Welcome to this healing pathway meditation.
I assume that you are already seated comfortably for meditation.
And I would just ask you to bring your hands together,
The palms of your hands together and your fingertips and thumb tips.
And then just allow your hands to separate while your fingertips and thumb tips are still touching.
We'll be holding that position with our hands for the first part of this meditation until you hear me ask you to move your hands somewhere else.
For now,
Just relax your arms onto your lap so that your hands can rest comfortably there on the midline of your body.
And as you do this,
Your shoulders should naturally lower for you.
And just allow your hands and arms to be softly relaxing as well.
These are areas where we tend to hold tension.
The face is another area,
Especially in our lower jaw.
So please allow your lower jaw to open slightly while leaving your mouth closed.
And then relax your forehead between your eyebrows,
Especially.
And next,
Please bring your attention to your breath and just notice how you're breathing.
Nothing else to do.
Just notice.
And then close your eyes and listen as I begin to read a poem about a healing pathway of grief.
A healing pathway we shall take later in this meditation.
For now,
Though,
Try to see yourself somewhere along this pathway as I read.
Like a healing pathway along an open field,
The soul winds its way through life.
Sometimes hiding in the bushes that surround the path.
At other times,
Stepping out into the sunshine,
Taking it all in,
Wearing it,
Sharing it until something causes it to retreat again.
Grief causes the soul to hide grief's powerful energy that is raw,
Unbelieving,
Desperate,
Alone,
Lost,
Paralyzed.
Some or all of these things for a time render the soul destined to remain in the bushes,
Hiding from the sunshine,
Unable to take it in,
To wear it,
It seems for a time ever again.
Where words like peace and joy so foreign to the soul now entombed,
Are frozen,
Waiting for the sun to revive them again.
So the soul can emerge from the bushes and step out into the sunshine to wear it again,
And take it all in.
Then return to the pathway now healed of this time,
Now able to enjoy the sun once again.
And now with eyes remaining closed,
As we continue,
Just notice how your body is feeling.
If you still have any tension anywhere.
And let's bring our focus back to our breath.
And simply observe your breathing again.
Notice if you're breathing in and out or equal.
Or perhaps your in breath is shorter than your out breath,
Which often happens when we are tense.
We'll spend a few moments evening out the in and out breath by counting to four as we breathe in and counting to four as we breathe out.
And we'll do this together as I guide you with account.
So let's begin by taking a slow breath in one,
Two,
Three,
Four,
Five,
Six,
Seven,
Eight,
Nine,
10,
11,
12,
12,
13 four and breathing out 1234.
Breathe in 1234.
And out 1234.
Slower this time 1,
2,
3,
4 and out.
1,
2,
3,
4 and in.
1,
2,
3,
4 and out.
1,
2,
3,
4 and in.
1,
2,
3,
4 and out.
1,
2,
3,
4 and relax.
And just notice how you feel.
Notice your shoulders and if they have gone back up or if they're still relaxed and lowered and soft.
Bring your focus back again to your lower jaw,
Making sure it's open slightly and relaxed.
Your forehead relaxed.
Your arms and hands relaxed.
Fingertips still touching.
And notice the evenness of your breath now as you quietly breathe in and out.
And we're going to move your hands now from your fingertip position to the area on your body that hurts the most when you feel sadness.
When your inner sun is hiding in the bushes,
As our poem suggests.
It may be that you hold the energy of sadness in your chest or in your throat or lower on your core,
Such as in your stomach region.
I'd like you just to place the palms of your hands against those areas that you know so well that physically cause you unease when you experience the raw emotion of grief.
You may have your hands in two different areas,
And that's perfect if that's what you need.
And just relax into this position.
Again,
Making sure your shoulders,
Arms and hands are each comfortable and not tense.
We're going to be bringing self-care to your body by keeping your hands in place on these areas as you continue to relax.
Noticing your breath again and its evenness.
Focusing again on your shoulders,
Face,
Jaw and your arms with an intention to relax,
Open and receive the benefit of energy healing,
Relaxation and comfort from your loving self-care hands that are resting on you.
Warming you,
Soothing you,
Your very own hands that are always available to help you in ways you may never have realized before.
Sometimes we do these things without even thinking,
But we're doing it purposely now so that they may serve you in self-care,
In loving,
Comforting self-care as you simply relax and breathe easily and gently.
Your hands completely relaxed on your body now.
And with nothing else that you have to do,
Just soak in your very own loving self-care.
Let it fill you with the warmth of the sunshine in our poem as you breathe easily and gently.
And along our poem's healing pathway,
I want you to imagine a large,
Smooth and warm rock that you can easily access.
And I would like you to see yourself going there now and sitting down on it comfortably,
Feeling its warm surface with your hands as you sit down,
Allowing its comfort to immediately take away any heaviness you may be still feeling in your body or mind.
Seeing yourself relaxing even more into its ancient energy of solace,
Knowing you are quite safe in this area.
This is a place that you can visit often to comfort you when you need comfort.
Your very own rock that is solid and grounding.
In times of anxiety,
Sadness and emotion that accompanies grief and fear,
Perhaps of the future.
Your rock has been here for millions of years.
It will continue to remain here to comfort you when you need comfort.
You can talk to it if you like.
And tell it how you feel.
It will not judge you.
It will simply be there for you whenever you need it.
Sharing its eternal steadfastness and sameness with you.
And its ancient consoling support.
So I'm going to offer you some alone time now with your rock for the next few minutes in silence.
As you allow yourself to receive its elemental comfort and peace in the stillness of this place in nature that you're visiting in your mind.
And don't worry,
I will come back and get you in a few minutes.
Just relax.
Enjoy.
And listen.
You know.
What when?
Cup.
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