Welcome.
Welcome to this practice where you can experience the soothing qualities of nature as you explore self-acceptance.
Choose a position now that feels comfortable and supportive and take your time to settle in.
You can use blankets or pillows or any props you like to support your body and your mind.
When you feel ready,
Take a big breath in through your nose and out through your mouth.
Do this a few more times until you begin to settle.
By breathing slowly and gently,
You can create a feeling of calm from within.
So begin now with a slow,
Gentle inhale followed by a slow,
Gentle exhale.
And do this a few more times.
Slow in and slow out.
Imagine yourself now walking in the woods.
It's a warm day in late summer.
It's morning and the air is fresh and there is a light breeze.
You slow down to savor the experience.
You feel at home under the cooling canopy of leaves and you delight in the sound of the twigs cracking as you walk.
The cooling canopy and the sound of the twigs.
You sense your breath,
Its rhythmic quality,
And you sense into the feeling of your feet on the ground.
To feel this more clearly,
Slowly pedal your feet in your chosen position.
Feel into the quality of movement in your feet.
Now return to your breathing as you begin to take in the lush world around you.
The air has a light,
Sweet fragrance.
You inhale,
Feeling it cool your nostrils.
How does your pace feel?
How does it affect your breathing?
Are you inclined to slow down or walk a bit faster?
After walking at your steady rhythm for a while,
You pause to sit on a nearby rock that has the right balance of shade and sunlight,
With the shadows of the leaves falling in a pleasing way.
As you sit,
You take in the lushness of your surroundings all over again.
The glossy leaves,
The light coming through the trees,
Illuminating your spot.
You take it all in,
Steadying your breath and feeling that warmth.
The sun streams,
Bathing you.
And then,
To rest your eyes,
You look down at the ground.
And there,
Just a few steps away from you,
You see several bright,
Yellow-orange wildflowers that have been uprooted and look like they were trampled on.
There's something about the way they are wildly arranged.
Like an accidental bouquet that holds your attention.
You walk over,
Gather them up,
And take them back to the rock.
As you sit down again,
You cup them in your hands,
Noticing that some of the petals are torn and some are bruised,
The stems as well.
And yet,
They are so lovely,
Even in their imperfection.
You lay them on the rock and gingerly stroke one from the broken stem up to the petals,
Feeling the different textures as you go.
Your breath seems to mirror the movement of your fingers,
Slowly rising as they move up the flower and exhaling as they move down the flower.
And again,
Inhaling up its length and exhaling down.
Inhaling up its length and exhaling down.
Inhaling up its length and exhaling down.
Feel this steady flow again and again.
After some time,
You close your eyes,
Still sensing these wildflowers and exploring the way they feel like parts of you.
You decide to walk back.
You pause for a moment,
Take one last look at the flowers,
And decide to leave them right where they are,
Right there in the woods.
They are secured in your memory now.
And you walk back leisurely along the trail.
