This space,
Right here,
Right now,
Is for accessing your grief.
We're going to do so in a very intentional way,
In a very gentle,
Loving way,
So that you know it's safe to do.
So make sure you take care of anything that your body needs.
Make sure that you find yourself in a comfortable place.
If possible,
Free from distraction.
You can bring your body to rest in a seated position,
With your feet on the floor.
Or it's okay if it feels better to you to lie down.
The only thing that we need access to are our imaginations.
This is a portal where you can welcome in the feeling of grief.
This particular grief is likely around a lost loved one.
Before we start to imagine anything at all,
Simply come to the present with your body.
Tune in to where your body touches the surface that you're on.
You can notice,
Without judgment,
Whether the surface feels warm,
Cool,
Hard,
Or soft.
Go ahead and make any adjustments you feel are needed,
So that you can be fully present with what we're doing here.
Become aware of your breath,
As it flows in and out of your body.
I'm not going to ask you to change it,
Unless it's something that you feel you need to do.
If you notice that your breathing feels tight,
Maybe you deepen it more into your belly.
You get to experiment here.
You are the one in your body,
And you get to decide what feels good.
After you fully allowed yourself to arrive in the present moment,
Right here,
Right now,
Remind yourself that there's nothing else to do other than listen to my voice,
And allow the images that are coming up for you to simply be.
I'm going to make suggestions about a journey we can follow,
But if something seems different to you,
That's okay.
Again,
You have full permission to follow the trail that feels right to you.
So in your settled position,
Go ahead and start to imagine that you can see a sparkling path,
Flat stones are making a trail leading to the edge of a wooded area,
To the edge of a forest.
The stones are sparkly and shimmery,
And they invite you on.
You follow the path with a sense of certainty,
Knowing that there's value in saying hello to your grief.
You know that even though it doesn't always feel comfortable,
It rarely does,
There's value in knowing it's there,
In not pretending that it's not there.
So you follow the path as it winds gently closer and closer to the edge of the wooded area.
There's a bit of sunshine cutting through the clouds,
Casting some golden rays down on the meadow in front of you.
You notice that there's a clearing.
And in the clearing,
A golden ray of sunshine is highlighting a specific spot.
It beckons you to come closer with warmth.
Again,
You feel that certainty.
You know that it's time to just say hello to the feelings you've been carrying.
As you get closer,
You notice that there's a sparkling shimmering circle of stones.
And you look closer,
Because as you notice,
It spirals downward into the earth,
Clearing a pathway that feels both safe and important,
Even though it can be hard.
Allowing all of these truths to be there at the same time,
You take a step.
And before you travel around this spiral that curls gently down and down into the earth,
You take a moment to think about your lost loved one.
You take a piece of golden cloth,
A cloak made from their love,
And you drape it around your shoulders,
As this will keep you warm as you navigate this path.
Before you start walking,
You welcome it all in.
You welcome the fear.
You say hello to the deep aching sadness.
You say hello to any regret that might be present.
You witness the presence of a happy memory,
Or maybe a memory that's more fraught with more difficult emotions.
All of that is allowed to be present here.
You realize as you start to walk forward,
That this is a well of sorts.
A grief well,
Where you can travel down and spend time,
While at the same time having the ability to resurface,
To come back out.
So you slowly,
Meditatively place one foot in front of the other.
Because this isn't about rushing.
This is about witnessing and holding.
So you travel.
And you let those memories flood over you.
You let the regret twinge in your body.
You don't hold on to it,
For it simply washes through.
This well isn't like some other wells,
It's not filled with water.
It's warm and dry.
You are in complete control over how deep you go.
Notice today,
How far you'd like to travel.
There are days where it might feel ideal to go all the way or most the way down.
Where you can have a lantern as your companion.
To show you the way.
To light your path.
There might be even times where you prefer to sit in darkness.
And that's okay too.
Allow yourself to travel down the well.
Around and around on this certain supported pathway.
To the point that feels good for today.
And when you get there,
Wherever that point is.
Allow yourself to pause.
And to press your back against the side of the well.
Lined with round stones that have seen so much of life.
They've seen so much from before you even existed.
And they will continue to see so much after you've existed as well.
Lean into these.
Let them hold you.
You can imagine yourself standing against them and leaning.
Or perhaps it feels even better to sit and lean.
Let these warm stones hold you.
You're safe in your experience of grief.
Whoever this person was to you.
You're allowed to miss them.
You're allowed to be impacted by this loss.
Imagine that there's a pink sphere glowing out in front of you.
About the size of your hand or so.
Imagine that you can reach out.
And pull it into your chest space.
As an expression of self-love and appreciation.
Self-respect.
Letting yourself see your whole experience.
It's important to know that you can come to this space.
And it's important to know that you're able to leave it as well.
The times that you spend here won't be as frequent over time.
But you're allowed to come.
And that's okay.
At some point it feels time to look up.
And you see that there's an absolutely beautiful sparkle of sunlight just peeking through the opening to the well.
And you decide that yes,
It's time to visit the living.
It's time to head back for now.
And so you gently begin your ascent.
One step at a time.
Gently.
Feeling the most perfect weight of that golden cloak over your shoulders.
Allowing its presence to help you feel grounded.
And sure.
You step up and up.
Winding upward.
Steadily rising.
Until before you know it,
You've reached the surface.
Once again you're able to see the meadow before you.
The trees on one side.
The shimmering path of stones that led you here.
And it's up to you whether you decide to keep wearing this golden cloak.
Or if you'd like to place it perhaps on a hook by the well to return to at a later time.
See what feels right for you.
There's nothing that's right or wrong.
Only your choice.
Remember that self compassion and respect that you're carrying in your heart space.
Take that with you.
Allow it to offer you validation.
And warmth.
Until the next time.
