Tonight,
Beneath ancient arches of a hidden monastery,
Overlooking emerald green valleys below,
You will reclaim your inner strength and find freedom from your worries.
My name is Jason Stevenson,
And I warmly welcome you to this grounding,
Strengthening practice,
A journey of releasing what does not serve you and illuminating the peace that lives within right now.
Before we begin,
Take a moment to prepare your space for sleep,
Set a morning alarm if it's needed,
And quietly tuck yourself in if you have not done so.
Just take a long,
Slow breath in,
And as you exhale,
Release a soft sigh to begin letting go.
In preparation for our visual trip to the monastery,
Let's take a bit of time to relax the physical body,
And we can do that by beginning to notice the bed or other surface you rest on,
And sensing the touch points between it and you,
Notice how unconditionally it holds you,
And see if you can begin releasing physical tension into its surface,
And then draw your attention to the crown of your head,
And imagine that just above your headspace,
An enchanted,
Refreshing mist begins to appear,
And as you focus on its formation,
You notice its subtle,
Shimmering presence,
An ethereal blend of pale blue and silver light,
Soft and fluid,
Cool and comforting.
So allow this soft mist to begin a slow descent through your body,
First surrounding the top of your head like an iridescent veil,
And as the mist surrounds your head,
It begins to dissolve any tension in your forehead,
Softening any tightness in the muscles around your eyes,
Take a long,
Slow breath into your forehead,
And deepening its relaxation as you exhale,
And now feel it grace the rest of your head,
Infusing your entire face,
The sides of your head,
And the back of your head with a profound sense of ease and calm.
Feel it gently relax any tightness in your jaw,
Softening your cheeks,
And soothing the space around your ears,
Your entire head relaxes deeply in the presence of this gleaming,
Cooling mist,
And then notice how the mist begins to flow down and around your neck,
Dissolving any tightness in the muscles that support your head,
Take a slow,
Deep breath into your neck,
And as you exhale,
Release any residual tension to the cloud of silver blue mist,
Now you see the mist drifting further,
Cascading across your shoulders,
As it moves across them,
It frees your shoulders of any weight they've been carrying,
And you breathe a sigh of relief with this natural invitation to let go,
And now slowly,
Like a gentle current,
The mist travels down both of your arms,
Relaxing the muscles of your upper arms,
And soothing your elbows,
Softening the muscles in your forearms,
Tending gently to any tension in your wrists,
And now enveloping your hands,
Inviting you to release anything that you've been gripping too tightly,
Take a long,
Slow breath down both of your arms,
Allowing the mist to absorb any residual tension as you exhale,
Now watch as the mist travels slowly back up your arms,
As it dances across your collarbones,
As it encompasses your entire chest,
And as it surrounds your chest,
It begins to infuse your lungs,
Your heart,
And your ribs with ease and serenity,
And just softening each breath,
And filling this entire area with lightness,
On your next inhale,
Imagine that your lungs fill with a deeply restorative shimmering mist,
And as you exhale with a subtle sigh,
Surrender any tension from these areas,
And now you welcome the mist to flow down your abdomen,
Softening any contraction in your belly,
Soothing your hips,
And your entire pelvic bowl,
And at the same time,
Envision this mystic presence wrapping itself around your back,
Cradling your spine,
And all the muscles throughout your back,
And imagine any tension or discomfort beginning to dissolve within the presence of this mist,
Using your breath to facilitate a deeper sense of letting go,
As you now gently welcome this shimmering cloud of silver-blue mist to travel down both of your legs,
Softening the muscles of your quadriceps and hamstrings,
Gently wrapping your knees,
Easing any tension or stiffness there,
Soothing your calves down through your ankles,
And pervading your feet and all of your toes,
Take a long slow breath down your legs to your feet,
And surrendering any residual tension to the mist that enshrouds them,
And envision now that your entire body is lovingly cocooned in this cosmic cloud of iridescent mist,
And if there is any residual physical tension anywhere in your body,
Take a few final breaths to release that tension to the ethereal presence you were bathed in,
And focus your attention on the places where you'd like to deepen the release,
And with each outward breath,
Give yourself permission to let go,
To relax even deeper,
Deeper,
More completely,
Imagine that this mist is woven through every cell of your body,
Bringing rest and renewal,
Lightness and ease,
And now take a long whole body breath into this shimmering presence,
And exhale to let your body drop deeper into the surface beneath you,
And then guide your awareness back up to your head,
As you envision the mist stretching across your mind's eye,
Deepen your awareness of its ethereal hues,
Serene pastel blue and sparkling silver,
And surrender your mind to the magic that lives just beyond the mist,
And as you release on your next out breath,
Imagine that the mist slowly begins to part,
And there on the other side stands a majestic towering mountain,
Both rugged and wise,
Rocky cliffs stretched towards cosmic clouds,
And all around a crisp alpine breeze carries a subtle perfume of moss,
Pine and mountain herbs,
And surrendering the mountain are more alpine peaks,
And nestled between these majestic monoliths,
Lie lush emerald valleys,
Veiled with the same shimmering mist that soothed your body just moments ago,
And so take a few steady breaths to find your footing at the bottom of this beautiful mountain,
