Good evening,
And welcome to tonight's meditation.
A journey to ancient and sacred hot springs where deep release,
Healing,
And renewal await.
My name is Jason Stevenson,
And I'll be your guide for this practice.
Tonight,
As we journey to these healing waters,
Allow yourself to gently and completely surrender,
Letting the warmth of the experience calm your mind,
Ease all tension,
And dissolve your worries.
As you open to the ancient sanctuary that lies ahead,
Tension and anxiety will be effortlessly replaced by mental clarity,
Ease,
And stillness.
All that's required is your willingness.
And so,
If you haven't already,
Take a moment to settle into your sleep space,
Drawing your curtains if needed,
And setting your morning alarm.
Now,
Take a long,
Slow breath in,
And exhale as you transition from the outer world to your inner world.
Before we journey to that enchanted healing space,
Let's take a bit of time to relax and prepare the physical body.
Begin just by noting the surface that your body rests on,
Feeling its soft touch and steady support,
And then become aware of the blankets draped over your body,
Sensing into their warmth,
Weight,
And comfort.
And as you settle in,
Invite your awareness to rest on the soles of your feet,
And notice any sensations here as your awareness expands to encompass both of your feet completely.
On your next breath out,
Invite your feet to soften,
To gently surrender the activity of the day behind them.
Now,
Let this awareness flow up through your ankles.
Notice any sensations that might be present in your calves,
Perhaps ease or tension,
Warmth or coolness.
And as you exhale,
Invite any tension they may be holding to melt away.
And as your lower legs relax completely,
Guide your awareness now into your knees and into your thighs,
Inviting your thighs to relax on your next breath out,
Tension dissolving into the bed beneath you.
Take a slow,
Steady inhale,
Allowing your legs to relax more deeply as you exhale.
And now guide your attention to your hips,
Becoming aware of what they feel like.
Sense into this part of your body,
And all parts of your body,
With care,
Patience and curiosity.
And as you exhale,
Invite any tension they hold to melt away.
Repeat this self-soothing process of witnessing and releasing,
As you sense into your lower back,
Into your pelvis and your stomach,
Into your mid and upper back,
And into your chest,
Gently inviting every part now of your torso to soften and melt into the surface beneath you.
And now spend a little extra time with your heart space,
Imagining that each inhale fills your heart with care and compassion,
And that each exhale frees your heart of anything no longer serving you.
And if any difficult emotions arise,
Just tend to those with kindness,
Knowing that everything is in flow,
Ground back into your body or into your breath.
And now guide your awareness along your collarbones and shoulders,
Becoming aware of what these areas feel like.
And as you exhale,
Release the weight of the world from your shoulders,
Perhaps with a soft sigh.
And then allow your awareness to flow down your arms,
Witnessing and relaxing your upper arms,
Your elbows,
Your lower arms,
Your elbows,
Your wrists.
Take a slow,
Steady inhale.
And as you exhale,
Let your arms and hands relax completely into the bed that holds you now.
And gently now your attention rises into your neck and throat,
Freeing any tension in your jaw,
Before slowly filling your face and head completely.
And become aware of any sensations that are present in your face and your head and soften any tension you might discover as you breathe out.
Any tightness in your forehead melts away as your whole body becomes increasingly settled.
And once again,
Notice your whole body as it rests on your bed.
Invite any residual physical tension to melt deeply into that surface,
Seeping down into the earth below.
Feel the comfort of any fabrics against your skin,
Noticing the pillow beneath your head,
And feeling gratitude for this space that holds you through tonight's practice.
Now take a whole body breath,
Imagining that every cell fills with fresh oxygen as you inhale,
Inviting your whole body to surrender as you exhale.
And as your body sinks into deeper layers of relaxation,
Turn your attention now to your mind's eye.
And here upon this blank canvas,
Imagine that there's a path extending before you.
The path is made of smooth,
Ancient stones set into soft,
Fertile earth.
I will count you along this pathway to a sacred sanctuary of warm,
Healing waters.
You don't have to rush there,
Just allow the journey to unfold in its own time.
And so,
One,
Take your first step onto that stone path,
Feeling its cool,
Grounding energy beneath the soles of your feet.
Two,
As you walk,
You become aware of a ethereal mist that enshrouds the path,
Adding to the magic and mystery of what lies ahead.
Three,
Your crown stretches towards the starlit cosmos,
As your shoulders melt towards the earth.
Four,
And with each breath,
Your mind relaxes,
Becoming more receptive to the possibilities before you.
Five,
A mineral-rich aroma fills your nostrils,
The smell of a warm spring waters and damp,
Rich soil.
Six,
As you journey further,
Know that you are safe,
Supported and held,
And that you are in full control of your own journey.
Seven,
Become aware of warm air against your skin.
Eight,
The sacred and serene melody that fills your ears.
Nine,
You move with trust,
Care and ease,
Heart opening wider with each step.
Ten,
You arrive at an arched stone entrance,
Which is exquisitely carved with ancient symbols,
And covered in soft green,
Velvety moss.
The sky above is a shimmering violet,
Illuminated by thousands upon thousands of distant,
Sparkling stars.
