First Steps

If you are looking for something a bit more surreal in your meditation, take these first steps down a long path. Don't worry about the specifics, just follow along.

Transcript

Stop.

Look around.

See how vibrant the trees are?

Beautiful,

Broad green leaves.

A rich,

Ancient forest.

Smell the air.

The fragrant loam that supports so much life.

Just breathe for a moment.

In.

Out.

Carefully,

Slowly,

Shift your foot.

Feel that soft,

Earthy soil beneath your toes.

Slightly damp,

But healthy.

Old leaves and long decomposed trees to feed the new growth.

Look down the path.

That winding,

Narrow trail.

How you lose it amongst so many trees.

A thin strip of exposed soil amongst the thick foliage.

Take that first step,

Weight shifting slowly forward.

Then another,

Feeling those tiny pebbles that have been uprooted by the trees themselves.

Feel the earth as you stride forward,

Taking in the greenery.

With each step,

You come closer to that clearing.

Remember that open space,

With the strange,

Square pool,

And the little platform in the center of the water.

Don't run as you think of this place,

But walk,

Calmly,

Even as it comes just into view.

Between the trees now,

Stare,

Just barely seeing.

There are grasses in this meadow,

But the creeping,

Thick ivy has covered far more of it.

Stop at the edge of the field.

See how,

Even after the protective wall has fallen,

The pool is still perfectly square.

Breathe for a moment.

Then step forward.

See how the pillar in the center of the pool rises just above the lip.

A perfect square within a perfect square.

Take those well-remembered paces,

Cross the little bridge.

Then settle on the platform,

Water framing you.

As you sit,

Look out over the valley,

Those rich forests teeming with life.

Breathe that clean loam,

The dying leaves,

The scent of cool water,

Just barely,

Barely noticeable.

Sit.

Notice the clouds drifting through those distant peaks.

Follow that twisting serpent up as it chases some little creature darting through the fog.

Take another slow breath.

Feel how cool the smooth stone is below you,

This ancient,

Worn spot.

As the fog lifts,

Feel the heavy,

Hot sunlight beating down on you.

In that warmth,

Both comforting and oppressive,

Slowly stand,

Feeling the sturdy stone supporting you in your effort.

Take another breath as you find your footing.

Once you're ready,

Step forward,

Swiftly and without hesitation.

Plunging through the water,

Feel how cool it is drifting all about you.

As your feet reach the bottom,

Calmly breathe,

Let the water drift through you,

Filling you.

At peace,

Slowly turn to the left and stride to the corner.

Take the turn,

Step forward,

And take the next as well.

Find that staircase,

Hidden under the bridge at the base of the pedestal.

With the water swirling about you,

Take those first few steps down.

Feel the ancient,

Worn stone.

Each step carries you through the water into the dark,

Along that winding tunnel,

Deeper.

Your feet carry you into the ancient heart of the earth.

Feel your toes break the water's sideways surface,

Gently poking into air.

As you stride down the last two steps,

Feel the water peeling off of you,

Suspended behind you as you stride into the dark.

Slowly inhale,

Air filling your lungs once more.

Breathe out.

Notice your surroundings,

The well-worn stones trailing a path amongst their jagged brethren.

Above,

The cavern is just visible,

Tiny stone spears piercing down from the gloom.

Breathe in.

As you exhale,

Let the sound of the river fill you,

That ancient,

Hidden waterway flowing through this sacred place.

Letting your eyes follow the path,

Notice that your little wooden raft is still moored,

The five candles ever lit.

Enjoy the continuation of the cool stone as you wander down this path,

Curving through the crystalline structures and earthen spires lining your way.

As you approach the flattened boulder that you use as a dock,

See how its grooves still hold your raft so well.

Carefully,

Slowly bend down,

Then kneel,

Grasping the rough-spun rope,

And pull your raft closer.

Hand over hand,

Feel the fibers scratching your palm,

Cool water trickling down your fingers as it runs out of the rope.

As the raft drifts closer,

Notice how it disturbs the water,

Gently rocking in the current.

Rise slowly,

Hold the rope tight,

And step out onto the raft,

Careful not to disturb the candles.

With one sure step,

Then another,

Place yourself in the middle of the wooden planks,

Aware of how stable the platform is.

Barely swaying,

Feel the gentle shift as you release the rope,

Current carrying you into the middle of the river.

Sit carefully,

Dead center of the raft,

Candles equal distant around you.

Facing back up the flow,

Stare up the broad river into that gaping maw of rock from which this current tumbles.

Stare into the rushing spray,

How it breaks along the jagged stones,

Until something catches your eye.

Someone has sent you a letter,

Placed there beside the candle in front of you.

Carefully pick it up,

And see that it is folded,

But not sealed.

Gingerly,

Slowly,

Unfold it,

And gaze at the thin,

Curving handwriting,

Taking in every word.

Both read what it says,

And notice the artistry in the script itself.

Take note of all the little nuances,

The meanings between the lines,

And then take a deep breath.

Someone knows you very well.

Carefully,

Dip the letter into the candle's wick and watch it burn,

Flames licking up the fragile parchment.

See how it almost reaches your fingers before you let it go.

Catching the breeze of the river,

Watch the ash drift out over the water and breathe in the cool,

Damp air.

This has been First Steps of the Fatal Neutrinos and a Blue Path Meditation.

This one was fairly tame,

But expect them to get weird.

Thank you for listening.

I hope your day is better,

Or at least a little more surreal for it.

This is Easton,

And remember,

I'm as much a work of fiction as anything you hear.

Reviews

Yes! YES! This is the kind of thing I've been looking for! I've got some Nightvale/419/very light Silent Hill kinds of vibes, which is good. Most guided meditations I've heard are very "self-help-y", which I feel misses the point. This... well, this is turning into an essay, not a review. Thank you for putting these up here. Hopefully I can figure out which order to listen in.

Nothing scary so far...

I enjoyed these first steps and am looking forward to exploring your meditations further. It is so healthy to explore the dark...there's a certain strength to it. Thank you for creating and sharing this well-planned meditation!

Surreal alright!

Outstanding! Some parts were places and events from my own reality and experience, but those were followed by twists and turns. Very enjoyable. Looking forward to more in this series. 😊 Thank you for sharing this with me and the world! ❤️🤲❤️

If I could give this more than 5 stars, I would. Thank you! Perfect for a Full Moon in Pisces! Hope you record more.

Yep, been there before ;-) tnx

Rather strange but nonetheless engaging.

Beautiful images. A bit hard being not a native English speaker. Is there more like this?

Interesting meditation!

A beautiful rehearsal for what it might be like to die peacefully.

Appreciate the time creating this meditation. The soothing visualizations aroused my senses. The words were beautifully descriptive.