Welcome.
It's great to have you here.
In a short while,
We'll be taking a journey of the spirit,
But for now,
Let's spend a few minutes releasing the stresses of the day.
Picture yourself lying on a thick quilt spread under a glorious maple tree.
You are resting just a short distance from a stream that winds through a field into the woods.
It's early summer.
There's a light breeze and the sun is shining brightly.
Close your eyes and take a few deep cleansing breaths.
All around,
The natural world is busy,
But this is your time to unwind and simply relax in the comfort of where you are right now.
Breathe in peace.
Breathe out stress.
Feel the gentle weight of gravity pulling you deeper into the quilt,
The warmth of the day softening your body.
Bringing your attention to your brow and jaw,
Release any tightness you're holding onto.
Now,
A wave of softness washes over your neck and shoulders.
Muscles and ligaments loosen with every exhale.
Arms become slack.
Hands are heavy.
At your own relaxed pace,
Let this slow moving ripple of contentment move down your body,
The quiet rhythm of your breath guiding the flow as it journeys towards your toes.
As it journeys towards your toes.
We'll soon be heading into our adventure,
But this embodied sense of peace is what we're looking for.
We'll soon be heading into our adventure,
But this embodied sense of peace will stay with you throughout the meditation.
And though we'll be traveling far,
You'll remain safe.
Always tethered to your body through your breath.
Gently bring your attention to a new focus and notice that you're immersed in a sea of undulating leaves.
The quilt and ground are far below.
And as you orient to this new perspective,
A deep connection is forged between you and the tree.
As if your spirits have merged,
You now have the sensation that you are one life form.
Your multitude of branches radiate outward,
Stretching up and up toward the sun.
Feel yourself anchored by a thick,
Strong trunk,
Your vehicle for nourishment,
Energizing every aspect of your being.
Revel in your crowning glory,
Hundreds and hundreds of waving emerald leaves,
Microcosms of your larger self.
Time passes.
The afternoons are warm,
But the sun casts a longer shadow,
And the evening air is cool and dry.
The changes that have come to your world fill you with joy.
Squirrels and robins live among your branches.
You've provided shade to wandering travelers.
And your canopy has transformed into a blazing sphere of orange,
Yellow,
And red.
You are radiant,
And everyone who passes by reflects on your beauty,
Energy,
And vibrance.
Their admiration adds to your stately glow,
But more importantly,
You are awakening into your full potential,
Honoring who you are and all you have to share.
The days are shorter now,
With wind and rain often filling the chilly hours.
Passersby forge through the challenging conditions with round-shouldered determination,
Never bothering to glance in your direction.
Leaf by leaf,
Your magnificent headdress flutters from your branches.
The once glorious canopy now carpets the cold ground.
This loss of physical beauty unearths a deep sadness.
Just a short while back,
It was impossible to imagine undergoing such a dramatic change.
It's sometimes hard to believe how different things have become.
Take a bit of time to sit with the sadness of this transformation,
And allow yourself to mourn the loss.
Sit with the sadness of this transformation,
And allow yourself to mourn the loss.
Weeks go by.
Let in skies loom above,
And a bitter wind howls through your limbs.
The little creek struggles to flow under a layer of crackling ice.
No one told you how hard things could get out here.
There's an ache and longing for days gone by,
But sometimes it's even difficult to remember those times of ease.
Sudden and intense storms blow across the field,
And almost all your energy is expended on remaining upright and rooted.
It feels as if this could go on forever.
You realize you will have to journey inward to endure these conditions.
As you become still and quiet,
Your inner wisdom has space to expand.
The foundation you've grown is strong,
And when the wind blows hard,
You've been able to bend.
At a level even deeper than your formidable roots,
You've been guided by courage,
Curiosity,
And instinct.
And learned you can still make progress,
Even when you don't know where you're headed.
Behind the force that has the power to both freeze a forest and fill a meadow with songbirds,
There exists a greater plan.
When the outside world is less than hospitable,
This knowledge will shelter your exhausted spirit.
Take some time to simply rest in the understanding that you are supported and nurtured in ways that may remain forever unseen.
The days remain cold,
But one afternoon there's a new energy circulating.
The sun is tucked behind a low bank of clouds,
Its hazy halo emanating from under a thick,
Pale gray veneer.
There's a moistness in the air,
And the wind is a thin whisper.
Deer and foxes retreat to the forest and nestle into their respective homes.
Quietly,
Almost imperceptibly,
Fat flakes of snow begin to fall from the sky.
As if the atmosphere is releasing a long,
Deep exhale,
You feel a strange calm settle upon your corner of the world.
Everything is blessedly still,
And as the hours progress,
The field and woods become covered in a thick,
Shimmering blanket of snow.
Your once barren branches twinkle in the hint of sun filtering through the clouds.
The landscape takes on an ethereal quality,
And in this harsh season,
You are grateful for this respite of tranquil beauty.
Weeks pass,
And gradually,
The sky brightens and the earth softens.
The days unfold to a different cadence,
As warmer breezes course through your expanding limbs,
And sunshine energizes your whole being.
All around,
The natural world is waking up and celebrating the arrival of life-giving light,
Blue skies,
And sweet scented nights.
The meadow is now filled with the steady song of birds and insects,
While spotted fawns move on wobbly legs behind their mothers.
The little creek sings its own happy tune,
Punctuated with solos from bullfrogs living in the rushes.
Everything is once again so different,
Including you.
Tight brown buds appear at the tip of every branch,
And day by day,
They unfurl into tiny green leaves.
It's not the multicolored mane of former days,
But this delicate canopy bestows a sense of hope that feels even more precious than beauty.
For every coating of ice and gust of wind endured,
It now seems like there's an ocean of small green flags waving in your honor.
New growth,
New life.
Let yourself fill with gratitude for the divine energy that brought you through to this moment.
Thank you for watching!
A current of lilac scented air floats past,
And you hear the quiet rustling of lacy green leaves above you.
As your attention shifts focus,
You realize you are once again back in your body,
Stretched out on a quilt at the base of the magnificent maple.
Reach up and place your open palm on her sturdy trunk.
She has shown you how to weather the storm.
With an open heart,
Allow her strength and resilience to remain with you as you navigate through all the seasons of your life.
Thank you for watching!
