Welcome in,
Welcome into this meditation.
In which we will find ourselves rooted and held.
By the web of life,
The web of being that surrounds us.
So I invite you to begin by making yourself comfortable.
And I invite you throughout this meditation to take good care of yourself.
So if you need to move or shift or drink some water,
Do whatever you need to make this as comfortable for you as possible.
So as you begin to.
.
.
Make yourself comfortable here.
I invite you to either close your eyes or just take a soft gaze down towards the floor.
And begin to notice the breath and the body in this moment.
So just noticing.
How you are breathing in.
And out.
Noticing the expansion of the body on the in-breath.
And the settling and softening on the out-breath.
And as you breathe in.
Noticing if on an out breath,
A sigh would be welcome.
Sometimes a deep sigh.
Can signal to our bodies,
Our minds,
Our spirits that there is some degree of safety here.
So you might just invite your body to play with a deep breath in.
And a sigh to release.
Taking a few moments just to notice your body breathing here.
And as you settle in,
I invite you now.
Your mind's eye.
To find yourself at a trailhead.
Find yourself standing just outside of a welcoming forest.
And when you're ready.
Stepping over this invisible line onto the trail.
Stepping into the forest.
Finding yourself very welcome here.
The ground soft.
Perhaps a soft breeze moving around you.
Gentle birdsong.
Feeling just the right temperature.
And as you move down the trail.
You eventually encounter.
A little nook there in the forest that calls to you.
Surrounded by trees and plants.
A little opening.
Can you step into this now?
Finding it cozy,
Safe.
Sense of protection there.
And I invite you to find a comfortable spot here.
Perhaps you'd like to lean against a tree or a trunk that lays on the ground.
Perhaps you'd like to lay your own body down on the ground.
Just feeling yourself really comfortable and welcomed here.
And then,
As you settle into this place.
Begin to notice the sturdy ground beneath you.
Notice.
Anything that is holding and supporting you.
So if you're leaning against a tree or a stump.
Or a fallen trunk on the ground.
Really feel the solid mass of it.
Begin to feel how you are protected here.
Feel how your body is held here.
Really notice where your body is in contact with the ground.
And as you feel yourself in contact with the ground beneath you,
Perhaps you begin to feel even a sense of the ground coming up just a bit around your hips,
Gently holding you here,
Cradling you in this place.
And just breathe into this,
Bringing the breath into your body.
On an out breath,
Sharing with the forest.
Your own breath.
Breathing in.
And then on an out breath.
Invite you to feel roots growing out from your body.
Down into the earth.
And just let your roots explore.
Grow in whatever direction they wish.
Perhaps deep underground or spreading right under the surface.
Let your roots encounter and greet other roots.
Let them tap into mycelial networks.
Perhaps your roots are greeting the soil itself.
This soil that nourishes all of our lives.
Let your roots notice the stones,
The creatures,
The water,
All of the many beings.
That live here in the deep earth.
Perhaps say hello to them.
And share with them what you bring with you today.
And then just breathe here.
Letting your roots breathe into the dark rich earth.
Breathing with the sturdy earth.
Letting your roots feel at home here and held.
And now as you're spending time here.
Underground in community with the roots and the fungus and the stones.
Begin to notice what images,
Thoughts,
Or feelings might be arising for you as you let yourself root into the deep earth.
And begin to notice if you are holding anything that wants to be turned over to the deep earth.
Are you holding anything that is ready to be composted?
And if so,
You can turn this over now.
Let's turn this over to the deep earth that can hold and transform.
Anything that you are ready to offer And now begin to notice if there is anything to bring up into your roots.
So if there is a sense of dryness in your life,
If you need water.
Beginning to bring that into your roots.
Or if there's a need for good nourishment.
Bringing that in to your roots.
Just allowing your roots to soak up.
Anything that is being offered here.
That can be supportive and nourishing.
And take some time to just feel your roots being deeply held here.
Feel the care,
The community.
And the connections that are being offered to you here.
Is breathing into this moment.
And now soon we will bring our roots back to the surface.
But before we go,
You might like to offer your gratitude,
Perhaps a blessing.
To the waters here to the earth.
To the stones and the creatures,
The roots and the fungus.
Offering any blessing,
Any gratitude you would like.
And now begin to slowly bring your roots back through the soil.
Back all the way to your body.
Bringing with them the nourishment you need and that deep sense of being held.
So let them return fully to your body.
And as they do,
Notice once again your breath.
Again,
Breathing in and out.
Feeling yourself fully back above ground.
Breathing into this web.
Feel yourself sharing breath with the web of all beings.
Let yourself continue to feel held.
Let that feeling settle in so that you can carry it forward.
And take a few more breaths here.
And now in your mind,
See yourself rise from this place.
Offer once again,
Your thanks.
Find your way to the trail.
And return to the trailhead.
And when you're ready,
Step back over that trailhead.
Out of the forest.
And then begin to slowly,
Gently open your eyes.
Begin to bring some gentle movement into your hands,
Your shoulders,
Your torso,
Whatever needs to stretch and move here.
Finding yourself fully back in your physical space.
And as you go on here into the rest of your day.
May you go feeling rooted and held.
Tended to and connected.
To the web of all being.
May it be so.
