Welcome and thank you for taking the time to nurture your sense of inner balance.
Find a comfortable position allowing your body to relax.
Close your eyes.
Well done and now focus on your breath.
We always start with the breath don't we?
We start with the breath because it's always with us.
It's the touchstone that we can always come back to.
Feel the gentle rise and fall of each inhale and exhale.
Now take another deep breath.
Breathe in deeply feeling your lungs expand.
Hold it for a moment and then slowly exhale.
Feel your lungs contract.
Continue to breathe.
Pay attention to the rhythm of your breath.
With each inhale feel the expansion and with each exhale note the release and that little tiny bit of relaxation.
Let your breath become a gentle anchor grounding you in the present moment with its very gentle rhythm.
Continue to breathe deeply inhaling fully and then exhaling completely.
As you settle into this rhythm recognize how your breath naturally expands and contracts.
This simple act of breathing is a perfect reflection of the natural cycles of our lives.
Just like our breath our lives naturally shift between periods of expansion and times of contraction.
We simply can't expand indefinitely.
We also need to contract.
There are seasons in our lives of high energy and productivity where we push forward,
Create and grow.
Then there are seasons of rest and reflection when we recharge and gather our thoughts.
This is the ebb and flow that's not only normal but necessary for our overall well-being.
So if you notice that you've been in a period of contraction and you're yearning for expansion pay attention to that shift in energy.
And if you've been expanding and you feel like you're about to collapse even if you expanded for five days in a row and now you need to contract and rest pay attention to that.
Now let's deepen our understanding of the truly natural nature of expansion and contraction with some imagery.
Imagine the ocean tides.
See if you can imagine the ocean waves coming in and out and synchronize that imagery with the inhale and exhale of your breath.
Breathing in,
Watch the waves crashing in.
Breathing out,
Watch the waves recede from the shore.
Picture yourself standing by the shore watching the waves.
Watch the waves rise high,
Expanding with power and energy.
Feel the anticipation and excitement as they grow reaching their peak and then notice how they fall back gently contracting in this very soothing rhythmic dance.
Imagine the sound of the waves,
The smell of salty air and the cool breeze on your face.
Just like these tides our lives naturally shift between expansion and contraction.
See if you can really deeply connect with the feeling of ebb and flow within yourself,
Within your life.
Now from standing there on the beach imagine that you're looking up at the night sky and you're watching the full cycle of the moon.
The night sky is dark and vast,
Stretching out over the ocean.
Notice how the moon moves through different phases.
Imagine it waxing,
Growing fuller and brighter each night Illuminating the darkness,
Feel the sense of expansion as the moon reaches its fullness,
Shining with its greatest intensity.
Moonlight dancing over the water of the ocean.
Then picture the moon waning,
Gradually shrinking back,
Retreating into the shadows.
See if you can connect with the calm stillness of the new moon,
Hidden and quiet.
This cycle is another reminder that we cannot expand indefinitely.
We also need to contract and rest in true stillness.
Take your time to connect with that natural rhythm of the moon.
Think about the changing seasons.
In your mind's eye,
Imagine a tree in the spring.
Visualize all of those branches budding with new leaves,
Budding with flowers and then watch them start to bloom.
Feel the energy and growth of the spring,
This promise of new beginnings.
Then the season shifts into summer,
With the tree in full bloom,
Lush and vibrant.
Feel the warmth and abundance of the summer season.
Feel its heat,
And now the heat is dissipating.
Watch the tree transition into autumn,
Leaves turning gold and red,
Gently falling to the ground.
Experience the process of letting go,
Really deeply letting go,
Shedding things,
Preparing for rest.
Finally,
Picture the tree in winter,
Bare branches resting,
Conserving energy for the next cycle of growth.
Our lives too have seasons of high energy and productivity where we push forward,
Create and grow.
And we also need seasons of rest and reflection,
Where we recharge and gather our thoughts.
Fully immerse yourself in each season,
Allowing for profound shifts within you,
Profound shifts of energy.
Now one more thing to imagine,
To deeply,
Deeply connect with the natural flow of energy in the natural world around us.
Picture a beautiful,
Giant sunflower,
It opens wide in the sunlight.
Watch how its petals stretch out,
Soaking in the warmth and light,
Turning its face towards the sun,
All day following the sun.
Feel the joy and expansion as that sunflower opens fully,
Basking in the sun's rays.
And then,
As the day turns to night,
The sunflower gently folds its petals,
It closes up and covers its seeds,
Conserving its energy,
Preparing for the next dawn.
Feel the tranquility and restfulness of this contraction.
This gentle opening and closing reflects the balance we need in our life.
Let yourself feel that cycle of the sunflower within you,
As its beautiful face follows the sun across the sky and then folds into itself to rest for the night.
As you sit with these images and feelings,
Can you fully accept the ebb and flow of your own life?
Can you recognize the value in both expanding and contracting?
Recognize the value both in action and in rest.
Each phase is vital,
And each breath is a reminder of this natural rhythm.
Take a few more deep breaths,
Feeling the expansion and contraction within you.
Mmm,
That inhale,
And the delicious feeling of the exhale,
The letting go.
When you're ready,
Gently bring your awareness back to the present moment,
Carrying with you the wisdom of balance and the natural flow of life,
Of which you are a part.
Open your eyes,
Feeling refreshed and in tune with the natural rhythms that guide all of us.
And remember,
Embracing both expansion and contraction allows us to live more fully and more harmoniously.
