Today I'll guide you through a winter meditation to empower you to welcome warmth and wonder by weaving your most precious memories and moments.
Before we begin,
Please find a comfortable place to sit where you feel neither too warm nor too cold.
You may wish to prepare a cushion,
Blanket or whatever makes you feel supported.
Come into a comfortable seated position on the ground,
A chair or in whatever shape feels supportive for you.
And if it feels good for you,
Let your eyes half or fully closed.
If you prefer to keep your eyes open,
Hold a soft gaze at a point in front of you and guide your awareness inwards to your breath.
Begin by noticing the rise and fall of your breath.
Inhaling,
Feel your heart expand.
Exhaling,
Feel your lungs embrace your heart.
Inhaling,
Feel your heart expand even further.
Exhaling,
Feel your lungs embrace your heart even more.
Inhaling,
Feel your heart expand fully.
Exhaling,
Feel your lungs embrace your heart completely.
As you continue to observe the rise and fall of your breath,
Bring to mind and to heart the last time you were outside and felt a bit of chill in the air.
The warmth of summer had left,
Taking the comfort of autumn with it.
And in its place,
You can feel a crisp coldness in the air.
Remember the way it felt,
The way the cold caressed your skin,
And how you could taste the iciness of winter in the back of your throat.
You feel the hush of the world,
After a fresh snowfall.
You watch the snow falling,
Sparkling in the sun,
Slowly,
Gently,
Silently,
Seamlessly layering itself over the earth.
Like a pure white blanket,
Watch as the snow covers the ground,
Soothing the earth beneath it.
You feel how the snow invites a permeating sense of stillness.
Acknowledge and welcome its presence.
Allow the stillness to permeate your body,
Your consciousness,
Your being.
As you sense the stillness of the snow,
Guide your awareness to your body.
On your body,
Feel the weight of your clothing.
Perhaps your winter is mild,
Only requiring a light layer to stave off some of the day's bitterness.
Or,
Perhaps your winter is a blizzard,
And your sweater is one layer among the many required to keep you warm.
Imagine the kind of sweater you need right now,
Starting with how thick and solid your layer is.
As you see and feel it in your mind,
Feel the weight of the fabric on your shoulders,
The way it wraps around you,
Embracing and holding you.
You can make it any fabric you need,
Any texture and color that creates warmth,
Calm and safety.
Notice the way the fabric feels against your skin,
How it touches you.
Warm,
Heavy,
Yet gentle and reassuring with its cloud-like softness.
As you imagine the way your sweater feels,
Bring to mind and to heart the last time you felt touched,
A moment or memory that felt like magic.
Maybe it is the sound of the laughter of someone you love.
Perhaps it is the way the words from your favorite book speak to your heart.
Maybe it is the feeling of being embraced by someone who loves you.
In these small and subtle things,
You feel moved.
You sense and see magic,
And this magic surrounds you.
Your life has brought you magical and moving memories.
This doesn't change the winters that you've had to weather.
Both have been present and will be again.
And no matter the winter,
This magic is always with you.
As you bring these bright,
Soothing,
And magical moments and memories to mind,
See each one of them as a strand of yarn or thread in the sweater you are wearing.
Watch them weave together,
Bringing you warmth,
Safety,
Protecting you from the cold of winter.
Feel the embrace of this sweater and the peace of this moment,
Knowing that no winter,
No storm can rid you of this magic that envelops you and that lives inside of you.
Sometimes this magic may feel stronger and more present,
And other times it will feel softer,
More faint,
And more of a memory.
But it will always be something you can return home to,
Like the feeling of warmth and embrace of your favorite sweater.
Remember the memories and moments you've woven into the fabric of your sweater,
Knowing that wherever you are,
They are always also here with you.
Gradually and slowly,
If and when you feel ready,
Guide your awareness back to the world around you.
Let your senses ground you in this present moment in the way your surroundings feel,
Smell,
And sound.
Feel the points of contact of your body with the earth beneath you.
And if your eyes are closed,
Gently and slowly let them blink open.
Bring this magic and warmth with you into the rest of your day and the rest of this winter season.
