So as we begin this meditation,
Go ahead and find a comfortable seated or lying down posture.
You might take a moment to rock gently from side to side or front to back until you find a centered,
Balanced posture of relative stillness.
Close your eyes if you haven't already,
Or let your gaze just land on the floor,
The earth in front of you.
And as you settle in,
Take a few slow clearing breaths,
In through your nose and out through your mouth.
Allow your breath to continue to ebb and flow naturally through your body as you deepen your connection to the surface beneath you,
To the physical earth beneath you.
As you anchor into the touch points between your body and the earth below,
Notice as well if there's any tension in your body that is ready to soften,
To surrender down into the earth below.
Allow yourself to be held,
Embraced,
Cocooned by the earth in this moment,
Exactly as you are.
The earth does not expect you to show up in any special way here and now.
It embraces you and loves you just as you are.
Now deepening your awareness of these touch points between your body and the surface beneath you,
Imagine that there are invisible roots extending out from the base of your spine.
Into the earth below.
If you are indoors,
You might imagine the roots traveling through the floors below,
Down into the soil or rock bed beneath the house or home you rest in.
Imagine with each breath,
These gentle invisible roots traveling a little deeper,
Reaching further and further into the earth,
Deepening your sense of being grounded,
Held,
Supported,
And nourished.
Imagine your roots moving through soil,
Stone,
Water,
Connecting you deeply to the living web of the planet itself.
Imagine these roots stretching even further,
Ever wider.
Imagining the way they weave and intermingle with the roots of nearby trees and the invisible roots of nearby people,
Plants,
Animals.
These roots stretch even further,
Even wider,
Even deeper,
Even deeper,
Even deeper,
Even deeper,
Even deeper,
Even deeper.
Imagine your roots stretching even further,
Even deeper,
Even deeper,
Reaching out to the world beyond the surface beneath you.
Imagine your roots stretching even further,
Even deeper,
Even deeper,
Even deeper,
Even deeper,
Even deeper,
Even deeper,
Even deeper,
Even deeper,
Even deeper,
Even deeper,
Even deeper,
Even deeper,
Even deeper,
Even deeper,
Even deeper,
Even deeper,
Even deeper,
Even deeper,
Even deeper,
Even deeper,
That connects us not just to one another,
But to the plants and trees,
The soil,
The animals,
The water.
These roots are connecting you to all that is.
Take a few breaths to deepen your awareness of these roots,
Imagining that perhaps they shimmer,
Imagining perhaps their vibrancy,
Imagining their care and compassion as they reach out to connect with those that you love,
Those that you don't know yet,
Those that you may never know.
And with all the various forms of life that exist on this planet,
Connecting through the earth below.
And as you breathe here firmly rooted,
Unconditionally held and supported,
I invite you to silently send the following warm wishes through this web of connection,
Through your roots.
May all beings be safe.
May all beings be at peace.
May all beings be loved.
May all beings be free.
May all beings be happy.
May all beings be free.
May all beings be happy.
May all beings be happy.
May all beings be free.
May all beings be happy.
Back into the base of your spine.
Back into your body.
Back into your breath.
Sense into your heart center as you feel the way the breath flows through this space.
Feel your chest and heart gently expanding with each inhale.
Gently softening with each exhale.
And as you sense into your heart center,
Taking a moment to offer yourself a word of gratitude for sitting in this practice today,
For tending to your roots and to nature's vast web of interconnection.
And one last time,
Just sensing into the touch points between your body and the surface that has held you throughout this practice.
And then maybe bringing a bit of light movement into your hands and wrists,
Your feet and ankles.
And slowly opening your eyes whenever you're ready.
