I walked along the wooded path today and came to my tree,
Majestic in her winter nakedness.
Not one leaf adorned her body.
I touched her broad,
Unmoving trunk,
Leaning in to place a cheek against her steadfast strength.
I stayed a while until her stillness offered me the same.
I leaned in until her rooted strength became my own.
I looked up and noticed her naked branches swaying in the wind.
She shook and swayed as the gusts moved through her.
I would not have known this unless I had gazed upwards.
So still was she in the deeper parts of herself.
So rooted deep into the soil that the solidness of her being held firm when in her outer parts she shook and swayed.
I wondered about it as I watched.
How she shook and moved in the wind.
How she was swayed this way and that.
And yet also remained strong and still.
I wondered how I could allow the same for myself.
Could I let myself be blown by unexpected gusts.
To move with them,
To feel them,
To fully experience them.
To be with what is.
Even when it's a cold February wind.
Could I simultaneously be still and rooted.
Know myself held.
Know myself safe in the deeper parts.
Could I allow life to come to me in all of its messy fullness.
Inviting me to feel and experience it whilst remaining in rest and peace.
Could I know myself always rooted and held no matter what.
Just as this queen of the woods did.
I offer this meditation as a way of allowing what is.
Of allowing the tempest and storms of life to come.
To surrender to them but at the same time to know a sense of being deeply rooted and at peace.
Come to a comfortable upright position with your feet on the floor.
Place one or both hands on your heart and take three deep wide breaths.
As you exhale allow your shoulders to drop and your body to sink.
As you exhale allow your shoulders to drop.
Now bring all of your attention to your feet.
Notice their connection with the ground.
The soles of your feet.
Notice the arches and the heels.
Be aware of each toe and the gaps between them.
As you keep your focus on your feet you may begin to notice a tingling sensation as you connect with the energy they contain.
With your attention remaining on your feet imagine roots growing from under them.
Imagine these roots pushing down through the floor and finding deep rich soil.
Allow these roots to continue to grow deeper and deeper into the earth.
Imagine your roots absorbing all the nutrients,
Water and sustaining energy you need.
Know that the energy contained within the soil is divine in nature and responds uniquely to your needs.
Imagine this sustaining energy flowing through your roots into your feet.
Slap through your legs,
Into the bowl of your pelvis,
Through the entirety of your abdomen,
Your ribcage,
Flooding your heart,
Your chest and your shoulders.
Breathing around your neck and across your head.
Traveling down across every contour of your face,
Your eyes,
Your ears,
Your mouth,
Your nose.
Imagine it flowing from the root of your spine all the way up,
Vertebrae by vertebrae,
Filling your spine and your body with pure divine light.
Bring your attention back down to your feet and the roots that connect you deep into the soil of divine love.
With a sense of being rooted into the safe love of God,
Knowing you are held firmly and are being sustained,
Allow a challenging life situation to come to you now.
Remembering a situation that you may be finding difficult and that knocks you off balance.
Spend a few moments connecting with this situation and allow yourself to experience what it's like to do so.
There are no rules about what you are permitted to feel or experience.
You have permission to let your branches sway in the wind.
Continuing to be present to the situation,
Gently begin to bring your attention down once more to your feet.
Feel them connecting with the ground.
Imagine once more the roots pushing down into the soil of love and safety.
Receive the sustaining power that your roots offer you.
Once more,
Welcome the energy from your roots to travel all the way up,
Filling,
Lighting up and touching every part of you.
Let this energetic divine love flow towards the situation you're finding difficult or painful.
Notice what happens within when this occurs.
If it seems possible in this moment,
Let the situation go.
Surrender it in a way that seems helpful to you.
Know that God knows about it and offers you love and compassion in response.
Placing your hands once more on your heart,
Take three deep wide breaths.
Inhaling I,
Exhaling am.
Exhaling I,
Exhaling am.
Welcome divine peace.
Welcome what you need to be given by grace.
Stay here as long as you need to.
Stay here as long as you need to.
Stay here as long as you need to.
Stay here as long as you need to.
