Welcome to journey nine,
To another time out,
That time we take for ourselves to be calm and quiet and be at peace.
So,
As usual,
It's a big breath in and a long slow breath out.
A deep breath in and a long slow breath out.
This time,
Allowing your eyes to close and then settling into your own natural breathing rhythm.
A deep breath in and a long slow breath out.
Imagine now,
Imagine that you are standing amongst rows of bikes.
They may be in a shop,
They may be outside.
Bikes of all shapes and colours and sizes.
Just walk amongst them and get a feeling,
A feeling until one in particular attracts your attention.
Move up close to it.
Stand next to it.
Touch it.
Describe it.
The colour,
The shape.
What type of bike?
A road bike,
A mountain bike,
Perhaps even a three wheeled bike.
Now let's choose a helmet.
There,
Just to the side.
Look at the colours,
The shape.
Put it on.
Notice how it fits you perfectly.
The colour,
The bike,
The size,
The helmet.
They are all what you need right now.
Let's wheel the bike now.
Just wheel it a little way until we come to a bike path.
It's straight and it's flat.
So with your helmet on,
Just sit on the bike.
One foot on the ground.
And one foot on the pedal.
The zoo,
The bike and the path.
Gently push off.
Feel that movement.
Safe,
Secure.
That wonderful sensation as you start to move a little faster.
Riding down the flat,
Straight path.
The pedals under your feet going round and round.
The handlebars under your hands easily steered.
And now the path starts to curve just slightly.
And you get that sense of movement from side to side.
And hills start to appear and we can go up and then down a little faster.
Up,
Down,
Around.
This wonderful sense of freedom.
The landscape which may change as the path becomes more undulating.
Become aware of the sky as you increase your speed.
Faster and faster.
Quite safe.
The landscape becomes a blur.
And there's just you and the bike and the pedals and the handlebars and the sky.
Almost as if you are flying.
The sense of speed diminishes.
And it's as if you are suspended in the time and space of things.
And ahead now are crossroads.
So let's gradually slow down.
Gently apply the brake until you come to a standstill at the crossroads.
Time to take a break.
This is a most beautiful spot.
Dismount and survey the landscape.
There may be trees.
There may be water.
There may be stretches of grass.
Find a spot where you can sit and rest a while.
Make yourself comfortable.
Make sure the bike is safely propped.
And lean back and look up at the sky.
Let's think of choices.
We have a choice to make here at the crossroad.
We have choices every day.
Our attitudes.
Our responses.
As you're lying there calmly looking up at the sky.
Take time to consider.
Choices.
I choose.
I choose to become still like the surface of a calm lake.
Perfectly reflecting everything about me.
From this place of peace and calmness and clarity.
I can choose to respond and not react.
I choose to consciously make choices that support and nurture me and others.
To ensure that all is in balance and harmony.
I choose to be responsible for all of my thoughts,
Words,
Actions and deeds.
To ensure that the energy emanating from me is full of positivity,
Empathy and compassion.
I choose to see each situation with an unbiased perspective.
Not just from my position and point of view.
Like a bird flying high in the sky.
I see the whole picture and the relationship between all the parts.
I choose to listen carefully to all points of view.
To interspace the periods of noise with moments of silence.
Like the wind whispering across the land.
I pause and create pockets of stillness.
Allowing the lands and the seas to settle in peace.
I choose to sharpen my sensitivity.
To be more aware.
To realise that others too may be experiencing life's difficulties.
I choose to maintain warm,
Friendly and loving relationships with all I am with.
I choose to be flexible and adaptive when difficulties and obstructions arise.
Like a mountain stream I flow easily over and around the rocks and boulders in my path.
I choose to look for the good in my life and count my blessings for all that I have.
I give praise and thanks for the magic of life.
I choose to smile as I move into all the moments of my day.
Time now to choose.
Which path to take.
So let's get back on our bikes.
There is a path to the left and to the right.
And a path that goes straight ahead.
Every day it's our choices that create the paths of our future.
So take your path now as you mount your bike.
Think about it.
Start to pedal safe,
Secure,
Confident.
And as you ride now you realise that we are being joined by other cyclists.
Riding into the future.
All colours,
All shapes,
All sizes.
The whole spectrum joined as one.
Faster and faster as the colours merge and blend.
Into white.
Into the air.
Into the white light.
Peace.
Lightness.
Calm.
Gather that around you now.
The sense of togetherness.
The sense of peace and stillness and clarity.
As you carefully slow down and bring yourself back to where you started from.
Replace your bike where it belongs and your helmet.
And make your way back now.
Back to your place in your time and your space.
Ready to move into your day or night or morning or afternoon.
And I hope to see you next time for Journey 10.
