There are two sides to the inner child,
The innocent and the orphan.
Often we are only aware of our inner child when it challenges us.
The challenge of the innocent is naiveté and the challenge of the orphan is cynicism.
When we meditate on our inner child we become conscious of it.
It becomes a trusted confidant and its gifts of optimism and perseverance become available to us.
Lying down or seated in a reclined position,
Bring your awareness to the area below your belly button.
Feel the gentle rise and fall here as you rest.
Close your eyes and bring your hands to comfortably rest there.
This is your Sea of Qi,
The Chinese called the Dan Tian.
Think of it as a guidance system.
Like the rhythm of your breath,
The Sea of Qi is always there for you,
Helping you stay connected,
Vital and stable.
Reflect for a moment on how much love and consistency your body gives you daily without ever being asked.
We will be breathing in to a count of four,
Holding our breath for one second and exhaling and freely releasing through the mouth.
Don't try to control the exhale.
Listen to me now as you inhale.
1-100,
2-100,
3-100,
4-100.
Hold your breath for one,
And 1-100 and through your mouth exhale and release.
Enjoy this breath as you bring your awareness to the area below your belly button,
Feeling the gentle rise and fall.
Relax the breath and let go of counting.
Feel your body supported and rest.
For the moment,
Allow thoughts to pass in and out of your mind with the knowledge that there will be time to address them later.
This time and place is reserved for you and for connecting with your inner child companion.
Imagine yourself as you are now,
Walking towards an outdoor space where you spent many hours as a young child.
As you approach it,
You notice yourself as a child,
Playing alone completely immersed in what you were doing.
Picture her or him until you can make out the details of their appearance.
You see your young one is playing with a large orange bouncing ball.
You can hear the sound of the orange ball bouncing against the ground rhythmically.
The young one looks up and smiles at you and you say hello.
The young one asks you to play,
Walks to you and hands you the ball to bounce.
You take it in your hands feeling its smooth,
Soft surface,
Then bounce it and feel it rebound into your fingers.
Once,
Twice and three times.
Grasping the ball,
You smile at your young one and hand it back to them.
As they resume their play,
You speak to them,
Telling them you are their grown up and you have something to tell them.
Repeat the following out loud.
It is my job to make sure you are safe,
Comfortable and have what you need.
You can talk to me,
Your grown up,
Whenever you would like and I will listen to what you have to say.
The young one puts the ball down and looks into your eyes.
Take their hand,
Bend down to their height and repeat.
I am sorry for in the past not always paying attention when you were trying to get my help.
I am sorry for in the past not always helping you feel safe.
I promise from now on to do better at that.
You let go of your young one's hand,
Smile at one another,
They pick up the ball and begin bouncing it and walk away.
You tell them thank you for talking and remind them they can come to you with anything they need or want to say and you will listen to them.
Coming back to the present,
Feel yourself in the here and now,
Lying or reclining.
Feel your hands on your lower belly moving up and down.
Open your eyes and begin to move your feet and your toes.
Look around and take in your surroundings.
Repeat after me.
I am safe.
I am whole and connected.
I am here and now.
You may use this meditation to regularly communicate with your inner child companion.
When you feel your young one reaching out to make contact,
Let them know you hear them and later make the time to have communication.
It is likely that as a child you were not completely taught how to perceive,
Manage and use your emotions.
This is understandable.
At first be prepared to receive messages that come from this immature place within that may not be very clear.
Be gentle and compassionate towards yourself.
Learn to listen to your inner child companion from your heart,
Then use your mind to decide what to do.
As you continue to do so,
You will notice that communication becomes smoother and you will feel more wholeness and peace within.