Feeling the solid rock beneath your feet,
And as you inhale,
Reach your crown towards the sky above,
And as you exhale,
Dropping your shoulders towards the earth,
Just let each breath soothe your mind,
Your body and your spirit,
Opening your heart to the freedom that lies ahead,
And now your eyes trace the rocky incline of the mountain before you,
Sweeping ridges,
Snow-capped peaks,
And steep slopes give the mountain its untamed majestic presence,
It is steady and unshakable,
A symbol of strength and resilience,
And as your gaze continues to scan its surface,
You discover something truly enchanting,
Nestled within the jagged surface,
High up in the rock face,
An ancient monastery presents itself,
It blends almost seamlessly into the mountain,
Built of stone and weathered by the passing of time,
Colourful prayer flags flutter in the wind,
A vibrant display of colour against the cool grey stone,
And as you breathe in,
It seems to float above the world,
Evoking a sense of solitude and silence,
You feel a deep pull towards it,
As if you were meant to discover its magic at this very moment in time,
And so you take a long,
Slow breath in,
And as you exhale,
You discover a winding trail that leads up the mountain,
When you're ready,
Begin on your way,
As you move along the path that leads to the monastery,
Notice the feeling of the earth beneath your feet,
Each step grounds you,
As your heart,
Mind and spirit open wider to the journey before you,
The air is cool and crisp against your skin,
But you are wrapped in warm clothing,
You feel comfortable and nurtured amidst your alpine surroundings,
As you ascend the mountain,
The noise of the world fades away,
And in its place,
You become aware of nature's melodies,
Wind dancing through trees,
Birds singing across valleys,
And a sense of quietude that pervades it all,
Notice a growing sense of peace and ease spreading through you,
As you attune to the serene vibration of the mountain and the monastery just up ahead,
The minutes pass by swiftly,
As you are fully immersed in the path as it unfolds,
And in no time,
The place you are heading comes into full view,
There just up ahead,
Lies the monastery,
Carved into the side of a towering cliff,
The sacred space boasts ancient stone walls,
Adorned with enchanted archways and intricate carvings,
Emanating both wisdom and peace,
A time-worn stone pathway leads to its entrance,
And a distant hum of ancient chants drift on the cool mountain breeze,
With awe and wonder alive in your chest,
Take those few final steps to the monastery,
Until you find yourself standing beneath one of its ancient arches,
As you come to the stand beneath the arch,
Time appears to stand still,
You gaze out at the vast valley below,
Absorbing its energy of ease,
Solitude and mystery,
Connect with your breath as you stand here,
Filling your lungs with that soothing alpine breeze,
And on your next out breath,
Release the day behind you,
So that when you turn to enter the monastery,
You are more open to receiving the gifts it has to offer you,
Now turn away from the enchanting views as you begin to walk through ancient stone hallways,
The distant hum of those ancient chants dances through the corridors,
As does a fragrance of burning incense,
Sandalwood,
Juniper,
Cypress and clove,
You walk slowly and steadily,
Feeling the cool stone beneath the soles of your feet,
And as you travel through this remarkable place,
Your eyes fall upon faded murals,
There painted upon the weathered stone,
Are timeless images,
Deities and mandalas,
Lotus flowers and wandering vines,
And a wide array of sacred animals,
Including snow leopards,
Deer and all sorts of birds,
Take a moment to pause before a particular part of the mural that stirs your soul the most,
An image of something that calls forth your inner peace,
Strength and well-being,
And as you stand before this symbol,
Meditate upon it for a few slow breaths,
Notice the energy it embodies,
And consider any wisdom it might have to offer you,
Take just a few more breaths in the presence of this particular symbol,
And when you're ready,
Continue down the hallway,
You continue to admire the faded mural as you walk,
Noting the story it tells of life in the monastery,
A story of peace,
Wisdom and inner strength,
You consider how ancient they must be,
Their colors softened over centuries,
And upon this recognition,
You feel a deep connection to all that is timeless,
Everyday worries and concerns,
They begin to dissolve as you feel yourself in the presence of a greater power,
Of a deeper and all-pervading energy of wisdom and peace,
Your stroll becomes slower as your mind relaxes,
Walking through this enchanted space,
With complete presence and a growing sense of gratitude,
Now you approach the end of the corridor,
And where it ends,
You enter the monastery's sacred terrace,
An airy sanctuary,
Surrounded by stone arches and a rich burgundy roof,
With breathtaking views of the valley below,
A distant river moves across the bottom of the valley,
Surrounded by majestic mountain peaks and faraway villages,
Low wooden benches and scattered flowers line the edge of the terrace,
With care and reverence,
You walk mindfully across the cool stone floor,
Every step brings you into greater alignment with the sacred vibration of this space,
Dissolving any tension from your forehead,
Your jaw and your shoulders,
Here on the sacred terrace,
A single beam of light illuminates the floor,
The way it falls feels like an invitation for you to sit,
And so you do,
Take your time to envision yourself becoming completely comfortable there,
Perhaps sitting on a wooden bench or a soft cushion,
Or directly upon the stone,
And see that your spine is long and your shoulders relaxed,
And that your crown reaches for that warm golden sunlight shining down upon you,
Fill your lungs with a long slow inhale,
And releasing any residual physical tension on your exhale,
