Sela,
The ancient word for breathing,
An intonation and an incantation.
We'll say it a few times tonight over the course of this bedtime ritual.
Let the darkness descend.
Lights fade.
Muscle tone diminish.
Falling into whatever place you're resting or hopefully sleeping.
Saying goodnight to whatever was.
Letting go.
Beginning to imagine disappearing into dreams.
Sweet dreams.
And the quiet swirling around you punctuated by small periodic or irregular noises.
Hums of certain pitches.
What do you notice that goes above and beyond the silence?
Reminding you that you are alive and that there is no perfect stillness.
Just the generous vibrations of existence.
Isn't that fortunate?
You can breathe in and out with the word Sela.
When you're ready,
Your eyes can close.
Your skin can lose its tone and your muscles let go.
Softening.
Deepening into couch and bed and earth and all gravity.
Resisting nothing.
Expending as little energy as you can.
Maybe a yawn or a shiver of sleepiness passes through you.
You settle even deeper.
Just breathing.
Your heart's going but most systems are going dormant.
Turning down their energy and volume for the night.
Feel it all slowing down.
Slowing down.
Less heavy.
More distant.
Letting go of what was and what will be.
Just coming into the now with acceptance that your brain is going to putter around.
Even when you meditate.
Even when you sleep.
Neurons come and go.
Just the same way in every waking day.
There are things that hurt our feelings and our bodies and try our will.
People bump into us literally,
Figuratively,
Intentionally,
Or by accident.
We jostle each other in this small space.
Can you forgive?
Let go of any rudeness that occurred.
Let go of any rudeness that occurred.
Likewise,
You probably hurt someone.
Told a lie.
Made a mistake.
Bumped into someone in a hallway.
Insulted someone's cooking.
Most of the time without even being aware.
Whether you're ready or not,
You might consider the possibility of asking forgiveness.
That'd be interesting.
May it all be accepted.
The light dims.
Your eyes and vision retreat.
Your mind prepares for the world of dreams.
Sweet,
Kind,
Affirming dreams.
Send a kind word to yourself that might inculcate a certain kind of beautiful dream.
You are kind.
You are good.
You are the greatest you there ever was.
You are enough.
And you are part of the oneness,
The coherence of all that lives and exists.
Everything created came from a single instance,
The uniqueness.
You flow in and with that unity.
You are blessed.
And from that awareness of the complex unity of all living things,
Send out threads of love and devotion across the whole web.
Faithful,
Loving kindness sending at each moment.
And you are settled and protected,
Complete and sheltered.
Gathered up by eagles,
Surrounded by powerful shields.
You can rest without any concern.
You're lifted up.
Your feet are cushioned.
Nothing harms you.
You can lie down in peace,
Knowing that you will knowing that you will awake in peace,
Wholeness,
Tranquility,
Harmony,
And completeness.
You can go out from consciousness with the certainty that you can return when the time comes.
Giving your spirit over to a universe that can convey you into dreams and deeper mysteries.
There are great and good forces that looked over those who preceded you.
There are great and good forces guiding you now.
And such great and good forces will look after those who come after us.
And the universe gives you blessing and comfort.
Accept it as you breathe.
The universe shines upon you with grace.
As you move towards sleep,
Accept that grace.
And the universe looks towards you expectantly with peace.
And you are gathered up by great and good forces.
On your right side,
A great force responsible for questions with which you can deposit all of your concerns and doubts.
On your left side,
A great and good force responsible for force with which you can deposit all of your striving and effort.
Just past your bed,
A great and good force carrying light,
A night light,
A candle to watch over you.
And behind you,
The healer,
The great good force that can tend to your body and spirit and all of its aches and pains while you sleep,
Healing you in sleep and dreams.
And above you,
A swirling and glorious,
Mysterious presence with you through the journey.
Take a few moments to fidget,
Shift,
Squirm,
Get any last tension out of your body.
Breathe and exhale on cella and float off into the caring universe that carries you on and on without end,
Entrusted and awesome,
Holding you in the palm of a loving world.
You have nothing to fear.
