Welcome to your sunset meditation to release stress,
Overthinking and anxiety,
And to welcome calm,
Peace and serenity.
This sunset meditation invites you to discover a moment of peace and bliss at the end of your day.
It provides an opportunity to appreciate your journey thus far,
While contemplating the path that lies ahead of you.
Let's begin.
Find a comfortable place where you can relax for a while and make sure you won't get disturbed.
You may wish to sit on a chair or on the ground,
Whichever feels most supportive for you.
With your next exhale,
Gently let your eyes close and guide your awareness to your breath.
Let's take five breaths in and out through your nose,
Observing the rise and fall of your belly and the gentle expansion and contraction of your lungs.
Inhaling deeply and exhaling fully.
Inhaling deeply and exhaling fully.
Inhaling deeply and exhaling fully.
Inhaling deeply and exhaling fully.
One last time,
Let's inhale deeply and exhale fully.
Keeping this gentle,
Natural rhythm of your breath,
Allow yourself to see yourself in a safe and comfortable outdoor space.
Or perhaps imagine yourself seated in front of a large window.
It's a little before sunset and you're facing in the direction of the setting sun.
Look out over the sky.
Take in all there is to see and gradually lower your eyes to the horizon.
Notice the clouds in the sky and notice if you see or hear any birds calling.
Notice the temperature of the air around you and feel a comfortable warmth.
Feel the surface beneath you,
Supporting you.
For the next nine breaths,
Watch your thoughts like clouds in the sky.
Notice each time a thought arises,
It floats into your view.
Acknowledge each thought and as you exhale,
Release that thought and let it gently drift out of the clear blue sky that is your mind.
Now wherever you are,
Gently let go of this technique.
Let's take a deep breath in and a long breath out.
Gently guide your focus to this present moment,
To this beginning sunset in front of you and to this serene space you have created within yourself.
Begin to notice the colors you see in the sky.
Picture the horizon and the sun gradually descending beneath it.
Feel that any stress,
Overthinking,
Anxiety,
Tiredness or discomfort in your body is reflected in the colors of this sky.
The warmer and brighter these colors are,
The hues of bright red or fiery orange,
The more intense you feel them within yourself.
See and feel these within yourself.
As you notice the sun begin to set,
Allow your breath to flow fluidly in and out as you notice these warm hues of red,
Orange,
Peach,
Even yellow,
Begin to gently fade into darker,
Cooler,
Calmer tones of magenta,
Violet and dark blue.
Let every exhale be a letting go as the horizon shifts and morphs,
Changing color.
Observe how these colors gracefully merge with the deepening blues and purples of the evening sky.
As the sky begins to change color,
Feel any lingering stress,
Worry,
Tiredness or discomfort slowly descend,
Dissipate and gradually disappear with the setting sun.
Take a moment to reflect on how your day has been like these colors.
Moments emerged,
Influenced by the moments from before,
And they faded as they transformed into the subsequent moments.
Some moments might be filled with joy,
Triumphs,
Other moments might be mundane.
Some moments might be spent witnessing and anticipating what lies ahead,
While other moments may have brought pain,
Challenges or suffering.
In these moments,
You might have glimpsed the person you aspire to be,
You might have been that person,
While at other times,
You may have recognized areas where growth is needed.
And all these moments,
They came,
They lingered and they departed.
Know that this moment too is temporary and will soon give way to something new.
The sun will set,
Night will arrive,
And in due time,
A new day will dawn.
Let's take a deep inhale and a long exhale,
And as you breathe out,
Allow yourself to feel peace.
Peace knowing that no matter how challenging,
Joyful,
Boring or exciting this day was,
It is now ending.
The evening is still ahead and tomorrow will be here soon.
Knowing that where you are today does not determine where you will be tomorrow.
Knowing that who you are today does not determine who you will be tomorrow.
Knowing that you can bring this feeling of peace,
Of bliss,
With you into each new day.
See that the sun has now set and the horizon is now a dark,
Deep blue.
Watch the stars twinkle in the sky and notice the clouds drifting in and out of the dark night sky.
Feel the peace that is at the core and the center of your being.
You are welcome to stay here as long as you wish,
Enjoying the peace,
Serenity and the simple bliss of your night sky.
If and when you begin to feel your practice is complete,
Let me guide you as I count down from 10 to 0 and when I reach 0,
You can slowly open your eyes.
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 Slowly open your eyes and let's take a deep breath in and a long breath out.
Gently wiggle your fingers and your toes.
Allow yourself to move and stretch in any way that feels nourishing for you.
And as you continue with the rest of your evening,
Allow yourself time to feel gratitude for this moment of peace you have gifted yourself.
Know that this choice you have made to be open and kind right now to yourself is a good one and bring this energy with you into your evening and into your next day.
