Come into a position where you feel both comfortable and alert.
You could be lying down,
In a reclined position,
Sitting upright or perhaps you have your legs up the wall in an inversion.
Try not to get caught up in what you think a meditation pose should look like,
But allow your body to lead you to the right shape.
As you settle in,
Close your eyes or soften your gaze,
Beginning to take this journey inward.
Take a deep breath in through the nose and out through the nose.
Continue to focus on your breath by thinking inhale as you breathe in and exhale as you breathe out.
Notice how your body moves with each inhale and exhale.
Try to allow your body to relax a little more with every exhale.
Throughout practice,
Your mind may bring up things for you to think about.
Try to allow these things to settle so you can focus solely on this experience.
Notice any sounds around you.
Let each sound come into your awareness and then let it go.
There's no need to analyze or label the sounds.
Tune into your body by doing a slow body scan that starts at your toes and then goes to the crown of your head,
Noticing any sensations or tension that you're experiencing.
As you slowly move up the body,
Make any adjustments you can to feel more comfortable.
Remember,
Even a small adjustment can make a big difference.
As you complete your body scan,
Allow your focus to return back to the breath,
Maybe noticing if you've reached a place of inner and outer stillness that allows you to feel the beating of your own heart.
If your mind has not settled,
Remember you can continue to think inhale as you breathe in and exhale as you breathe out.
You can also add a count after each exhale,
Counting up to 10 and then starting back at 1.
If you're able to settle your thoughts completely,
Perhaps you can let go of the counting,
Let go of labeling the inhales and exhales,
And just allow your entire being to be.
Now that you're settled in,
It's time to tap into your inner wisdom.
You will do this by asking yourself a question and trying to keep the mind still and listen for something deeper to arise.
Today's question is inspired by the archetype,
The hunter.
The hunter is a seeker.
They are on a precise mission with an aim.
To return home empty-handed would be to fail,
Which is not an option in the hunter's eyes.
This archetype will journey far and wide seeking the prize that calls to its heart.
The hunter is skillful,
Quick,
Decisive,
And results-oriented.
Take this time to turn your focus inward,
Asking yourself,
What am I seeking?
Why am I seeking it?
Sit with these questions without trying to analyze or think,
Just pay attention to anything that comes up.
What am I seeking?
And why am I seeking it?
As you practice listening to your own inner wisdom,
You may find that you got an answer,
Or maybe nothing came up.
Something could come up later.
There's no wrong experience.
It takes time and practice to learn to listen to and to trust yourself.
Remember,
You trust in your ability to find what you seek.
Take a moment to reflect on this practice,
Recognizing what came up for you,
Thoughts,
Sensations,
Feelings.
Bringing the palms of your hands together at heart center,
Slightly bow your head,
Expressing gratitude towards yourself for taking time for meditation and self-reflection.
The accomplishment is that you made space to practice.
After that,
There is no judgment or success factor.
Whether you sat in silence,
Or if your mind was racing,
The goal is simply to practice.
Begin to bring your awareness back to your physical surroundings.
And as you're ready,
Open your eyes and allow your body any movement that it needs.
