Fall into this moment,
Let it wrap you up like a blanket.
You are everywhere you need to be,
Right now.
What was is gone,
And what will be is just a dream.
You are.
Notice the quiet all around you,
Not totally silent but perturbed by crickets and breezes,
Household noises,
And so many others.
And your stillness,
Never completely stone,
Vibrating and fidgeting in glorious aliveness,
Coming into a time of meditation,
Rest,
And eventual sleep,
Time just for you.
Breathing in and out,
In a little deeper,
Out a little slower,
Maybe even yawning and breathing even deeper,
Out slower.
You could even use the ancient breathing word SELA as you exhale,
And likely you can feel gravity on you,
Pulling you into your bed,
Couch,
Or chair and downward with the earth like a hug,
Supporting you perfectly,
Completely,
Slowing down,
Just slowing down.
There's no doing this perfectly.
Meditation is by its nature haphazard and random and chaotic.
You can't not think or turn into a frozen lake.
You can only be patiently and generously aware of the constant workings of your mind and body in a world that is spinning.
Be grateful for time to sit still or lie down,
Perhaps with your eyes closed,
Resting.
Give yourself a big hug.
Give yourself an embrace with internal dialogue.
Say something loving and lovely to yourself.
You are the greatest you there ever was.
Good start there.
Slowing down,
Letting the energy and the effort of the day just drip and fall out of you.
Collapse,
Don't resist,
Fall in to rest,
Relaxation,
And sometime sleep.
In the course of living,
Inevitably we hurt each other,
And certainly someone has injured your body or your feelings.
Something sour happens in a day.
Maybe you could forgive.
Maybe you're not ready.
Why don't you just forgive for now so that you can sleep?
That would be a good practice.
Letting go,
Just letting go,
And then knowing that you've been hurt,
You can guess you probably hurt someone else.
We say dumb things,
We bump into people,
We take more than our share of the pizza.
Whatever it might be,
We are clumsy,
It's okay.
Maybe you're ready to ask forgiveness,
Maybe not.
Maybe you can just thumb it over,
Chew on it,
Contemplate the possibility of asking.
It's okay.
And in all of this soothing time,
Maybe you're sensing the lights fade,
Your eyelids get heavy,
Pupils feel dim,
You're getting ready for bed and sleep,
And even dreams which are mysterious,
Exciting,
Or fearful.
Tonight you'll have good dreams.
Your eyes get heavy and close when they're ready,
When you're ready.
In this moment,
Maybe you sense that there is a deeper reality,
And we are all connected to it,
That the universe comes from a singular point,
A holy origin,
And everything spreads out from a united and unitary source.
I can fill you with awe,
And joy,
And love,
And a faithful tranquility.
You can feel it now,
Before bed,
When you wake up,
And walk,
And read,
And listen.
Know that we are all one,
And you,
You are sheltered,
Protected,
And cared for,
So deeply loved,
Lifted up on wings higher,
Shielded by great armor,
Protected by loving hands.
Take it all in,
Breathe for that,
And again you could exhale with the breath word.
You lie down in wholeness and security,
Safe and loved,
And you will wake up with wholeness and peace,
Nothing can harm you tonight,
Going out of this waking time,
And eventually coming back in to waking time,
Complete,
Whole,
And at peace.
And it all goes on,
And on,
Without end,
Giving birth to everything.
Great and good forces watched those who preceded us,
Our ancestors,
Great and good forces look over you,
And great and good forces will continue to watch all who come next.
The universe gives you blessing and protection,
Take that in.
The universe lights you up with grace,
Take it all in.
The universe looks expectantly toward you,
To offer you peace.
And if at any time during this meditation,
Or beyond,
Thoughts come up,
Just know that that's your brain working,
Being healthy,
Doing what it does.
You don't need to be afraid of thoughts,
You can't get rid of them while you're living.
You can welcome them,
And let them go,
And not hold on tightly to any particular one.
There are great and good forces all around you when you sleep,
Taking on the loads and responsibilities of daily life,
So that you can rest.
When we're awake,
We have doubts,
Questions,
Concerns,
Bafflements.
And as we sleep,
On our right side waits the great and good force to hold all of our questions.
During the day,
We play sports,
We lift heavy things,
We hike,
We cook and clean and do our work.
So much vigor,
Relentless energy,
At night,
You can let it all go.
On your left side,
The great and good force responsible for strength.
Just before you,
Another force holding a night light to watch over you.
As you sleep,
And behind you,
Perhaps,
Cradling your head,
Massaging your scalp.
A force giving you healing.
Above it all,
A dreamlike,
Glorious,
Majestic presence looking out for you as you sleep.
Maybe you need to fidget one more time,
Stretch,
Adjust,
Scratch,
Whatever you need,
Just shake it out.
Breathe in,
And then say,
It goes on,
You are a part of it all,
No beginning,
No middle,
No end.
Worlds without number,
And you are held in the palm of it all,
With no fear.
