Welcome to this meditation to help you relax,
Sleep and care for any worries you might be carrying with you.
We'll meet a goddess archetype tonight.
Not necessarily one that you know by name,
But exactly the perfect one for you.
If you haven't already,
Go ahead and get settled for sleep.
Sometimes we need to fidget a little bit or adjust to make sure we're in the right spot.
Sometimes it can be helpful to squeeze and release tighter muscles or areas that feel a little stressed.
You could clench your fists and then relax them with an exhale.
You could also do this with your shoulders,
Your face,
Or anywhere else you feel like some energy might be trapped and need a release.
You might also want to take a couple of deep breaths,
Settling into your sleep space.
Take a moment to set your intention to sleep.
To let go of your to-do list or whatever might be holding you awake.
To begin to offer whatever you've been thinking about to your dreams,
Trusting in their ability to help you process whatever's going on in your life.
Now I'd like you to imagine that you're in a beautiful clearing in an old growth forest.
Tall,
Thick trees are rooted deeply into the earth around you,
Towering high above you.
They are steady and quiet,
The soft green needles on their branches rustling quietly in the breeze.
You feel totally safe here,
Steady and easy,
And you feel your shoulders settling the comfort of this place,
Feeling that you are held,
Welcome,
That you belong here.
After a few moments,
You notice an opening in the clearing.
There are stone steps,
Wide and mottled with green moss and dirt.
They slope gently downwards,
And you notice a warm light somewhere along the path.
You pass through the tall trees to either side and begin to descend the steps.
As soon as you do,
You feel a gentle settling over your body.
There is almost a hum in the air,
A gentle music you can't quite hear.
Flowers grow along the sides of the path,
Poking their bright,
Soft petals between the wide trunks of the trees,
Filling the air with the most delicious scent.
At the bottom of the stone steps is an arched stone doorway,
Draped with morning glory vines,
The flowers adorning the doorway like white jewels.
Across the threshold is a beautiful garden grove,
Plants and flowers of all kinds,
Tiny twinkling lights darting here and there like fireflies.
The scent of the flowers is perfect for you,
Subtle but present,
A smell that makes you think of times when you felt most yourself,
Most present,
Full of love and joy.
This is the Goddess's garden,
And you have been invited here to sit and rest and talk with her if you wish.
There is a small pond in the center of the garden,
Dark,
Smooth water broken up by brightly colored koi fish swimming here and there.
There's a comfortable seat right by the water where you can gaze into the pond,
Watching the fish lazily darting around,
The water lightly rippling its mirror-like surface from time to time.
As you gaze into the water,
You see a reflection.
It's you,
But you are shimmering somehow.
Lighter,
Brighter.
It's an incredibly beautiful,
Shining,
Lovely,
Warm,
Kind version of you.
As you watch your own face in the water,
Perfect and bright,
It begins to shift,
Morphing into the image of a beautiful woman,
Tall and powerful,
Strong and yet incredibly gentle.
You realize that you are staring into the face of the Goddess herself.
She becomes brighter and brighter,
More and more beautiful in your eyes,
More and more solid and real.
She steps out of the water gracefully,
Standing before you,
Perfect and loving.
She is exactly the Goddess you need today.
Your image can change depending on if you need support,
Strength,
Wisdom,
Inspiration,
Love,
Connection,
Compassion,
Or anything else.
She is everything.
You are a part of her,
Too.
She sits beside you,
Gently holding your hands in hers.
She invites you to speak to her,
To tell her what's on your heart.
Tell her the truth.
Say whatever it is you need to say.
The Goddess simply listens,
Understanding everything you are saying without needing any clarification.
Listen for her response.
She may or may not speak in words.
She may show you images.
Pay attention to whatever it is she has to offer you.
Then simply sit with her.
She is everything you need right now.
She is also a part of who you are.
You may have forgotten your connection to her,
But that does not mean it's not there.
Right now,
You're simply remembering.
After some time,
You find yourself sitting alone again,
But you do not feel lonely.
The Goddess has returned to her source,
And you remember now that you are a part of this source as well.
You were never far from this loving,
Compassionate energy.
All you need to do is ask.
You feel a sense of calm and fulfillment come over you,
And you decide to wander the garden.
You walk along the curving garden paths,
Noticing sprays of bright colors coming from roses,
Lilies,
Get-me-nots,
Flowers of all kinds lining the pathways.
There are fruit trees here,
Fireflies,
Tiny beautiful birds,
And beings that seem to be just hidden in the shadows,
Their light shining softly,
As if they are watching over you,
Protecting you.
This is a place that feels safe and comfortable.
It's a place that you know you belong.
You could walk here for hours and never feel tired.
After a time,
However,
You do come upon a bench.
It is wide and weather-worn,
Nestled into the bushes.
A perfect place to rest,
To smell the flowers,
To feel and breathe and dream.
You notice a name engraved into the back of the bench,
Reminding you of someone that you love,
And feeling that love here with you in this moment.
You rest on the bench,
Settling your back into the comfortable wood,
Thinking of the love you feel for the people,
Places,
Animals in your life,
For this place,
Too,
For the goddess,
This beautiful garden here in your inner world,
And the love you feel for yourself.
You rest into gratitude,
Love,
And self-compassion.
You have everything you need here.
Nothing is lacking.
You rest here as long as you need to,
Knowing that you can always return home simply by thinking about it,
Or,
If you prefer,
Wandering the winding path to the archway and the stone steps,
Returning the way you came.
For now,
Though,
All you need to do is rest.
All you need to do is receive,
To belong.
You are safe here in the goddess's garden,
Rest and sweet dreams.
