Picture this.
We are standing together along the shoreline of the Ottawa River,
Canada.
It is dawn.
The sky is golden-coloured as we wait for the sun to show itself.
Seagulls are flying about us announcing the beginning to this new day.
And Canada geese are more distantly calling out their sounds.
This is a wonderful healing space to connect with the universe.
With all of her elements in this one space where the sky meets the earth,
Where the water and the air are charged with sounds of welcoming light into another new day.
We'll do our part to join in with these sounds by stretching our arms out wide to each side,
Then raising them up overhead and joining our hands together.
Overhead,
Palms touching.
Pausing a moment here to acknowledge how this gentle stretch feels.
To breathe gently and to silently give thanks for this new day.
Then lower your hands,
Palms still touching,
To your heart centre.
And again,
We'll pause here to breathe in the sounds and light of the morning sky now.
With the sun just beginning to peak above the horizon,
As we continue to watch in awe.
And listen to these anticipatory sounds of goodness spreading over the water and the land.
Sounds of appreciation for the light of this new day.
Sounds being received into your chest now,
Through your breath.
As you breathe in slowly and deeply.
And breathe out slowly.
Then breathe these sounds of appreciation into your mind and emotions.
And into your very soul.
Sounds of welcoming,
Of liberation,
Of the new day beginning.
Of hunger for all that awaits you.
And of all the blessings that await you,
Now flowing into this new day.
The first of which you acknowledge by standing here listening and giving thanks.
As you take another slower and deeper breath.
Breathing out.
Taking all of this in,
In genuine gratitude.
Let's reverse our movements now by taking our hands straight back up overhead.
And arching them back out to both sides and returning your hands to in front of your chest.
In what I like to call gassho or namaste position.
Pausing for another moment here to notice how you're feeling.
And then repeating the full stretch up again at your own speed.
And with your own thoughts of welcoming light into your life today as you move.
And finally,
Like the sun that is fully visible now.
Imagine that your light is beginning to shine out from you in your gratitude for the universe.
And in gratitude for the blessings of every living thing.
Please take these thoughts into one final stretch in your own time.
And now,
Either standing or sitting.
Please place your hands on your chest.
One over your heart center.
And the other either just below your throat or over your abdomen.
And then relax your body around this position.
Especially your arms and shoulders.
And your face.
Particularly between your eyebrows.
And allowing your lower jaw to open slightly while keeping your mouth closed.
And then close your eyes and take another moment to simply absorb the benefit of your acknowledgement of this new day.
A new opportunity to start again.
To be true to yourself.
Perhaps to create something new.
Or to continue with the known.
Or even to face the unknown.
Whatever this new day means to you,
Be with this now for another few moments on your own.
As you pay tribute to this new beginning for you today.
And the opportunity to shine your light into this new day.
And throughout this day.
To be light yourself in your very best possible way.
In genuine gratitude.
May you be well.
May you be happy.
May you be safe.
And may you know joy.
And be filled with peace.
And may you remember to be kind,
Loving,
And gentle with yourself this day.
And with all you meet.
Namaste.
I bow to the divine in you.
