Choose a comfortable position,
Sitting or lying down.
A position where you can create a space in which you can be fully present with yourself.
Feel the chair or bed support you and let your body sink into it.
As you settle in,
Take a few deep breaths.
Observe the movement of your chest as you breathe in and out.
Breathe naturally and for a few moments focus on your breathing.
Being still in this present moment,
Allow your body to begin to relax into this quiet space.
Pay attention to your breathing.
Allow relaxation to follow your breathing into the body.
Breathing,
Breathing,
Breathing.
Let go of tension in the rest of your body.
Breathing deeply,
Softly,
Easily.
Notice any tense places in your body and allow them to relax with your breathing in and out.
Feel all tension drift away.
You are now entering a deep,
Relaxed stillness within.
Your mind is free and you are going on a creative journey with me to a place that comes alive through your creative energy.
Listen to the music and soon you will be part of a secret.
A secret that allows you to create peace and joy.
Your time with the music will create a warm feeling that brings calm within.
Then you will find yourself renewed in your own special place.
As you listen to the music,
You find your body and mind becoming more relaxed and receptive to your imagination.
Now we are going together on a special journey.
You can stay with my voice or leave my voice as you embark on this voyage to your own secret sanctuary.
When it is time to return,
You will hear my voice and return with me.
You are walking in a nature preserve at the end of a quiet street.
It is a warm spring day and trees are blooming all around you.
You notice the light green colors of the leaves against a very blue sky.
As you walk through the park,
You come upon an unfamiliar path just up ahead of you.
Curious,
You follow the path.
It leads you beyond the preserve to the edge of a forest.
As you continue on the gravel path into the forest,
You become more aware of the sounds of nature.
Birds singing,
A slight rustling of the wind through the trees.
You are feeling free with your attention focused totally on the intricacies of the forest coming alive after a long winter's rest.
Up ahead,
You spot a worn wooden footbridge crossing a softly flowing brook.
Stopping at the beginning of the bridge,
You wonder if it is safe to cross.
Cautiously,
You test the first step.
It creaks,
But feels sturdy,
So you walk slowly on the bridge,
Stopping in the middle to gaze at the gently flowing stream beneath.
You continue along the path,
Glancing around this unfamiliar setting.
Looking ahead and off to the side,
You notice the ruins of a small stone house.
The ruins are covered with overgrown vines and brush.
It is not accessible.
As you explore further,
You find a stone wall connected to one end of the ruins.
Slowly,
You walk along the wall until you find a door almost covered completely with vines and ivy.
Running your hand along the rim of the door,
You find a rusted handle.
You try to turn the handle,
But it is stuck with age and weather.
You are determined,
Though,
And so you push and wiggle it,
And the handle finally unlatches.
You lean against the door,
Pushing hard,
And it slowly creaks open.
You step forward,
Cautiously,
To peek inside.
Before you is a narrow brick walking path covered with weeds.
You slowly step further inside the wall and see a place overgrown with brush,
Ivy,
And creepers.
As you walk around,
You see neglected rose bushes,
Azaleas,
Untrimmed rhododendrons,
And an untended fruit tree.
You are in an unkempt secret garden that has been deserted for a long time.
As you notice a few daffodils poking up through the brush and weeds,
You wonder if this place could be transformed into a beautiful living garden again.
You decide to work a bit in this secret place.
You pull weeds and clear brush here and there,
Realizing they are like discomforts or difficulties you sometimes face.
There is much to be done here,
And you realize you need tools to clear this overgrown place.
You leave to fetch the tools,
Closing the door to this secret garden.
You return excited about the potential of creating a thriving garden sanctuary.
You work pulling weeds,
Digging the earth,
And kneading it until it becomes soft and crumbly in your hands.
You can smell the freshness of the loam,
Which feels cool in your hands.
You trim and prune.
Sometimes you feel discouraged,
Tired,
Achy,
And that this will take forever.
But you are driven by the possibility of what could be.
So you persevere.
Pausing,
You stretch out on an area of ground covered by moss.
It feels soft,
And you decide to rest a bit.
Looking around,
You see how much you've accomplished,
And the possibility of a flourishing,
Beautiful garden motivates you to continue.
Each day,
You plant bulbs and seeds,
Trim and shape bushes.
Under the fruit tree,
You discover an old broken bench,
Which you repair.
You sit on it,
Looking around,
Imagining the garden in full bloom.
One day,
Resting on the bench,
You look up and see a pair of wrens building a nest in the tree above.
A butterfly flutters past.
Gazing around the garden,
You see the round green tips of some daffodils breaking through the earth,
And purple crocuses blooming near the entry path that is now clear.
Now the garden is full of life and growth.
As you look up toward the blue sky,
You breathe deeply.
You feel so connected to nature,
And realize how much you are an integral part of creation.
You feel safe here,
Peaceful.
At the far end of this secret place is the final area to be cleared.
You are feeling a sense of accomplishment as you work here pulling away brush,
Removing rotted roots and debris.
Suddenly,
Your hands feel wet.
There is water beneath your hands.
You continue clearing the debris and are delighted to find a small brook.
The water bubbles up as you clear the stream bed.
The stream is now free to flow and trickle over rocks on its path through the garden.
You watch as it flows freely through this special place that you have given renewed life.
Now your garden is reborn.
It is now your secret refuge to see,
To touch,
To smell sweet smells.
A special sanctuary to rest in.
A place you can retreat to,
To cultivate,
Enjoy and connect with nature.
Here you find yourself rejuvenated with peaceful energy.
Now as you remain in this calm,
Secure state,
It is time to leave.
You carefully close the hidden door,
Leaving the garden for a while,
Knowing you can return here anytime because it is your unique sanctuary.
You walk down the path,
Slowly beginning to return to your world.
Hearing my voice,
You begin to feel more alert and awake.
Taking all the time you need to come back to the room you're in now.
Knowing your secret garden waits to surprise you with life,
Peace and joy.
Feeling refreshed,
Alert and awake,
You slowly open your eyes.
Returning to the present moment,
You feel nurtured,
Knowing there is always a calm,
Peaceful sanctuary within you.
