You can do this meditation inside or outside.
You can lie down,
Sit or stand whatever feels good to you.
As you begin to settle in,
I invite you to take a look around.
Turning your head,
Neck and torso,
Moving your body in a way that feels good and just getting a sense of what's around you.
Not to figure it out or analyze it,
But just letting yourself arrive to this place in this moment,
Just as it is,
And just as you are.
Maybe taking extra notice of any nature,
You can see a house plant,
A tree or a bit of sky out the window.
Before you settle into stillness,
Feel free to stretch,
Move or shift positions to let yourself get a little more comfortable.
And when you're ready,
Feel free to close your eyes or soften your gaze.
And now inviting you to turn your attention to where your body is resting against your chair,
Bed,
Floor or ground.
Just noticing those points of contact.
Noticing if you feel held or supported.
Seeing what it might feel like to let yourself be held by whatever you're sitting or laying on,
Knowing that the earth is there underneath you.
Seeing what it might feel like to really let yourself be held by the earth.
And now turning your attention to your breath.
Just noticing no need to change anything,
Your body knows what to do.
And as you breathe in,
Maybe thanking the trees and other plants nearby for sharing their breath with you.
As you breathe out,
Maybe wondering if the trees and other plants notice your breath.
Notice your exhale.
We are always in reciprocal relationship with the earth,
Just by breathing,
Just by being.
Now inviting you to imagine some place in nature that you love being.
Maybe it's your own backyard or a nearby park,
Your front porch or a favorite vacation spot.
Inviting you to imagine you are there now.
To just sink into your sensory experience there.
Imagine what you might see in this place.
Imagine what you might hear.
Imagine what you might smell and what you might taste.
Imagine what you might touch the earth underneath you or be touched by like the air against your skin.
Imagine how you might feel inside.
What sensations or emotions you might notice.
Taking a moment,
Let yourself just be here.
Now I invite you to tune in to your heart.
You may want to place a hand over your heart area,
Or just place your attention on your heart.
And just notice any sensations that may arise.
Any thoughts or feelings,
They're all welcome.
Now I'm going to share a quote while you're tuned in to your heart.
A quote from Native American author Robin Wall Kimmerer,
A scientist,
Decorated professor,
And enrolled member of the citizen Pottawatomie Nation.
She says knowing that you love the earth changes you,
Activates you to defend and protect and celebrate.
But when you feel that the earth loves you in return,
That feeling transforms the relationship from a one way street into a sacred bond.
So I invite you now to let yourself feel that love from the earth.
Maybe you're still imagining one of your favorite places in nature,
Or maybe you're imagining walking out your front door to the nature that exists along your street.
Wherever you are just letting yourself really let in that love from the earth.
Notice any sensations in your body as you open up to the truth that the earth loves you.
Welcoming whatever may arise for you in this moment.
And now taking a few moments to notice if any sensations feel particularly good to you in this moment.
And if so,
Just letting yourself sink in to that good feeling.
And as we begin to prepare to go about the rest of our day,
Inviting you to bring in any gentle movement or stretches or some deeper or louder breaths.
And I will leave you with one last invitation.
As you go about your day,
Or your week,
How can you bring in that love from the earth?
And how can you offer it in return?