A half-moon finds its place in the sky.
As the landscape unveils itself,
You pass beneath the enchanted archway,
And into an old stone sanctuary,
Where a mineral-rich hot spring rests at its heart.
The walls of the sanctuary are blanketed by emerald moss and cascading vines.
The open-aired windows look out over a misted and shrouded valley and distant majestic mountains.
You feel as though you've stepped into another realm,
Into an ancient era of deep wisdom,
Healing and magic.
Take a moment to ground your feet into the smooth stone floor of the sanctuary.
It is warm to the touch,
Infused with the heat of the spring water.
A rhythmic ancient pulse seems to radiate up from the earth below,
Grounding you to the ancient roots of this sanctuary.
The air is rich,
A perfume of moss,
Stone and ancient minerals,
And a sound of gently bubbling water echoes through the still air.
Your heart and spirit open effortlessly as you embrace the warm cocoon of this sacred space.
Now,
You approach the round pool of warm turquoise water in the center of the sanctuary,
Where ethereal clouds of shimmering steam hover above its surface.
You kneel beside the pool,
Feeling the warmth that radiates from the stones lining its edge.
You feel as though you have been worn smooth by the hands of time,
And by the touch of water that consistently laps against their surfaces.
These sacred waters are alive with an ancient,
Healing energy that is ready to help you rest and replenish,
In body,
In mind,
And in spirit.
And so,
You begin by brushing your fingers across the surface of the water,
Feeling a soft pulse of warm,
Healing energy flow through you.
You take a long,
Slow breath in,
Welcoming fragrant,
Mineral-rich mist into your lungs,
And you exhale to surrender.
Now,
You might choose to stay where you are,
Sitting or kneeling by the water's edge,
And simply absorbing the healing properties of the spring that way.
Or,
If you feel called to immerse yourself more deeply in this water,
Go ahead and envision yourself preparing to take a deeper dip.
And when you're ready,
Envision yourself taking those first few steps into the hot spring,
Feeling the warmth ascend through your body.
Ground the soles of your feet into the smooth rock floor of the bath,
And then inch by inch,
So long as it feels comfortable for you,
You continue into the hot spring until the water reaches your waist or your chest.
Just give yourself permission to enjoy these warm,
Soothing waters in any way that feels most restorative for you,
Whether you envision yourself sitting beside the hot spring,
Sitting directly within it,
With water up to your chest,
Or perhaps finding a happy place somewhere in between.
Regardless,
The waters,
Their mist,
And the entire cocoon of this sanctuary hold the power to soothe and restore you,
On a physical,
Mental,
And spiritual level.
So,
Let's allow this space to do its work on the physical body first.
As you rest within or beside the hot spring,
Allow the water or the surrounding mist to soothe any tension from your muscles.
Notice what parts of your body may still hold tension or tightness,
And envision the hot spring melting all that stress and tension away.
Envision yourself cupping the mineral-infused water in the palms of your hands,
And slowly,
Pour it across any body parts that need a little extra help to let go.
Perhaps you pour the water over your shoulders,
Across your neck and chest,
Or over your legs and your feet.
See that the water's minerals penetrate your skin cells,
Before diving deep into the muscles that need them.
Envision your whole body becoming infused with rich,
Restorative minerals,
Guiding your physical body back to ease and balance.
And again,
Feel the warm stone beneath you,
Noticing how it grounds your body and your mind,
Providing strength and stability.
As the warmth of the water and its rich minerals sink deeply into your body,
All heaviness and tension dissolve.
You feel physically light and relaxed,
Free of any tension you once held.
Now,
As your body relaxes completely,
Your awareness expands.
You begin to focus on the soft,
Rhythmic sounds of distant chanting and bubbling water,
A sacred hot spring lullaby.
This rhythmic melody dances through the tranquil air and through the ethereal mist that floats through the atmosphere.
You focus now on that shimmering mist,
Noting the graceful way it moves and the mystic energy it embodies.
The mist is,
Indeed,
An enchanted presence,
Capable of absorbing and transforming any stress and anxiety that visitors may arrive here with.
And so you feel the silent invitation of the mist to gently release any anxious thoughts you've been carrying.
You don't need to hold them any longer.
This invitation is a gentle one,
One that calls for grace rather than force.
You don't need to push thoughts away,
But instead,
See if you can make space for them to naturally soften and dissolve.
Because just as the mist moves and shifts without stress or effort,
You too can allow things to gracefully shift,
Releasing your grip on what does not serve you in this moment.
So use your breath to support you.
As you exhale,
Envision any stressful or anxious thoughts leaving your body and your mind.
Witness them being absorbed by the glistening clouds of mist that dance above these waters.
And as you inhale,
Feel that inner space with the warmth and serenity of this sanctuary.
Welcome those qualities of peace and well-being into all the folds of your mind.
Inhaling warmth and well-being.
Exhaling stress and anxiety.
Continue with this process for as long as it's helpful for you.
And then gently broaden your attention,
Becoming aware once again of the visual beauty of this sanctuary.
Admire the stone walls that surround you with intricate carvings imbued with ancient wisdom.
