A warm welcome to you.
I'm curious,
Do you ever get to the end of the day and feel like somehow your day became hijacked,
That you spent too much time reacting to situations and not enough time with the people you love or doing the things that light you up?
And does this leave you feeling disappointed,
Uneasy or with a quiet rumbling deep inside that the balance isn't quite right?
Quietening the external noise and spending time in meditation connecting with what is deeply important to you can help you to feel more inspired and motivated to live each day with a greater sense of direction and meaning.
During today's practice together,
We shall get back on track by igniting a fire within that allows you to connect with what is important to you right now.
So let's begin by settling into a comfortable position.
And as you close down your eyes,
Letting the landscape of your awareness turn inwards to the gentle rhythm of your breath.
No need to alter your breath in any way,
Just resting in a sense of curiosity and acceptance.
Air flowing in,
Air flowing out,
Air flowing out,
Chest rising,
Chest falling,
Chest rising,
Chest falling,
Stomach filling,
Stomach emptying.
Noticing now that your body breathes on its own,
That you are being breathed,
That you are being filled with the air,
That you are being filled with the air,
Noticing now that your body breathes on its own,
That you are being breathed.
Surrendering into this idea of being breathed a little more now.
So surrendering into the intelligence of your body,
Into its deep sense of knowing.
So coming home to your wise self.
So focusing now on your exhale,
Allowing it to be long and smooth.
Perhaps you can hear its gentle force as it leaves your mouth.
This breath of relaxation is noticing now any natural desire to soften across your eyes,
Your cheeks,
Your jaw,
Noticing any natural sense of letting go across your shoulders,
Your chest,
Your stomach,
Your stomach,
Sinking a little deeper into the surface that supports you now.
So letting go of any sense of holding on,
No matter how subtle.
So noticing how as you let go the ground rises up to meet you,
You are being held.
Drawing your awareness now to your chest and directing a few deep intentional breaths into your chest,
Perhaps to your heart or to the space between your breasts.
Imagining that deep within your chest is a flame.
With each breath this flame is growing a little brighter,
A little stronger.
Perhaps you see it as an actual flame,
Maybe it feels more like a sense of warmth or connection,
Perhaps it feels like a colour or a sensation.
No right or wrong here,
Just trusting in whatever way this flame presents itself to you today.
With each breath this flame within is growing stronger,
It's filling you with a sense of warmth,
Energy and connection.
Feeling its warmth,
Its presence growing deep within.
This flame represents the aspects of your life that are deeply important to you.
With each breath these are growing stronger within you.
If this flame could speak what words would it offer you?
What would it tell you about what is important to you right now?
Listening for any words,
Sensations,
Images or emotions.
Trusting yourself in this process.
With the aid of your breath connecting with whatever has emerged for you,
Connecting with what is deeply important to you.
Breathing this in,
Breathing this out.
And so I ask you warm heartedly,
What small acts can you commit to each day to bring this flame to life?
Taking a nice deep breath into this commitment.
I'm curious,
Is there something you need to let go of to make space for this flame?
Perhaps an expectation you hold for yourself,
Those you love or your life.
Perhaps you need to let go of a past hurt.
As you exhale,
Letting go.
Resting here in any felt sense of freedom or lightness that has emerged.
Beginning to deepen your breath.
Offering your body any gentle movements it desires.
When you are ready,
Opening your eyes to the space you are in.
May you walk through your days with a greater sense of what is important to you and the courage to bring this to life.