Welcome to a guided journey with deer.
I'll be leading you through this sacred journey into the underworld.
Journeys are like dreams,
Except that we can direct them a little bit and recall more detail because we're mostly awake.
That being said,
You'll descend deeply within in order to arrive at the lush thicket of forest inside the lower world where you'll travel one level deeper than your usual dimension.
Smudge your space and pause this audio now if you need to make time for that.
It'll enhance your experience to shed anything you're carrying which isn't your energy.
Name whatever you're letting go of and let the smoke or spray dissipate that energy and open you up for your journey inward.
Have your journal and a pen near you as well as a glass of water.
You can do this meditation seated or lying down in journey pose if you like which is lying on your back,
Palms facing up,
Head and neck in alignment or seated upright with your legs folded,
Hands open in receptive pose.
Feel your bones fully engaged with the earth.
With a deep breath and a relaxed straight spine,
Fill your belly with air.
Let the ocean breath rise and fall while you imagine the breath of the forest expanding and contracting.
The trees literally inhaling and exhaling as one body in and out.
Keep your breath moving in a slow rhythm and feel the pulse of your own heartbeat.
Imagine yourself in a very safe place in nature.
Maybe this is a place that you played in as a child,
A place where your innocence was preserved and you were free to run wild,
Wind in your hair and mud between your toes.
Come to this place in nature and know it,
Recognize it and look for a guide at an opening in the earth.
Maybe it's a rabbit hole or a hollowed out tree chunk or a dock on the water,
Any place or portal that will lead you in.
If you see a guide or a power animal or a totem,
They'll know the way.
If not,
Slip into the earth at your own pace.
Slide gently into the lower world through this portal.
Ride the roots of that tree or the earthen sides of the rabbit hole or dive down into the waters of life and sense the depths which you're descending to.
Emerge slowly into the lower world,
Taking soft notice of the landscape that surrounds you now.
Begin to move slowly through it,
Making your way deeper into the environment.
Allow yourself to be curious,
Adventuresome and fearless,
Wandering deeper into the landscape with your guide or alone,
However you find yourself at this time.
Fully trust that you'll find the opening in the forest.
Notice all the details around you beginning to darken,
The trees forming a thicket before you.
Suddenly a ghostly figure appears and disappears quickly into the dark wood.
It appears to be a white stag.
Follow him now.
Weave your way through the trees and notice the little bit of light trickling in through the canopy.
Feel the forest mulch under your feet,
A mixture of fur needles and moist earth spongy under foot.
Allow your curiosity to build as you seek out this mysterious creature.
Catch a glimpse of him now and again and stay on his tracks.
Where is he leading you?
Where are you now?
Take a look around.
Here in the lower world,
The benevolent teacher,
Deer,
Is showing you something about your life.
As you follow in his footpath,
You discover something about you.
What path are you on?
What mysterious aspects of you are yearning to be honored?
Sig awaits by a tree in a small green clearing.
Approach him now and deepen your journey.
Receive a gift from deer which allows you to be vulnerable.
Thank deer in your way.
Bring the medicine of deer which you've received into your heart by bringing your palms to your chest.
Bid him farewell and make your way out of the forest.
Return slowly to ordinary reality.
Softly feel yourself come back into your body,
Grounded on the earth,
Bringing your full attention to your head,
Your spine,
Your hips,
Your legs,
And your feet.
Root yourself in the present.
Wiggle some fingers and some toes.
Softly open your eyes.
Be sure to move consciously from this place and remember to honor the medicine which has been given to you by deer.
