So bring yourself into a comfortable space.
You can be seated or lying down if you prefer.
As you're ready,
Come into some stillness and gently close your eyes.
If you're seated,
Reaching up tall through the crown of your head and dropping your shoulders away from your ears,
Letting your hands relax in your lap.
Let's take a few deep breaths deep into the base of your belly,
Sighing it out through an exhale.
Inhale breath.
Exhale.
Inhale.
Take three more just like that on your own,
Letting go of any excess tension,
Allowing your thoughts to settle.
And allowing the muscles around your forehead and your jaw to soften.
Allow your body to become a bit heavy.
I want you to begin to draw your awareness from your breath down the length of your spine,
Coming down through the tailbone and into the earth.
Let your awareness rest on this vast and sleeping earth beneath you.
Maybe feel the soft and slow inhales and exhales of the earth.
Maybe feel into the subtle warmth that is at the heart of the planet.
Drawing your awareness back up from the core of the earth and now expand it out from your body,
Imagining all of the sleeping animals snug in their caves and dens.
Imagine all of the sleeping seeds and roots wrapped in the warmth of their soil.
Feeling into the sense of inner stillness.
Drawing your awareness back into your body,
Back into your roots,
And imagine the roots of your own being growing deep,
Enveloped in the still and quiet of the earth.
Now bring your attention softly back up into your body and into your heart,
Feeling into the warm,
Dark space in your chest.
And now imagine the warmth of the earth feeling into the warm,
Dark space in your chest,
Feeling the steady rhythm,
The steady pulse of your heart,
Feeling into the warmth and into the quiet,
Becoming still and listening to your heart.
Now imagine the warmth of the earth feeling into the warmth of your heart,
Feeling the steady rhythm,
The steady pulse of your heart,
And now if any thoughts or emotions arise here,
Just meet them with peace and gentleness.
Know that anything that arises here is the voice of your inner self,
The voice of your soul,
And treat them with great care and compassion.
Now imagine the warmth of the earth feeling into the warmth of your heart,
Feeling the steady rhythm,
The steady pulse of your heart,
And now if any thoughts or emotions arise here,
Just meet them with peace and gentleness.
Now let's begin to gently deepen your breath,
Bring your awareness back into your body,
Maybe wiggling the fingertips and the toes.
Let's bring the palms together and hands to your heart in a seal that we call Anjali Mudra,
Or seal of the heart.
Just taking a moment to give some gratitude for the season,
Gratitude for this time of rest,
Gratitude to Mother Earth for always supporting us,
Always keeping us held no matter what,
And gratitude to each other for connecting over this space,
Over this time.
Even though you guys aren't here with me in this room,
I do feel you there,
And I am so honored to share these practices with you.
Namaste.