You revel at the moss,
The mist,
And the sacred lullaby that fills your consciousness with all elements of this space,
Grounding your mind and soothing your body.
And then your attention is drawn to the water of the spring,
Which is crystal clear.
And as you gaze through it,
Down to the ancient stone floor of the bath,
You come into greater alignment with its energy,
With its peace,
Stillness,
And clarity.
This water is,
After all,
A symbol of mental clarity.
Even when the water is bubbling,
It remains crystal clear,
Reflecting an inner peace that cannot be disturbed by externalities.
Bubbles rise and break the surface,
Yet clarity remains,
Unwavering.
You begin to sense that you,
Too,
Hold a capacity for unwavering stillness,
Despite what life might present you with.
You can move in response to life as you need to,
And you do,
But at your core,
In the center of your being,
There is a part of you that is always still.
Take a few moments to connect more deeply with that inner capacity as you gaze down at the crystal clear waters.
Allow your mind to focus,
Either on the imagery of crystal clear spring water,
Or on your breath if that's easier.
Ground into the peace and stillness within you now.
If thoughts or worries return,
That's completely natural.
The point is not to be without thought,
But rather,
To know that you hold the power to return to inner peace and clarity in an instant.
So continue to focus on the glistening clear water,
Or to breathe with full presence,
Strengthening your embodiment of calm and clarity,
And I'll return soon.
Allow the sacred music of this sanctuary to deepen your connection to inner peace and stillness.
As you slowly expand your awareness to take in all the sights,
Sounds,
Smells and sensations of this enchanted place,
Your mind is calm and spacious,
Reflective of this ancient stone sanctuary.
Both your body and your mind vibrate in tandem with the serene vibrations of your surroundings.
But now you are growing tired,
And so if you are immersed within the waters,
You gently rise back out,
Discovering a plush robe and slippers there to comfort you.
And if you've been kneeling or sitting next to the spring,
You too discover these items of warmth and luxury,
Wrapping yourself within their embrace.
Now,
Once you are snug within your plush robe,
Slippers on your feet,
You lie down on the warm stone floor of the sanctuary,
Gazing out through the open aired windows.
As your body settles into the stone,
Feel the subtle pulse of its ancient grounding energy.
You might want to lean deeper and deeper into that rhythmic pulse,
Sensing that it is,
In fact,
The heartbeat of the earth itself.
Its energy flows up through the stones and through your bones,
Connecting you to something wise,
Deep and timeless.
And as you rest here,
Next to those sacred waters,
Gazing out at a violet moonlit sky and rolling valleys,
You feel a deep sense of belonging.
You can see clearly that your spirit is woven into the fabric of life,
Earth,
And the universe at large.
And so too are your mind and your body.
And somehow,
Through one of your more subtle senses,
You sense the spirits of this sanctuary.
You can't see them,
And you can't really hear them.
But there is indeed a quiet spirit presence in the air around you.
This presence is timeless and wise,
Woven into the stones,
The water,
And the mist.
It's a gentle energy,
And it reassures you that you are deeply held,
Protected,
And connected to something far greater than yourself.
Profound peace washes through every layer of your being.
Your body is relaxed,
Your mind is quiet,
Your heart is content,
And your spirit is alive.
You are held and supported unconditionally by this old stone sanctuary,
Beneath the cosmic starlit canvas overhead.
Take in a few slow,
Deep breaths now,
Inhaling the mineral-rich air that dances through the sanctuary.
And as you exhale,
Release any residual knots of stress or anxiety.
Either into the shimmering mist of the sanctuary,
Or down into the heart of the earth.
Both the mist and the earth can absorb and transform what no longer serves you.
So give yourself permission to fully surrender.
As you surrender deeply and completely,
Your spirit is left feeling light and free.
And as you gaze out at the luminous sky,
You feel uplifted,
Renewed,
And whole.
Connected to a deep peace,
Stillness,
And clarity within.
Take a long,
Slow breath in,
And exhale with a sigh.
Take a long,
Slow breath in,
And exhale to release.
You can stay in this sanctuary for as long as you like,
Reveling in its sacred waters,
Its enchanted mist,
Its ancient stone walls,
Or the violet night sky that pervades it all.
And when you feel ready,
You can slowly travel back along the path you took to get here.
Before you go,
You might like to thank this space for what it showed you.
For how it unveiled that you,
Just like it,
Hold an inner reservoir of calm,
Clarity.
And whenever you travel back along that smooth stone pathway,
Surrounded by ethereal mist and a sleepy sky,
Take a few breaths to notice your body on the bed beneath you.
Notice what it feels like to be supported by your bed.
And by the pillow beneath your head.
And cherish the blankets that warm and comfort you,
Feeling their soft touch against your skin.
Now,
Give yourself permission to make that ultimate surrender for the day.
To make that sweet surrender into sleep.
There is nothing left for you to do or imagine or fix or accomplish.
Now is a time for rest.
And know that whenever you need to reconnect with your inner calm and clarity,
The old stone sanctuary lives within you.
And you can come back to it at any time.
So allow your breath to gently rock you to sleep.
I'm good night,
My friend.
Good night.
