Welcome,
Dear traveler,
To Safari and Soul.
My name is Reshma,
And today I'm going to take you on a soul safari to help you ground in the wilderness of your mind.
Find a comfortable seat.
Perhaps lie down if that feels better.
Switch off your phone or put it on silent,
And take these few minutes for yourself.
Let's start by taking a slow breath in through your nose and a steady breath out.
Again,
An inhale and an exhale.
Allow your body to arrive to this space.
Let your shoulders soften.
Let your jaw unclench.
Let your hands rest easy.
Lie down if you're sitting and you'd prefer to lie down.
Do whatever makes you feel that you are here.
In my work as a facilitator and guide,
I often use the metaphor of a safari,
A journey in the African wilderness,
Based on my own history of growing up in the wilderness with a family who had a company that took people on these safari journeys.
A safari is not about rushing.
It is not about forcing a destination.
It is about entering open,
Vast land with awareness,
With curiosity,
With respect for what unfolds.
So join me on this journey.
Close your eyes gently if they're not already closed.
Let's take another deep breath in on the count of one,
Two,
Three,
Four,
And let's exhale for four,
Two,
Three,
Two,
One.
Your eyes still closed.
Imagine now that you're standing at the edge of a vast savannah.
Imagine all the grass in front of you swaying with the wind as the sun shines bright on the grass and on you.
Wide blue sky above you,
Earth steady beneath you.
Perhaps it feels like you are barefoot and you're grounded on the earth.
Hear the beautiful bird sounds chirping away as the sun rises over the savannah.
There is space here.
Notice how your breath changes when you imagine space.
In wide landscapes,
We remember perspective.
In this ancient land,
We remember that we belong.
And this wilderness is not only outside us,
But it also lives within us.
The part of you that knows how to pause.
The part of you that senses when to move and when to rest.
The part of you that does not need to prove anything.
That is the wilderness in you.
Let's take another slow breath in.
Imagine as if the sun is rising,
You are inhaling.
And as the sun reaches the peak in the sky,
Let your breath out and take as long as you can,
As long as you need.
Let it all go in your exhale.
Imagine taking a few slow steps forward onto this open land.
One foot in front of the other.
One limb in front of the other.
There is no urgency.
There is no haste.
You are not behind.
You are not late.
You are simply traveling.
Simply walking at a pace that feels good for you.
And as you continue to take deep breaths during this time,
With each inhale,
Feel the expansion in your chest.
With each exhale,
Feel the grounding in your body.
Just be in these moments of wilderness.
The birds chirping.
The wind rustling.
You are alive.
You do not need to see the entire journey ahead of you.
Only this step.
And this breath.
Place one hand gently on your heart.
Feel its rhythm.
You are alive.
You are steady.
You are part of something larger than this moment.
Even if life feels busy.
Even if decisions feel uncertain.
There is a wide sky within you.
There is a vast openness within your mind and in your soul and in your heart.
A place that is calm.
That is spacious.
That is ancient.
That is really the core of who you are.
Rest there for a few breaths.
And as we come towards a close,
Take one deeper inhale.
Imagine all the beauty of the air of this wilderness being inhaled into your spirit.
And exhale all the tension,
All the unease.
Everything that makes you feel closed.
Let it go.
You may choose to open your eyes.
And as you return to your day,
Remember.
You may leave the wilderness.
But the wilderness never leaves you.
It lives within you.
Welcome to Safarian Soul,
Dear traveler.
I hope to see you next time.
