Today we are going to take our imagination to the world of trees.
Trees give us shade.
They provide homes to many different animals,
Insects and birds.
Some of them even make fruit for us to eat.
Trees also give us air to breathe.
I think that we can all agree that trees are very special and important to all life on Mother Earth and that is why we should think about them more often.
It can even help us to think about how we can become more like trees.
Strong and rooted in Mother Earth with our arms stretched out to embrace the sun.
I would like you to find a comfortable spot to sit.
If you can sit outside or even under a tree,
Please do that now.
If you have to stay inside,
You can imagine that you are sitting under a tree.
Move around until you are completely comfortable.
Now close your eyes and let's take three deep breaths together.
Breathe slowly in and slowly out again.
Another deep breath in and slowly out again.
And a last deep breath in and slowly out again.
You can now continue to breathe slowly and calmly in your own way.
I would like you to keep your eyes closed while you put your hands out next to you flat on the ground.
Feel how solid the ground is under your hands and how it supports the weight of your entire body.
Now I would like you to become aware of all of the parts of your body that are touching the ground,
Your bottom,
Your feet,
Your hands.
Just feel gently into all of the places where your body is touching the ground.
Can you feel how solid Mother Earth is,
How she is always there to support you?
Now move your hands back into a comfortable position.
Perhaps you would like to keep them folded in your lap or place them on your knees.
We will now start to imagine what it would feel like if we were trees.
Trees need strong roots to keep them anchored in place so that they can grow strong trunks and stretch their branches and leaves up into the sky to meet the sun.
The stronger a tree's roots are,
The higher a tree can reach up into the sky with its branches.
Let's imagine that we are growing roots deep into the earth so that we will feel anchored in Mother Earth just like a tree.
Imagine that the base of your spine is starting to extend into the earth like a strong root.
Now imagine smaller roots sprouting from your feet,
Your legs and all of the places that your body is touching the ground.
Feel your roots spreading deeper and deeper into the earth.
Now imagine your roots spreading wider as well,
Giving you a strong base that will support you no matter how big you become or how high you would like to reach up into the sky.
Trees get their energy from the earth and that helps them to grow above the ground.
I would like you to imagine the energy from the earth flowing into all of your roots and into your body.
Imagine the energy entering your smallest little root and flowing into the larger roots and further and further into your bigger roots until it reaches your strongest,
Thickest root at the base of your spine.
Allow the energy to flow through your entire body and all the way up your spine,
Preparing you to grow into a big,
Beautiful tree.
Now I want you to imagine this energy making your body into a strong tree trunk that will support your beautiful branches and leaves when you reach up into the sky.
Make sure that you are sitting up straight so that your tree can grow straight and strong.
Straighten your back and push your shoulders back.
Don't force anything.
I still want you to remain comfortable.
Remember that a tree is able to move a little bit when the wind blows hard.
In the same way,
I would like you to become strong but flexible.
I want you to sit up straight but not be rigid.
Feel the energy that you are drawing up from your roots,
Helping you to grow and be strong.
Now you are ready to send your branches up into the sky.
Send your branches reaching strong and high into the sky as if you are reaching your arms up towards the sun.
Now the energy from your roots is helping you to grow leaves and if you like,
You can grow flowers too.
Spend a few moments imagining what you would look like if you were a tree.
What colour would your bark be?
What would your leaves look like?
Think about the special shape of your leaves.
What colour would your leaves be?
Would you want to grow flowers or fruit as well?
Now that you have imagined yourself as a fully grown tree,
I would like you to also feel the energy from the sun that you are absorbing through your leaves.
Stretch your arms out above you like branches and feel the energy that you are receiving from the sun above you.
Feel the energy from the sun coming into your body through your outstretched branches,
Your arms and the top of your head.
You can now relax your arms again.
Feel the sun's energy moving down through your body until it reaches your heart.
Now feel the energy from the earth moving up through your roots,
Through your legs and up your spine until it also reaches your heart.
Place your hands over your heart so that you can feel your heart beating.
Feel how the energy from the sun mixes with the energy from the earth to make you strong.
Let's spend a few moments with our hands on our hearts just feeling our hearts beat.
Drop your hands back down to the ground on each side of you like you did at the beginning of this exercise.
Take a moment to thank Mother Earth for the energy she provides for us and the trees and everything that grows on the earth every day.
Reach your hands up into the sky and thank the sun for the energy he provides to us and that helps all living things to grow every day.
Now place your hands over your heart again and thank the trees for everything they give to us every day.
Relax your hands and become aware of your body sitting on the ground with the earth below you and the sun above you.
Slowly start to wiggle your fingers and your toes.
When you are ready you can open your eyes.
