Welcome to this practice on moving into stillness.
This exercise is inspired by excerpts drawn from an interview by Dr.
Jim Dreever with the founder of Freedom Yoga,
Eric Shiffman.
This gem has brought me profound joy and solace and I hope it may do the same for you.
Start by aligning your body.
You can be seated or lying down in a comfortable position.
If you are seated,
Allow your feet to come hip distance apart and let all of your toes connect with the ground.
Allow your arms to float to rest by the sides of your body.
If you are lying down,
Feel free to use any cushions,
Pillows or other forms of support to ensure you feel comfortable and held.
You may wish to half or fully close your eyes if that feels good for you.
If you prefer to keep your eyes open,
Then allow a soft gaze but draw your awareness inwards.
Allow yourself to become still by relaxing into yourself.
Do so by drawing awareness to your breath.
Exhale to yield and soften.
Feel as heavy as water flowing down towards the ocean,
Towards the sea.
Inhale feeling light as if you are cloud floating weightlessly upwards towards the heavens,
Towards the sky.
Exhale to float down feeling heavy like water down to the ocean,
Down to the sea.
Inhale feeling light like a cloud floating weightlessly upwards towards the heavens,
Towards the sky.
Continue like this for the next five breaths.
Now with your next inhale,
Visualize an ocean as far and as wide and as deep as you can imagine,
Filling the horizon all around you.
See the shades of black and blue extend beyond the horizon,
Merging with the clear blue sky.
Feel the ocean breeze gently caressing you and smell the scent of the fresh,
Airy and salty waves.
Sense the motion of the waves,
Layer upon layer,
Gently lapping.
Notice your breath and let your breath mirror this wave-like quality.
Inhaling feeling a gentle rise as if you are a tiny wave.
Exhaling feeling a soft surrender as if you are the limitless ocean.
Inhaling feeling that you are a small and specific wave.
Exhaling feeling that you are the vast and limitless ocean.
Continue like this for the next five breaths.
Now begin to invite both extremes,
Feeling that you are a small and specific wave rising and feeling that you are the vast and limitless ocean,
Yielding,
Holding.
Feel these extremes at the same time,
Simultaneously in your consciousness.
Feel your identity expand.
Realize that you are not a tiny specific wave only.
You are the entire ocean.
Embrace your ocean nature.
See the surface of the ocean sparkling in the sun.
See every glimmer,
Every sparkle like stars and constellations in the galaxy.
See the reflection of the sun on the ocean waves dazzling.
See the pure clean white start to merge and spread over the ocean's blue until all you see is a horizon as white as fresh snow.
Upon the vast white horizon,
See now a rainbow-colored spinning top.
See its seven rainbow colors red,
Orange,
Yellow,
Green,
Blue,
Indigo and violet.
Guided by an invisible hand,
The top starts spinning and for the next five breaths,
See the top spinning faster,
Faster and faster,
Picking up speed.
See all seven colors start to circle,
Mix and merge.
The top is spinning so fast it is perfectly centered,
Spinning so fast it appears motionless.
It appears completely still.
See that all seven colors have become one,
A blinding,
Piercing,
Pure white that blends into the vast white horizon.
Feel that this spinning top is you.
Sense that the stillness is at the core of your being.
Sense that you are in perfect equilibrium.
Feel the pure energy you are made of.
Feel that you are pure energy,
You are peace.
Experience yourself in this unconflicted way.
Experience the truth about what and who you are.
Let your awareness reside in the stillness and the peace of your heart.
Feel that the intent of the universe and the desires and longings of your heart are one and the same.
Let your heartfelt intention rise with the breath of your heart.
Become open to whatever guidance your heart,
Your connection with the universe has to offer.
Allow the creative force of the universe to guide you and help you make your most important decision today.
Begin now to allow your breath to become more audible.
Allow your body to move with your breath.
This practice is now complete.
You may wish to gently rise and continue with the rest of your day.
Thank you for joining me for moving into stillness.
