Welcome to this week's meditation.
This week we are wishing upon the Kalpataru tree or the traditional celestial wishing tree.
And it's said that connecting with this meditation allows us to go past our surface level desires and really tap into our heart's deepest wishes.
When you're ready,
Come to a tall seat or lie down,
Get comfortable.
Once you're settled,
Allow your eyes to close.
Take a deep breath in through your nose,
Fill up your lungs,
And open your mouth and set your breath out.
Do that two more times on your own.
Deep breath in,
Open mouth exhale.
And just find a steady,
Calm breath.
Now guide your attention to your heart space.
Place your left hand over your heart and your right hand on top of your left.
Just become aware of your heartbeat.
Listen to its rhythm.
Imagine each pulsation of your heart pumping blood all throughout your body.
Through the intricate network of arteries and veins.
Now imagine each of these pathways above your heart as branches of a tree.
Below your heart as roots to the tree,
Teeming with life,
Step deep into the earth.
Follow this path of oxygen as it's pumped out through the heart,
Out through your chest,
Your shoulders,
Down your arms,
And into your hands,
And then back again.
Follow it down your body,
Into your belly,
Your legs,
Your knees,
And your feet.
Back up again,
Returning to your core.
Imagine every drop of blood passing through,
Being refreshed with breath and air and life.
Visualize your heart as a sacred tree.
Its branches are threads of a web of life,
Extending all through your body and then out into the world.
The trunk of the tree is your core being,
Your seated center of self.
Below the core,
There's your roots with an unshakable foundation,
Supporting you,
Giving you life.
Also from your core spring branches,
The leaves of these branches contain your heart's deepest desire.
Imagine in front of this tree a jeweled altar.
Make an offering to this altar.
It can be something that you are willing to give of yourself,
Like creativity,
Healing,
Commitment,
Or something that you're willing to give up,
Like a bad habit or toxicity.
Make your offering and allow whatever sensations that arise to come.
Feel the longings of your heart and breathe into them.
Feel them throughout your entire body,
Pulsing outward and returning inward.
Feel the entire tree saturated with your deepest desires.
Now imagine a bird flying right up to your tree.
This bird looks at you,
Cocks its head to the left and then to the right.
And somehow you know that this bird has been listening deeply to everything you've expressed.
Allow yourself a moment of communion and understanding with this bird.
When you are ready,
You'll allow this bird to fly away.
Let it free by placing your hands face up on your thighs.
Rather than grasping or chasing the bird,
Kiss it goodbye.
Allow this bird to carry your desires,
Your wishes to the powers that be.
Rather than forcing,
Trust that all is being fulfilled in the best possible way.
Let it free by placing your hands face up on your thighs.
Take a slow breath in,
Scan your body of any tension.
With your exhale,
Just allow that tension to melt as you sit tall and proud.
Smile to yourself,
Take your hands to prayer in front of your heart.
Bow to your innermost self.
Take a deep breath in,
Scan your body of any tension.
Breathe out and cesate from one,
Two or three you
