Today we'll be meditating on freedom.
We all crave freedom in our lives and this may look different for everyone.
We might want freedom from pain,
Either emotional or physical,
Freedom to do as we please,
Freedom from the weight of responsibility,
From the busyness of our lives.
What does freedom look like for you?
Maybe it's a physical place like the top of a mountain or a deserted beach,
Or maybe it's just being on your own,
Being able to do the things you love.
What kind of freedom does your heart crave?
Perhaps financial freedom,
Maybe it's physical freedom,
Freedom from a habit or behavior.
We may want freedom from worry,
Stress,
Confusion,
Doubt,
Insecurity.
The list seems endless and we often debate whether we would trade one type of freedom for the other,
But what we frequently forget is that true freedom is mental and emotional freedom,
The freedom to be yourself,
To be calm whilst the world's chaos whirls around us.
True freedom does not come from being able to change our external life,
But from being able to manage our inner life.
True freedom is not being afraid of changing circumstances,
Being able to step out of our comfort zone and be able to face fears with inner calm.
True freedom is being able to work through disappointments and setbacks and be patient.
In essence,
True freedom is living your life on your own terms and defining your own success from within.
It is living in your authentic truth.
When you feel free,
You are living in alignment with who you truly are.
So let's settle down and feel into freedom.
So sitting or lying down,
Allow yourself to find deep comfort within your body.
Allow your breath to assist in relaxing your body.
With each soft deep exhalation your body becoming softer and softer.
Taking a long slow deep inhalation,
Fill the lungs completely and hold the breath in for a moment and then let the breath go with a sigh.
Empty your lungs and let your body completely release.
Take another deep inhalation,
Hold for a moment and then release once more.
One last deep breath in,
Full breath.
Hold that breath in for a moment,
Feeling the energy within you,
That prana,
And then let it go completely.
Your entire body is soft,
Released and relaxed.
Your facial muscles are relaxed,
Your tongue resting in the bottom of your mouth.
Your body is at peace.
Imagine for a moment that you are standing outside yourself,
Observing yourself in this moment.
See yourself relaxed and serene and take yourself on a visualization.
Watch as you see yourself walking outside,
Walking along a cliff path above a wide golden beach.
The beach is peaceful and serene and you find a set of stairs that has wide wooden steps and a smooth wooden handrail that leads down towards the beach.
Taking hold of that smooth handrail,
Begin to walk down the steps,
Counting as you descend.
One,
Two,
Three,
Looking along the beach and out to sea.
Four,
Five,
Six,
Seven,
Feeling the sea air on your skin,
Smelling the sea scents in your nose.
Eight,
Nine,
Ten.
When you reach the bottom of the stairs,
There is a gate and within the weathered wood of this gate is carved the word release.
You push through the gate and step onto the sand barefoot.
Walk towards the sea and set yourself down on the sand.
The sand beneath you is cool and damp.
There is a light covering of clouds and there is a gentle warm breeze on your face.
You notice that beside you there is a beautifully bound book and you pick it up.
Stay in this observer's place and watch as in your mind's eye you see yourself holding this heavy book in your lap.
Within it the pages are blank.
As you gaze at the blank pages,
Bring to mind all the aspects of your life that are blocking you from a sense of freedom,
Fears,
Any negative emotions,
Any conflicts,
All your burdens and watch as they transfer and appear onto the pages of this book.
See all the pain,
The worries,
Stresses and constraints of your life being transferred onto the pages of this book.
They may appear as words or as images,
Feelings and colors.
You're sitting with this book on your lap looking out to sea.
Open the book and take the first page and tear it out of the book.
With easy nimble fingers you fold the page into a paper boat.
The waves lap up to meet you.
You place the boat on a finger of the wave and the sea takes the paper boat out to the ocean.
You repeat this with the next page and the next page until all the pages that hold your fears,
Your pain,
Your negative feelings have floated away.
With each wave another paper boat floats out onto the vast ocean.
As the pages of this book float away you begin to feel lighter and more positive.
The sea has heard you,
Has understood you.
You feel reassured and relieved.
So watch as you lie back in the cool soft sand.
Close your eyes and let yourself go.
Let yourself float with these thoughts.
I'm free to experience life in any way I choose.
Like the universe above me I am limitless.
I am part of a vast unified wholeness.
I am free from all concerns about the past.
I'm free from all concerns about the future.
My life is in perfect order and is unfolding in divine timing for my greater good.
I release my grip on life.
I do not have to strive.
I can simply allow.
I release my tight grip on life.
If problems arise I do not resist them.
I observe them with a calm and open mind for I know that they will resolve in time.
I cherish the quiet spaces between thoughts when inspiration comes to me.
My path forward is becoming clearer.
I trust in the natural flow of life.
I resist nothing.
I yearn for nothing.
I gratefully receive all that comes my way.
Like the universe above me I am limitless.
I am part of a vast unified wholeness.
Allow yourself a gentle smile as you observe yourself lying peaceful connected whole on the sand.
You know that it is time to leave now and so watching yourself walk back across the beach to the steps see yourself beginning to climb back up the steps.
Ten,
Nine,
Eight.
Glancing upwards towards the cliff face.
Seven,
Six,
Five.
Feeling calm and peaceful.
Four,
Three.
Nearly at the top and feeling alert and calm.
Two,
One.
So standing on the cliff path once more glance back at the peace of the beach.
Your paper boats have already been gratefully received by the energy of the sea.
You are calm at peace.
Feelings of newfound freedom within you ready to take into your daily life.
Take a deeper breath and bring your awareness back to your physical body.
Bring yourself back into your space into your body.
Allow your fingers and your toes to move.
Take your time as you slowly gently bring back into your space.
Om Shanti.
