Reconnecting To The Past: A Visual Exercise

In this 13-minute meditation, you will be guided to a place in your past. This is an opportunity to let the subconscious speak and not let logic or "right answers" get in the way of your healing process. This exercise is commonly used in recovery communities, though it can benefit anyone at any point in their lives.

Transcript

Hello, My name is Eden and I am a meditation guide, Reiki master teacher and forever student. And today this meditation is going to transport us back into a different time that has already happened in your life. So go ahead and find a soft resting place for your body. Maybe this is seated, Maybe this is lying down. Wherever you are is perfect. Can you let it be? So go ahead and gently close the eyes down from top to bottom wherever you are and start to soften. Letting this feeling of softening start at the very top of your head and just wash down your body, Front, Back, Side to side, Through the face and all those little muscles, Through the back of the head, Down the neck, The throat, And over the shoulders, Down the arms, Through the fingertips, Down the chest, Down the back, Through the breath. That relaxation washes down over and through the hips, The low back, The pelvis, And down the legs, All the way through the toes. Imagining that relaxation melting into whatever is just beyond your feet as well. Softened, Open, Ready to receive. I'm going to ask you to visualize something personal to yourself and please know that before we begin there is no wrong answer. There can be this very human urge to second-guess ourselves in these moments and just let that go here, Letting whatever comes up be it. Be perfect without needing to pick apart the meaning or the why or the how or the huh. Is that even good enough? Just let the thing be here, Releasing anything else, Any logic that might cheapen your experience. So with that said, Just taking a moment to take a few slow, Deep breaths into the body. No rush here. And then simply, Easily, Without much effort, Starting to picture a room from your life. Again, No wrong answers, Letting whatever comes up first be perfect. A room from your life. And just let that come to you in your mind's eye. Gazing around the room, Seeing what's on the walls, Noticing the color of the walls, Noticing what furniture is in the room, Noticing any little trinkets, Just noticing whatever makes this room a place that you know. Gazing around in this place that exists in your mind, But also in your heart as you see it. Maybe noticing to where you are sitting in the room, Starting to gaze down at your feet. Are your feet bare? Do you have shoes or socks on? What are you wearing? Can you see the texture of your hands beneath you? What does your hair look like? Is there any jewelry on your body? What age do you think you are here? Whatever comes up first be perfect. Just noticing it all in fine detail as if it is all coming alive or has continued to be alive. You are just now putting your attention back on it. Noticing the color of the door, The shape, What kind of handle is on that door? Do you see the light switch in the room? All of a sudden that door gently opens and you see someone from your life at the threshold. Who is that? And calmly, Kindly, You invite them in. They come into this space with you. And first you notice what they're wearing, Starting at their feet and working your way up the body, Noticing the pants, The shirt, The outfit, The jewelry, Noticing the hair. Can you see their eye color? And you let them be here with you. And perhaps they stand in the room, Or maybe they come and sit down next to you. Letting this unfold naturally in your mind. And maybe you are looking expectantly at one another. But now you make space for them to share something that's on their mind. On their heart. What do they have to say to you right now? Let something in. Can you hear them? Holding whatever that is now. And then maybe you notice something bubbling up inside you. Something that you would like or need to say back to them. Saying it now, Maybe just in your head or out loud. Noticing how that lands in them as you offer that. And they nod. And they slowly, Softly move their way towards the threshold again. And you see them walking away. You see their back to you. You notice their outfit again, Their hair again. And then you watch them turn their shoulder back around to you to look at you once more. And they say one more thing. What is it? Breathe into that. And softly, Gently, They continue out through the threshold and close the door softly behind them. You notice again the texture of your hands, What you're wearing on your feet. You start to come back into this body that existed then and also exists right now. Thanking this space for whatever it has just offered you one way or another. And taking a few slow, Deep breaths back into the belly, Into the ribcage, Into the chest. Slowly returning back into this space, This day. Tucking your chin to chest. And whenever you are ready to rejoin today in this place as it is, You can gently blink the eyes back open.