Welcome back to Time Out,
Journey 10.
This special time together where we can find a place of peace and quiet and enjoyment.
So let's start as usual with a deep breath in and a long slow breath out.
Just relax,
A deep breath in and a long slow breath out.
Just sinking down.
This time close your eyes as we take a deep breath in and a long slow breath out.
Picture in your mind's eye now that you are like a bird high in the sky looking down on the landscape.
Houses,
Roads,
Parklands.
And it's the parklands I'd like you to look at.
There in the distance a beautiful area of open parkland.
Trees,
Grass,
Pathways.
And as we drift in closer a playground.
Drifting closer now.
Closer to the playground.
And you can see there's a slide and a seesaw and some swings as we drift down.
Down.
And land gently beside the slide.
It may be a slide you know from your childhood.
A bright,
Colourful,
Creative slide.
This is your slide.
Let's climb the steps now up to the top.
Each step takes you away from all stress and worries and brings you closer to that lightness that we often feel as a child.
One step at a time.
Up.
Up.
To the top.
And looking down now as you sit there at the top ready to go.
The slide is much longer than you thought.
A beautiful curve downwards.
Are you ready?
Gently push off.
And as you gather momentum you feel that sense of freedom as your worries,
Your cares,
Your disasters.
Everything you want to leave behind flows out from you.
Your hair in the breeze.
That beautiful sense of freedom as we move faster and faster.
A slight curve longer,
Faster.
And now slowing.
Slowing.
Until you carefully,
Gently come to a stop at the end.
And you stand up feeling a little freer.
A little more relaxed.
A little more playful.
Let's make our way now across the playground to the seesaw.
Maybe plastic,
Maybe wooden or some other structure.
Two ends that go up and down.
And you'll find at the other end of the seesaw a friend.
Someone to share the seesaw with you.
It may surprise you who is there waiting for you.
Carefully now.
Let the seesaw down for your friend to sit on.
And they will gently lift it up so that you can sit on the other end.
Just push gently up and down.
That beautiful sense of balance,
Of cooperation.
You and your friend in harmony.
Up and down.
The more you work together,
The more fluid it is.
Up.
That sense of being in the air.
And down.
Lightly touching the ground.
And then just pushing off.
And down.
And then gradually easing.
Creating a perfect balance between the two of you.
And then your friend politely sets you down.
And you can dismount.
And gently let the seesaw up for them to dismount and disappear.
It's time to go to the swings now.
And they might be swings you remember.
Perhaps you didn't even like swings.
But this swing is enticing,
Inviting.
Just pulling you towards it.
Take it in.
And sit yourself comfortably,
Safely,
Securely on it.
And you feel a gentle push from behind as you pull on the swing.
Up gently.
Leaning forward.
Pulling back.
Backwards.
And forwards.
Pulling and pushing.
Higher.
And higher.
Up higher.
And higher.
Back and forth.
Going up and seeing the landscape,
The whole park,
The whole playground.
Like a bird.
The breeze in your face.
And down.
Down towards the safety of the land.
Back and forth.
That sense of having to be nowhere.
Totally free.
And then letting the swing slowly,
Slowly come back to earth.
And just leaving it there now.
And there's one more thing for us to do.
As you walk across the playground now.
You see an unusual sight.
A very old fashioned carousel.
A carousel with painted ponies.
Time to choose.
Time to choose your pony.
Maybe brightly coloured.
Maybe like a normal pony colour.
Find yours a special one that is calling to you.
Make your way onto the carousel.
And take your place on your pony.
You can hold onto the mane.
And you'll notice there are others on the carousel with you.
Each feeling relaxed and comfortable.
Part of the group but separate.
As the carousel slowly starts to turn.
Slowly going round.
And your pony slowly starts to go up and down.
A beautiful rhythmic feeling of rising and falling.
Gently up and down.
You and the pony and this sense of rhythm.
And let your mind wander now as you ride your pony on your carousel.
And let your mind see a landscape.
A natural landscape.
Perhaps the beach or the plains or the hills or the bush or even the desert.
And there's you and your pony.
A gentle rhythm of movement over the landscape.
Take it in.
The sky.
The breeze in your face.
The earth.
The plants.
That movement.
That freedom.
And now you move a little faster.
The earth,
The landscape fades behind you.
And you are riding in space.
Weightless.
In rhythm.
In harmony.
Free.
This incredible sense of freedom.
Of peace.
And space.
Gently up and down.
Beautiful rhythm.
And slowing now.
Coming back.
Back to your painted pony on your carousel.
Gently slowly.
Coming back.
To stop.
Thank you pony as you dismount.
And as you bring yourself back now.
Bring back the peace.
The space.
The freedom.
That sense of childhood wonder.
Bring that back from the pony.
The swing.
The seesaw.
And the slide.
Bring it all back with you.
Back.
Into your day or night.
Let it sustain you.
All of the time.
And I hope to see you again next time for Journey 11.
