Welcome,
In this meditation,
You'll release your worries,
Fears,
And heavy thoughts into the sky,
Carried away as light.
So for the next 10 minutes,
Allow yourself to let go.
So start with a deep,
Slow inhale,
And a soft exhale.
And again,
In through the nose,
And out through the mouth.
And with every breath,
Feel yourself arriving more fully into this moment.
And now,
Imagine standing in a wide open field at night.
The air is calm,
The sky above is vast,
Filled with countless stars.
The ground beneath you is firm and steady,
And you are safe here.
And in your hands,
You hold a lantern.
Its paper sides glow softly,
Warm by the flame within.
This lantern is special,
It has the power to carry away whatever you no longer need.
So close your eyes in this vision,
And bring to mind a worry or burden that's been pressing on you.
Now it could be big or small,
But see it clearly,
Really feel its weight.
And then,
Imagine placing it gently inside the lantern.
And then watch as the light shifts inside,
It's holding your burden for you.
So take another slow breath,
And then let it go.
And now think of another weight,
Perhaps even a regret,
A fear,
Or a thought you've carried for too long.
The glow doesn't dim,
It grows brighter,
Stronger,
As if your release is fuel for the flame.
You may have many burdens,
But place them one by one into the lantern.
Old doubts,
Heavy emotions even,
Situations you couldn't control.
So place them into the lantern,
And let the flame transform them into light.
And now hold the lantern gently in your hands,
Feel its warmth,
Feel how light it has become.
Not heavy,
But ready to rise.
And on your next inhale,
Imagine filling yourself with calm and strength.
And on the exhale,
Imagine your breath lifting the lantern upward.
And slowly,
You let it go.
So watch as it rises into the night sky.
Higher and higher you watch it rise.
The flame inside is steady,
Carrying all you've given it.
And soon,
Soon it joins other lanterns,
Each one carrying away someone's burden.
And together,
They fill the sky with beauty.
So take a moment now to rest in this scene.
Look up and feel the awe at the sight.
A dark night now glowing with hundreds.
Your burdens are no longer yours.
They're drifting into the vastness,
Dissolving into starlight.
So sit quietly just for a few breaths here.
Inhale peace,
And exhale release.
Well this time quiet for a few moments.
And now,
Bring your attention back to yourself.
Notice how light you feel.
Notice the space that's opened within you,
Free from what was weighing you down.
And as this meditation comes to a close,
Know that you can always return to this field,
To the sky,
And to this ritual.
The lantern is always waiting for you,
Ready to carry away whatever you no longer need.
So take one final deep breath in,
And a long gentle exhale out.
And now wiggle your fingers and toes,
And stretch if you like.
And when you're ready,
Open your eyes now.
Good work today,
And namaste.