And as you sit at the heart of this enchanted,
Sacred monastery,
You are naturally called to anchor your awareness in the rhythm of your breath,
And notice how your body gently expands as you inhale,
Filling with the cleansing aroma of burning incense,
And how your body softens with each exhale,
A recurring invitation to let go,
As you rest in the presence of your wise and sacred breath,
See each full cycle as an opportunity to release what does not serve you,
To become free from any worries,
Anxieties or thoughts that are not aligned with how you want to feel,
Or who you want to be,
And so with each and every breath,
The weight of your worries lift from your shoulders,
Departs from your heart,
And drifts away from your mind,
Carried by the wind through the open stone arches of the monastery,
And as you breathe slowly and steadily,
Your gaze floats across the valleys below,
A sense of awe and wonder illuminates your heart as you watch the silver blue ethereal mist dance around the lush greenery,
The mist embodies a quiet,
Compassionate energy,
And so as you exhale,
See that your worries are absorbed by its loving presence,
Wrapped in its soft shimmering light,
Dissolving into the landscape,
And continue to breathe in this way for a little longer,
Deepening your willingness to surrender with each and every breath,
You can gently soften your focus on the breath,
As you become aware of the stone walls and arches around you,
They are steady,
Resilient and unshakable,
And as you sit in their presence,
Grounded by the smooth stone beneath you,
You realize they are a reflection of your own inner strength,
Instantly you become aware of an invisible pillar that lives at the center of your spirit,
This invisible pillar is timeless and unmovable,
It does not disappear when life becomes difficult or uncertain,
Rather it is always there,
Deep within you,
Just waiting for you to notice it,
And so,
Sense into your inner pillar of strength,
See that it runs along the midline of your body,
Rooting down into the monastery floor,
And rising up into the infinite cosmos above you,
And for the next few breaths,
Breathe up and down the length of your spine,
And see that this part of your body represents your inner pillar of strength,
Feel yourself growing stronger and more resilient with each and every breath,
And when you are ready,
Release this pattern of breathing,
And then take a few more moments to revel at the valley below the monastery,
Your eyes drift across its slopes,
Rising and falling in tandem with the land,
And the valley is adorned by vibrant wildflowers and ancient trees,
Deepening your embodiment of wonder and wisdom,
And then you catch sight once again of the slow moving river that weaves its way across the land,
Down at the very bottom,
And this river is a reminder of life's continual flow,
A whisper to you that nothing is stagnant,
Any troubles or worries we experience are not a fundamental part of who we are,
They sometimes come,
But they also go,
And so the river invites you now to release any final fears,
Concerns or anxieties,
And as you let go,
You sense on a very deep level that you are supported and loved by the ever flowing stream we call life,
Now call your attention back to your body as it rests on the monastery floor,
And as you sit there,
Sense the single stream of sunlight as it continues to bathe your body,
Notice the way it touches the crown of your head,
Filling your consciousness with radiant luminosity,
And then imagine that this golden presence sends a gentle current of loving relaxation through the entire fabric of your existence,
Envision your whole body becoming infused with warm golden light from head to toes,
Through body,
Heart,
Mind and spirit,
And as every corner of your existence fills with this warm radiance,
It melts away any residual worries or tension that do not serve you,
And all you are left with is a deep knowing that you are free,
And silently repeat,
I am free,
I am free,
Release a deep sigh of joy and relief,
Knowing that you can always rediscover the peace,
Freedom and pillar of strength that lives within you,
And as you rest within the serenity of your very own being,
You know that there is nothing left for you to discover,
In fact,
All that remains for this day is that you surrender to a deep and nurturing night of sleep,
So take just a few more moments of silence and solitude to savour your experience of being in this monastery,
And you can choose to rest your focus upon any part of it that feels most expansive or grounding for you,
Be that the mist of the valley,
Your breath,
The stone walls or something else,
Simply allow yourself to enjoy this sacred realm in any way that you wish to,
And before you leave,
If there is any prayer or wish you'd like to send off with the wind,
You can offer those words to the universe right now,
Now take a moment to thank this hidden monastery for all the beauty,
Peace and strength it provided you with,
And then imagine that your visual sense of the monastery,
It begins to fade,
And shrouded by the soft blue silvery mist of the valley,
Feel the love,
The care and peace that this radiant mist embodies,
And see as if you are travelling through it,
Floating breath by breath back to your physical reality,
Back into your body as it rests on the bed beneath you,
Make this transition back to your body in your own time,
Soon feeling the pillow beneath your head,
And the sheets and blankets draped over you,
Know too that you can return to the monastery at any time you need to,
But now it's time to rest,
To drift into a deep and restorative sleep,
Follow your breath as you slowly surrender to the dream world,
Remembering that with every exhale,
You can release your mind that little bit more,
Again and again,
And again,
May you sleep deeply and peacefully,
And until next time,
Goodnight my friend,
Goodnight.
