Hello and welcome.
I'm Helen Pengelly and this is a special guided meditation for December,
Which for many is a busy month with Christmas coming up.
Even if you don't celebrate,
There's always a lot going on,
Aren't there?
The shops are busy,
We are bombarded with advertising and promotions and it can be a bit of an assault on the senses and I think as the days are getting shorter,
Lots of illnesses and bugs going around,
It's more important than ever that we take care of ourselves and I feel like hibernating at the moment because it's gone really cold and but we do naturally slow down this time of year.
So if you keep going,
Keep going,
Keep going,
Then it's not going to be very beneficial for you in the long term.
So we'll take this time to meditate now and to calm down,
Come back to yourself when you're feeling overwhelmed,
When you've got lots to do.
It might seem almost counterintuitive to take a pause but it's like pressing that reset button.
Let's gather ourselves before we move on to the next task when you feel like I just need to take a step back,
I need some time for myself.
So turn off all distractions,
Light a candle if you want,
Some incense,
Anything that's going to create that a sense of calm and peace and it's important that you take the time to do this,
Just to create a space,
Even if it's just in your mind,
To prepare yourself for the meditation and that includes getting into a comfortable posture as well.
So turn off any distractions and give this time for yourself.
So when you're ready and just feel,
Be aware of your hands and your feet,
Feel the earth,
The ground beneath you,
Feel the support of the earth,
Knowing that whatever is going on,
That the earth has got your back because if you're thinking of all the things you've got to do,
You're probably spending a lot of time up here in your head.
So now let's come down,
Let's slow down the energy and come back down to the body and the breath and if you wish you can close your eyes.
I'm feeling your hands now,
Resting in your lap,
Feeling the breath as the chest rises and falls.
And as you do this,
Just let the mind carry on in the background.
Notice that thinking is happening,
Being aware,
But not reacting,
The thought,
That to-do list,
All the things that you have to do,
Making you feel anxious,
Overwhelmed.
Come back to the breath,
Ground yourself,
Take a pause.
And just know that everything you need to do will get done.
And letting go of what needs to be let go of.
Notice how those emotions show up in the body.
Where can you feel this?
And if you can detach from the thoughts about these emotions,
Realize that it's just energy moving around.
And you can breathe into that energy,
Calm it down,
Put out the fire,
So to speak.
Giving up all your worries and anxieties to the earth,
Just let them go.
Slipping off like a cape,
Down to the earth,
And melting away.
All the while,
Observing the movement of the breath in the body,
And noticing when you get distracted,
Coming back.
Even if it's difficult,
Notice that too.
It's just your current reality.
And you have a choice whether to act on those impulses and those thoughts or not.
And you can just imagine it's like a screen in front of you.
You're the observer of your experience.
And you have a choice in any moment how you're going to respond.
Feeling calming energy on the breath,
Filling your body with each in-breath,
And letting go of tension with each out-breath.
And notice as you do that,
That the mind might be starting to settle now.
Feeling more relaxed in the body.
Feeling your weight sinking down into the earth.
And all the while,
You're the observer of your experience.
Noticing what's happening without reacting.
And being aware of the whole of your body now.
As that calming,
Healing energy spreads throughout the body from your core,
All the way down your limbs,
The extremities,
The tips of your fingers and toes,
And up through your neck to the top of your head.
And in your energy field,
Around your physical body.
Feeling that energy extending,
Energy of peace,
Calm and love,
That is emanating from you with each breath.
As you come to the end of this meditation,
Taking this with you throughout the rest of your day,
Becoming more aware of your thoughts,
Your patterns,
And reacting less.
Thank you for joining me today and all the other meditators.
As I said before,
Don't forget to share this with somebody who you think might benefit from a little bit of peace and calm this time of year.
Well,
I'm sure we could all do with that.
So do come back and listen to this meditation as many times as you need to.
It's always here for you.
And I'll be seeing you again very soon in another guided meditation.
In the meantime,
Take care,
Go well and lots of love.
