Thank you for joining me and for taking the time to honor and nurture yourself.
Take a moment to settle into your space.
Whether seated or lying down and with your eyes gently closed,
Think of the space that you have created here.
Send your senses to the qualities of this space,
Enveloping you,
Holding you,
Opening you to yourself.
Let's take a moment to practice a bit of gratitude.
You have shown up.
You have set aside time and created space for your very worthy self.
You are here.
You are supported.
You are grounded.
Let's bring your awareness now to your skin.
Beginning with your scalp,
Start to trace the line of your skin as it covers the entirety of your body.
Take note of what sensations you are aware of here on your skin.
Perhaps you feel air moving around you or the slight pressure of your clothing.
Imagine the sensation of a light rain pitter-pattering on your skin,
Cooling you.
See if you can sense the feel of your skin from the inside.
This strong protective barrier remains soft and supple as it bends,
Stretches and moves all while covering you,
Regulating your temperature and containing the vital parts of your anatomy.
Take a moment to appreciate this protective boundary in your own way.
Descending now a little deeper into the body to your skeleton.
Notice how your skeleton gives structure to your body.
Your skeleton is a sort of internal suit of armor,
Protecting your incredible brain,
Your strong lungs,
Your steady heart.
Take a moment to appreciate each and every bone in your body.
Now bringing your attention to your head,
More specifically to your gray matter,
The control center of your organism.
Imagine that the circuitry of the brain is visible to you.
In your mind's eye,
Imagine the flashes of synapses as you listen to this meditation.
Take a moment to appreciate the incredible capability of your mind.
Right now,
This amazing bundle of cells is telling your heart to beat,
Your lungs to expand and contract.
It's interpreting these words and creating awareness.
It's connecting internally and externally in a kind of omniscience.
Follow the circuitry from the powerhouse of your brain down through the root-like nerves that extend throughout your body.
These roots connect you to yourself.
Take a moment to appreciate the absolute majesty of your nervous system.
Now bring your awareness to your heart.
With each pump of your beautiful heart,
The entirety of your body is kept alive.
Through your incredible circulatory system,
Arteries,
Veins and capillaries,
Bring nutrients,
Carry away waste and keep your body's temperature in a safe range.
Your blood is a life force that can even be given to others.
Allow your mind to travel through your circulatory system and appreciate this magnificent and complex delivery system.
Now think of the whole of you.
Take a moment to hold your body in whatever manner feels most comfortable.
Send some love to all of your body.
How might you show love to your organism today?
As we close the practice,
Allow the breath to return to its natural rhythm and perhaps scan the body to notice how your sensations or emotions may have changed in the course of this practice.
Thank you for taking this time to show yourself some appreciation.
Remember to return to this or any self-love practice daily to improve your relationship with yourself.
