Welcome to Breathing With The Trees,
A nature-centred guided mindfulness meditation that you can do at home,
Tucked up somewhere comfortable,
Or out in nature with a tree that personally calls you to connect to it.
One that makes your heart hum with life force.
And if you're at home,
Imagine you're sat underneath your favourite type of tree.
People and trees have a wonderful symbiosis.
Trees produce oxygen,
Which we breathe in,
And they take in carbon dioxide,
Which we breathe out.
Essentially,
Trees breathe out,
We breathe in.
We breathe out,
Trees breathe in.
Isn't that just a little bit magical?
So,
Take a moment to find your tree in your memories,
Imagination,
Or in nature right in front of you.
Is this tree catching your eye because it's particularly beautiful,
Enigmatic,
Wise-looking?
Sit with your back against the trunk of your chosen tree.
Imagine and really feel the roots with your hand.
Focus purely on the feel of it beneath your fingers.
Notice the temperature,
The texture,
The shape.
Think about how old this tree is.
All of the wisdom it has collected and life it holds.
Think of all of the other parts of nature,
Just like you,
That are connected to this tree.
Breathe in deeply,
And let the tree's oxygen fill your lungs.
Breathe out,
And return the air to the tree.
The tree breathes out,
And you breathe in.
You breathe out,
Tree breathes in.
As you continue to breathe slowly,
Deeply,
Intuitively,
Think about how you are breathing in rhythm with this ancient knowing,
Existing in harmony with this life force.
Notice this tree and its state in this season.
Are there leaves,
Bountiful fruits,
Buds,
Blossom,
Bare branches,
Droplets of water?
This tree is exactly how it needs to be in this season of life,
And so are you.
Think about how you are similar to this tree in this season of your life.
If it's winter,
Are you listening to the call to rest?
If it's spring,
Are you starting to blossom?
Are you growing and thriving in the summer?
Are you dropping your unnecessary weights in autumn?
There is such a deep wisdom to learn from this tree.
Breathe in deeply,
And let the tree's oxygen fill your lungs.
Breathe out,
And return the air to the tree.
The tree breathes out,
You breathe in.
You breathe out,
The tree breathes in.
As you continue to breathe slowly,
Deeply,
Intuitively,
Think about how you are an integral part of nature,
The same as any other living organism on this planet.
Notice how natural it is for you to sit underneath this tree and just exist.
There is nothing to rush for,
Nothing to work for.
This existence in nature is simple.
Notice how at ease you feel,
How your body yearns to connect with the living elements of the ground.
Everything is alive and we're thriving together.
Breathe in deeply,
And let the tree's oxygen fill your lungs.
Breathe out,
And return the air to the tree.
The tree breathes out,
You breathe in.
You breathe out,
The tree breathes in.
Let's shift our focus back to the tree.
Imagine what it could see in a day,
The nature it witnesses,
The landscape it grows with.
What does it hear?
The birds singing,
The insects buzzing,
The rain dropping,
Leaves unfurling or rustling,
People telling stories?
What does it feel?
The changing weather,
A bird resting on its branches.
People sat on its roots,
Feeling like they belong,
Knowing they do.
It is connected to everything around it,
Just like you are.
Breathe in deeply,
And let the tree's oxygen fill your lungs.
Breathe out,
And return the air to the tree.
The tree breathes out,
You breathe in.
You breathe out,
The tree breathes in.
Now let's focus on what you feel as you connect to this ancient life force.
Nestle against this tree that called you to it,
And feel its shape supporting you as you continue to breathe intuitively.
Let your muscles relax with a long out-breath.
Breathe deeply in,
And relax even more as you return more air back to the tree.
Feel the fresh air nourish your body to your core.
What do you hear?
Are there birds in this tree?
Leaves rustling in a breeze?
Wildlife scuttling,
Flying,
Munching,
Resting?
Are there other people enjoying their time in this space too?
Take a moment to tune in.
Can you taste or smell the air,
The soil,
The damp bark or the mosses?
These senses are so intricately linked.
Can you taste or smell the pollen,
Fruits or ground?
Can you smell if it's just rained,
Or if the dusty earth is in need of a soak?
Breathe in deeply,
And let the tree's oxygen fill your lungs.
Breathe out,
And return the air to the tree.
The tree breathes out,
You breathe in.
You breathe out,
The tree breathes in.
Tune in to your core being.
Breathe right into every corner of your body and nourish it.
Just like how the trees are connected to their every leaf,
Bud or inch of bark,
You are connected to every part of your mind,
Body and soul.
Finally,
Connect your core to the tree's core.
It has a rhythm,
Life force,
Innate being just like you.
Slow everything down and take a moment to find some gratitude.
What are you grateful for?
The moment this tree has given you to slow down maybe?
Perhaps you feel gratitude for being able to connect deeply to nature,
Where you belong.
Feel gratitude pulsing through your body with every beat of your heart and rhythm of your breath.
Breathe in deeply,
And let the tree's oxygen fill your lungs.
Breathe out,
And return the air to the tree.
The tree breathes out,
You breathe in.
You breathe out,
The tree breathes in.
Return to this nature connection mindfulness moment whenever you need to slow down or remember where you belong.
Take this connection with you in your everyday life.
Thank you for listening.
