye.
Mind's eye.
Eventually,
Just like eggs to hatchlings to fledglings,
We see that precious things aren't ours.
We just watch over them for a little while.
Look carefully and kindly and generously at this person or thing that you love.
Can you let it go to safeguard itself?
Just a little.
Breathing.
Letting go.
Breathing.
And letting go.
Breathing and letting go.
Blessings.
