Welcome,
Friends,
To this Harvest Full Moon Body Relaxation Meditation.
Find a comfortable position.
Either lying down or seated.
If you're lying down,
Let your arms rest by your sides or on your belly.
If you're seated.
Let them rest comfortably in your lap.
Take a deep breath in.
And as you exhale,
Softly close your eyes.
Begin to notice the natural rhythm of your breath.
There's nothing you need to change.
Simply breathe.
And notice.
Allow the breath.
To gradually deepen and lengthen.
And as you do,
Notice the body.
Beginning to soften.
And the mind.
Beginning to still.
Now.
In your mind's eye.
Imagine yourself.
Sitting on the porch of a farmhouse.
Beneath the harvest full moon.
Perhaps you're sitting in a rocking chair.
Or a porch swing.
Or perhaps you're lying comfortably on a bench with cushions beneath you.
Evening air is warm and gentle.
You can hear the sound of crickets all around.
And in front of you.
Is a bountiful garden.
Perhaps.
There are tall stalks of corn waiting to be harvested.
Maybe giant pumpkins resting along the ground.
There are all kinds of vegetables that have grown from seeds planted months ago.
The moon is bright.
Lighting the fields and garden almost as if it were daytime.
Silvery shadows stretch across the earth.
The harvest moon has traditionally been associated with this time of gathering in the crops.
A time when the work of the growing season begins to reveal its rewards.
Take a moment.
To appreciate the bounty before you.
And find gratitude in your heart.
All that went into creating it.
Planting.
Pretending.
All the work.
And the time.
Now let that feeling of gratitude turn towards your own body.
Your body has also been working for you.
Through every season of your life.
Maybe it hasn't always felt strong.
And perhaps time has changed it.
But it continues to support you.
Right now.
Rather than asking anything of your body.
Simply offer it your gratitude.
Bring your awareness to your right foot.
Toes.
The bottom of the foot.
Heal.
And the top of the foot.
Let the whole right foot relax.
Bring your awareness to your right calf.
And the shin.
Gently move that awareness to your right knee.
The top of the knee.
And behind the knee.
Now shift your awareness.
To your thigh.
Allow any tension.
In the right leg to melt away.
Now bring your awareness to your left foot.
Toes.
The bottom of the foot.
The heel.
And the top of the foot.
Let the whole left foot.
Relax.
Bring your awareness to your left calf.
And the left shin.
And allow that awareness to drift up to the knee.
The top of the knee.
And the back of the knee.
Now noticing.
The left thigh.
As your attention moves upwards.
Allow any tension in the left leg.
To melt away.
Bring your awareness to both legs.
Notice the muscles.
Bones.
And joints that help you stand.
And move through your life.
Perhaps they don't move as easily as they once did,
And yet They've supported you through countless steps.
Offer them gratitude.
Now bring your attention to your hips.
And your pelvis.
Your lower back.
These large,
Strong,
Interconnected parts of your body.
That provides stability and support.
Simply notice.
And appreciate.
Now bring your awareness to your abdomen and belly.
Notice the general movement.
With each breath you take.
Your body continues to breathe without being asked to.
Take a moment to appreciate all that's happening within you.
Without effort.
Or conscious thought.
Now bring your awareness to your chest and heart.
And feel the rise and fall of your breath.
In this space.
And bring gratitude to your heart.
For all the years it's continued to beat.
Now shift your attention to your back body.
The lower back.
The middle back.
The upper back.
And the shoulders.
Allow the muscles around the spine and shoulders to soften.
Let the earth beneath you.
Hold some of the weight.
Bring your awareness to your right arm.
The upper arm.
The elbow.
The forearm.
The wrist.
The hand.
And all the fingers.
On the right hand.
Now begin to notice your left arm.
The upper arm.
Elbow.
The forearm.
The wrist.
The hand.
And all the fingers.
In the left hand.
Feel both arms resting comfortably.
Thank them.
For all the things that they've held.
And carry.
For all those things.
They created.
And reached for.
Now bring your awareness to your neck.
And throat.
Allow the muscles around your throat and neck to soften.
Notice the freedom to breathe.
To speak.
And to express yourself.
And moving up,
Bring your awareness to your face.
Relax your jaw.
Soften your lips.
Relax the cheeks.
The muscles around your eyes.
Smooth your forehead.
And your scalp.
Now.
Sense your whole body.
Your feet.
Lay.
Belly.
Chest.
Arms.
Hands.
Next.
And head.
Let your whole body.
Rests beneath the light of the harvest moon.
Imagine that soft silvery moonlight.
Gently surrounding your entire body.
Allow yourself to receive it.
Rest here for a few quiet moments.
Feeling the support beneath you.
Feeling the breath.
And allowing gratitude.
To fill the body.
Until you hear.
The sound of a bell.
Friends.
Gently take a long,
Slow,
Deep breath in.
And let it go.
And when you're ready.
Gently begin to move your fingers and toes.
Maybe stretching your arms or legs.
And slowly.
Open your eyes.
Come back to the space around you.
Carry with you.
The light of the harvest moon.
And the simple gratitude for the body that's carried you.
Through all the seasons in your life.
May you recognize the bounty.
That's within you.
Namaste.
