Welcome,
Everyone.
To this Sturgeon Full Moon Body Relaxation Meditation.
The Sturgeon Moon is the traditional name given to the August full moon.
By some Native American tribes.
A time when sturgeon were abundant.
And easy to catch as they rose from the depths of the water toward the surface.
Sturgeon are among the oldest fish species on earth.
And these ancient creatures can live for many decades.
And because of their longevity.
They can symbolize endurance and adaptability.
The word sturgeon.
Means stirring.
These large fish spend much of their time along the bottom of the water.
Stirring up the mud as they search for food.
And perhaps this offers us.
Beautiful metaphor for our own lives.
Sometimes when we become quiet and still.
Things that have been resting beneath the surface may gently rise into our awareness.
Of feeling.
A memory.
A thought.
Or simply something within us that's ready to be noticed.
During this meditation.
Rather than searching for anything.
We'll simply allow ourselves to be present with whatever arises.
So let's take a journey to a peaceful lake.
Sip aside the water and spend some time connecting with the quiet ancient energy.
Of the sturgeon full moon.
Make yourself comfortable.
You might lie down,
Extending your legs long with your arms either resting comfortably alongside your body.
Or gently resting on your belly.
Maybe you prefer to sit.
And if so,
Allow your hands to rest comfortably in your lap or on your thighs.
Take a slow breath.
Deep breath in.
And as you exhale,
If it's okay,
Gently close your eyes.
Begin to notice.
The natural rhythm of your breath.
There's nothing you need to change.
Simply notice the breath moving in.
And moving out.
Gradually begin to let it lengthen and deepen.
Notice whether the body's beginning to relax.
And whether the mind is beginning to grow.
A little quieter.
Now imagine yourself.
Standing at the beginning of a peaceful path through a forest.
It's a safe and welcoming place.
The animals here are peaceful and you feel completely at ease.
I should begin walking along the well-worn path.
You hear the gentle crunch of pine needles beneath your feet.
A soft breeze.
Moves through the trees above you.
Take a slow breath in.
And notice the scent of the forest.
Perhaps it smells like pine or fir.
Maybe cedar.
Or perhaps it brings to mind the comforting scent of a Christmas tree.
Or an old cedar chest.
With each breath.
Allow yourself to relax.
A little more deeply.
Imagine.
Releasing any tension.
You no longer.
Need to carry.
Continue along the path.
At your own comfortable pace.
The trees gently surround you.
And the sounds of the forest become softer.
And more distant.
Head.
You come to a set.
Of wooden steps.
Carved from the trees of the forest.
At the top of the steps.
Pause for a moment.
Listen.
Below you.
You can hear the gentle sound of water.
Lapping against the shore.
Peaceful Lake is waiting for you.
There are six steps leading down to the water.
And with each step you take.
With each breath you take.
Allow your body.
To become more.
And more relaxed.
Allow your mind.
To be more peaceful.
Stepping from six to five.
Allow your forehead.
To smooth.
Corners of your eyes to soften.
Allow your eyes to become heavy.
In their sockets.
Feel the air coming into your nose as you breathe.
And feel the warmth of the air as you exhale.
Allow your jaw to soften.
Allow the tongue to rest.
The bottom of your mouth.
Let your lips soften.
Stepping from five to four.
Let your shoulders be soft.
Relax your upper back.
Relax the tops of the arms.
Elbows.
The four arms.
The wrists.
The hands.
And let your fingers rest gently.
Stepping from four to three.
Allow your chest to soften.
You're ripped.
Your mid back.
And your belly.
Breathe in deeply and allow the belly to soften.
Watching it rise.
And fall as you exhale.
Stepping from three to two.
Allow your lower back.
To relax.
And your hips.
If there's any tension there,
Let it melt away.
And stepping from two to one.
Let your thighs soften.
Backs of your legs.
Your knees.
Her shins.
And your calves.
Let them relax.
Notice your ankles.
And your feet.
Allowing any tension there to melt away.
And then noticing any sensations.
In the toes.
Letting them feel soft and light.
And now stepping off of the stairs.
Ahead of you is a wooden dot.
Extending gently out over the water.
Go ahead and walk toward it.
And find a comfortable place to sit.
As you settle onto the dock.
Take a moment to simply.
Out across the lake.
The water is calm and clear.
You can see deep beneath its surface.
All the way down to the sandy bottom.
Smooth rocks rest quietly beneath the water.
Every now and then the small fish.
Darts through the clear water.
And then.
.
.
Something larger catches your attention.
A great shadow begins to rise slowly from the depths.
An ancient sturgeon.
For a moment,
You may feel surprised.
Perhaps even a little startled,
And if you do,
Simply.
.
.
Return your awareness to your breath.
Breathe in slowly.
And exhale gently.
There's nothing you need to do.
Simply.
Observe.
Watch the sturgeon.
Move through the water.
Stirring the sand and mud at the bottom of the lake.
And.
.
.
Perhaps allow this stirring to remind you.
Of your own inner world.
Sometimes when we become still.
Something from beneath the surface may gently make itself known.
Might be a thought.
Feeling.
A memory.
Or perhaps nothing at all.
Whatever arises,
There's no need to hold on to it or push it away.
Simply.
Notice.
And breathe.
Allow the breath.
To be your anchor.
With each inhale,
Create a little more space.
And with each exhale,
Soften.
Relax a little more deeply.
The ancient sturgeon reminds us of the wisdom of endurance and adaptability.
For thousands of years,
These creatures have moved through changing waters and changing worlds.
They remind us that we too.
.
.
Have moved through seasons of change.
We've adapted.
Endured.
Grown.
And we carry within us the strength.
Maybe deeper.
Than we sometimes realize.
For the next few moments.
Simply sit beside the lake.
Watch the sturgeon moving peacefully through the water.
Oh wow.
The mud to settle.
Oh wow.
The water to become clear.
And allow your own body and mind.
To rest in stillness.
Until you hear the sound of a bell.
Thank you.
Bye.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Bye.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you very much.
I don't know.
Friends,
It's time to leave the light.
Take a long,
Slow,
Deep breath in.
And as you exhale.
Gently let it go.
Begin to bring your awareness back to your body.
Noticing the surface beneath you.
The temperature of the air around you.
And when you feel ready.
Gently open your eyes.
Bring with you the quiet strength.
Of the sturgeon.
Clarity of the water.
And the reminder that beneath the surface of every life.
There's a deep well of wisdom.
Endurance.
And the ability.
To adapt to change.
Namaste.
