Find a position on the ground that you can hold comfortably during this journey.
Use blankets,
Props,
Or pillows to create an ideal resting place.
When you have found a comfortable position,
Close your eyes and invite your body to relax into the nest you have created for yourself.
Bring attention to your natural breath.
Explore the depth or shallowness of each inhale and exhale.
Notice the area of your lungs you are breathing into.
Perhaps it is in the top of your lungs and chest.
Or maybe your breath fills your lungs completely.
Or is your breath somewhere in between these two places?
As you exhale,
Release any tension you are holding onto in the muscles of your neck and chest.
Feel the ground your body is touching.
Starting with your feet,
Moving up through your calves,
Your thighs,
And sitting muscles.
Feel the earth supporting your back as it presses into the ground and moving to the back of your head,
Resting upon the floor or the soft surface that you have prepared for it.
Feel the heat setting in all around you.
The air becomes very warm.
Imagine that you are in a beautiful desert in the heat of the midday.
The sun is directly above you.
You can feel your skin absorbing every ray of the sun at its fullest.
Around you,
There are desert plants that have grown tall and strong despite the intense power of the sun.
Birds are enjoying the nectar of the bright flowers that crown the tall green cactuses.
Even though the desert can be a challenging environment,
You can see life all around you in the desert shrubs and the towering cactuses.
The air is dry and very hot.
The heat can be felt warming the top of your head and shoulders as you walk through this beautiful and rocky desert.
In the distance,
You can see a snow-capped mountain that feeds a river that has carved its way through the mountain and flows into the desert.
You make your way towards the river to seek its comfort and relief from the powerful sun.
You are determined to reach the river that supplies the desert land with its refreshing cool water.
Although it appears like the river is beyond your reach,
You are closer than it seems.
As you travel towards the water,
A bird flies alongside you as though guiding you to this life-giving river.
You continue through the desert knowing that you will reach the sacred waters.
The strength and perseverance of your body and mind has led you to the cool waters of the gentle river.
Enter the water.
Imagine how wonderfully cold the water feels.
It is supplied by the freshly melted snow from the top of the mountain.
The gentle sound of the water fills the air around you.
Submerge into the water,
Releasing any aches and tension from the journey across the arid terrain.
The desert no longer feels so hot or dry as the water gently flows around you.
The heat and dust on your skin is carried away by the rejuvenating water.
A feeling of refreshment and renewal washes over your body.
Even the warmth of the blazing sun is welcomed.
As the cold water flows around you,
As your body slips into comfortable bliss,
Life can be found in the water all around you.
There are fish,
Beetles,
Locusts,
And birds that flock to the sacred oasis to recharge.
There are trees clinging to the edge of the river,
Feeding their roots with the pure water that flows by.
A feeling of complete trust and gratitude for the river travels through your entire body and mind.
Even in the heat of the desert,
Life finds a way not only to survive but to thrive.
Notice the coolness of the air that moves around you.
Feel your body laying on the ground,
Your feet pressing into the floor.
Sit to your breath and notice the natural rhythm.
Has your breath changed through this journey or has it remained the same?
Imagine the space around you,
The walls and ceiling,
The objects in that space,
Your body in the room.
It is time to leave your rich inner world that brings healing and nurturing to you.
Invite your consciousness back into your physical body,
Slowly moving your fingers and toes.
Inhaling,
You can stretch your arms above your head or where your arms are comfortable.
When you are ready,
Slowly open your eyes and come back to a seated position.
