Find a position where you feel both comfortable and alert.
This could be a seated position,
Maybe you're lying down,
Or perhaps you propped yourself up with a wall or even a cushion.
Choose a shape that works for you today.
It's good to start this practice by listening to and honoring your body.
Take a moment to relax.
Let a feeling of peace and calm make its way through your body.
Beginning with your feet,
Your ankles,
And your calves.
Feel the tension leaving your body as your muscles begin to relax.
Allow this relaxation to extend to your knees,
Your thighs,
And your hips.
Feel this relaxation extend into your lower back and belly,
Into your chest and upper back as you take this opportunity to become more comfortable and at ease.
Feel this comfortable peaceful feeling moving throughout your shoulders,
Your arms and hands,
Flowing out of your fingertips.
Feel your neck relax and allow this feeling of comfort to move to the back of your head,
Your ears,
All through your face and forehead,
All the way up to the top of your head.
Let's practice Ujjayi breath.
I find this breath deeply calming and I hope you find the same.
If you already know Ujjayi breath,
Feel free to slip into it immediately.
Otherwise I will provide you with step by step guidance.
Bring the palm of one hand in front of your mouth and with your mouth open,
Exhale into your palm imagining that you're steaming up a mirror or glass and feeling that warm breath on your palm.
On your next inhale,
Keep the hand where it is and breathe in making that same sound.
Practice this breath for a few cycles,
Focusing on the sound of the breath,
The feeling of the air on your hand as you exhale,
And the feeling in your throat.
Drop your hand to your lap and as you continue this practice,
Close your mouth as you inhale and open it again on the exhale.
Try to maintain that sound even when the lips are sealed.
Now close the mouth for your exhale as well.
This is Ujjayi breath.
You may find the ocean-like sound of the breath awkward,
But try to find ease.
Release the Ujjayi breath,
Returning your breath to a slow,
Deep inhale and exhale through the nose.
Try to hold on to any ease that you've cultivated through practicing the breath.
Let's go deeper by considering a question that is inspired by the archetype,
The riddle.
Archetypes are key images,
Tendencies,
Personalities that tend to appear in every culture.
The riddle archetype represents a puzzle,
A question,
Or even a mystery.
If you have a situation where this riddle archetype comes up,
It could indicate that the right answer for that situation cannot be found,
And in fact the right answer isn't even important.
It's suggesting that you shift from logical to the mythical and stop thinking so literally about the situation.
In these instances,
Time,
Surrender,
And humor are your only allies.
Eventually you will learn a profound lesson,
But for now you must get comfortable with the limitations of your intellect and the reality of not knowing.
Turn your focus inward and consider how things are going in your life and ask yourself,
Where can I let things be?
Sit with this question without trying to analyze or think,
Just allowing any answers to come up.
Where can I let things be?
Let it begin.
You you As you practice bypassing the thoughts and listening to your deeper wisdom You may notice that you don't always get answers in the form of words You may get images impressions or even seemingly random thoughts or memories anything That came up could have meaning take a few breaths to process what did come up for you and Consider if you want to act on anything that you learned you Listen to the following affirmation and whether you feel it's true or not Repeat it to yourself and let it resonate deep within I Release my expectations to open myself to the wonders of the universe I Release my expectations to open myself to the wonders of the universe you As we reach the end of today's practice bring the palms together at heart center slightly bowing your head Take a moment to reflect on your experience Were you able to connect with your inner wisdom?
Did you practice listening and being open?
Allow this experience and any insight you have gained to stay with you as you bring your awareness back to your physical surroundings Take your time and when you're ready open your eyes and allow your body any movement it needs you
