Welcome to this meditation in response to the inner critic for those times when that critical voice is loud,
Overpowering,
Overwhelming.
As we begin get comfortable,
Find an attentive position and ever so gently allow yourself to settle,
To begin to come to rest.
Noticing the sounds you can hear.
Slowly beginning to bring your attention from the external into your body.
Aware of your breath.
Following the inhale and the exhale.
Letting your attention be drawn into your body.
And beginning to become aware of sensation,
Maybe places of tension.
Breathing into those places,
Letting yourself soften,
Release and let go.
Let your shoulders drop.
And right here and now in this moment receive the embrace of divine love.
A love that sees you and knows you and welcomes you here just as you find yourself.
We're going to begin to connect to that inner critic.
Begin to become aware of where it is,
Either within you or sitting on you.
Notice what it's like to connect and become attentive to this critical part of yourself.
What does the voice of this critic sound like?
What does it say to you?
Observe the words that come,
Acknowledging them without judging them.
Notice what it's like for you to hear this voice and how it makes you feel emotionally and in your body.
I'm now going to invite you to place that critical voice,
The inner critic down.
If it's inside of you,
Imagine reaching in,
Removing it and placing it down just in front of you.
If it sits somewhere outside of you,
Do the same thing,
Placing it down in front of you.
As you're ready,
Take a step back from the critic and spend some time observing it.
You may want to walk around it.
Notice its shape and form.
Notice how it appears to you.
Notice what it's like for you as you observe it now in front of you rather than within or attached to you.
Now gently welcome divine love in whatever form he or she comes to you to join you in this place.
Notice if anything changes as you invite the love of the divine here.
How do you and divine love respond to the critic?
What do you need in this moment?
Is there anything you want to receive from the love of the beloved who is with you here?
Is there anything symbolic that you're drawn to do in response to your critic with love as your guide,
Either now in this meditation or at a later time?
Let the beloved be your guide and companion.
Know that however long you have lived with this critical voice,
Freedom can come.
That you can gently send that voice on its way however you're led to do so.
That that voice can be transformed into a voice that champions you and brings encouragement and hope and goodness.
Know that you are loved,
That you are powerful,
That you are full of goodness and beauty.
May you be blessed,
May you be blessed with kind words towards yourself.
May you be blessed with hope and divine love.
Amen.
Amen.
