Let's bring in the energy of the lion.
Begin by lying on your back with your arms to the side and your palms up.
Take a few deep breaths,
Coming into the here and now.
Become aware of your toes and feel them drifting into a very deep,
Deep state of relaxation.
Feel this wave of relaxation traveling along the soles and the heels of the feet.
Letting go,
Letting go,
Relaxed.
Feel this wave of relaxation traveling along the calves and the shins.
Drifting away,
Deeper and deeper.
All around your knees,
Letting go.
And now your upper legs joining in this deeply relaxed state.
Now bring your awareness to the fingers and feel them letting go.
The palms,
Back of the hands and wrists,
Relaxed.
Forearms,
Elbows,
And upper arms.
Drifting into this very deep,
Peaceful state of relaxation.
Now bring your awareness to the pelvis and keep on letting go until there is nothing left to let go of.
Relax the low back and the abdomen.
Mid back,
Upper back,
And chest,
Let go.
Feel your shoulders joining in this very deeply relaxed state.
All around your neck,
Drifting away,
Deeper and deeper.
Your chin,
Cheeks,
Lips,
Nose,
Eyes,
Forehead and scalp,
All completely relaxed now.
Scan your body and see if any area is still holding on to any tension.
Use the power of your mind and a deep breath to let it go.
In this deeply relaxed state,
Bring an image of the lion into your awareness.
This king of beasts is often associated with the masculine qualities of strength and courage.
In the Greeks,
See the lion as a representation of the masculine sun god.
Yet many cultures see the lion representing the feminine.
The lion is the vehicle of the Hindu goddess Durga,
Who represents her mastery over the lion qualities of will,
Power,
And determination.
The lion is not just the vehicle of the goddess,
But a strong symbol that communicates power,
Fearlessness,
Ruthlessness,
Brute force,
And a reigning rule that the lion possesses over the areas they control.
The young lion was often the symbol of the rising sun and all that is implied by it.
Many Middle Eastern and Egyptian goddesses also tamed and rode the lion,
Seeing it as sphinx-like,
Both a nurturer and a destroyer.
In the Buddhist tradition,
The lion is a defender of the law,
But doing so with a soft paw of compassion.
The British gave homage to the great mother of the gods,
The lady who ruled lions.
Enthroned between two lions,
They described her as the virgin in her heavenly place,
Riding upon the lion,
The bearer of corn,
Inventor of law,
Founder of cities,
By whose gift it is man's good lot to know the gods.
Therefore,
She is the mother of the gods,
And of peace and virtue.
The lion is known for its attentiveness.
It is said that the lion sleeps with its eyes wide open.
In the Christian tradition,
Both Saint Mark and Saint Jerome are symbolized by their animal totem,
The lion.
Individuals known for their lion-like qualities are magnanimous and creative.
They tend to put themselves into situations that broaden their horizons.
They can be broad-minded and open to variations in the culture and lifestyles of others.
They are natural leaders and organizers.
Sometimes they need to keep a pompous attitude under control.
Those who use the lion as a vehicle are known as the destroyer of demons,
Which can include bad memories,
Past experiences,
And even addictions.
Bring into your awareness the qualities of the lion that you resonate with.
Remain open to and silently repeat the following affirmations that will reinforce the lion qualities within you.
I now use my personal power to release any demons in my life that are keeping me from bringing my gifts to the world.
I embrace new ways of expressing my power.
I easily assert my power when necessary.
I feel free to roar,
To speak out if I feel threatened or intruded upon.
I am protective of those I love.
I know when to use my personal power,
And I know how to completely relax.
I establish firm boundaries in my life and respect the boundaries of others.
I am attentive to opportunities in my life as well as dangers.
I trust my feminine energies,
Creativity,
Intuition,
And imagination.
I am a natural leader and organizer.
I seize the opportunity to awaken to a new sun,
New opportunities,
New experiences.
I take dominion over all in my control.
Now bring to your mind a challenging situation in your life.
See yourself exhibiting your inner lion to resolve the situation to everyone's satisfaction.
Bring in your power,
Your intuition,
Creativity,
And resolve or destroy what is no longer needed and awaken to a new dawn.
Know that you have the power within you and can call upon this power whenever it is appropriate.
Now you can choose to return to your usual level of wakefulness and alertness or drift into a deep sleep.
If you choose to awaken,
Feel your body and mind becoming more aware of your surroundings.
If you choose to sleep,
Let the relaxation deepen and know the attributes of the lion will be more deeply established into your being as you sleep.
I will count to three.
When I reach three,
You will be at your desired level of relaxation or alertness.
One,
Two,
Three.
