Hi,
I'm Caroline and in this week's episode we're going to go through a meditation on the five elements.
This meditation you can do wherever you like.
You only need a few minutes to focus your awareness on your body,
On your breath,
And take a journey through the different elements.
Begin by finding a comfortable position to meditate in.
Whatever that means for you today.
You can be standing up,
Feet firmly planted on the ground.
You can be seated in any upright comfortable position.
Or you can even lie down.
Wherever you feel you can breathe and relax comfortably,
Following along with your breath and just taking a moment to turn your awareness inward.
Go ahead and find your comfortable place.
Get set up.
Taking anything you need to feel just a little bit more comfortable.
Take a full deep breath in through your nose and out through your mouth.
And one more just like that deep breath in through your nose inside through your mouth.
If you feel comfortable doing so allow your eyes to close gently.
And to begin will focus on the element,
Earth.
The Earth element in relation to ourselves is our body,
Flesh and bones.
This is the element that we experience life in.
Allow your awareness to rest on your body.
Be mentally scanning through your systems,
Your joints,
Noticing all of the physical contact points between your body and the surface supporting you right now.
Continue breathing in and out through your nose.
And allowing your attention to rest on your body.
You think to yourself.
I am connected.
I am grounded.
I am supported.
Continue checking in with your body.
Take one final breath in and out.
Next we'll change our focus to the element,
Water.
And in ourselves,
The element water can be thought of as our mind flowing from place to place.
Like a flow of water,
The mind keeps the flow of our thoughts going,
Bringing meaning to our lives.
As you breathe in and out.
Bring your awareness to your mind.
And allowing any thoughts to come and go without forcing them in any which way.
You get lost in a thought.
Remember to take a step back and bring your attention back to the flow of thoughts,
Rather than each individual one.
This flow of our minds allows us to be flexible.
Silently think to yourself.
I am flexible.
I am creative.
My feelings and emotions are valid.
These are parts of the flow of our mind,
The flow of our life.
Continue your soft breath.
And we'll start to shift our focus to the element of fire.
This is the element of warmth.
Also providing this gentle spark that gives the flow of our mind a direction.
A spark in the mind that gives our thoughts direction and energy.
Gently consider the flow of your thoughts.
Without feeling the need to follow or engage in any of the thoughts,
Bringing awareness to the general direction.
And silently think to yourself,
I have purpose.
I am confident.
I am motivated.
And I am me.
I am feeling this fire that gives us a spark and our identity and sense of self.
Start to bring more of your awareness to your breath.
As we move our attention to the element of air.
Our breath is giving us our essential existence.
Our awareness of the environment around us.
Help create this spark giving our mind a direction of flow.
The air around us giving us the sensation of something happening.
And then as you breathe out,
Air that is slightly warmer.
Without feeling a need to change or control.
Notice the length of your inhale.
The length of your exhale.
And the length of time between your in and out breath.
This element of air.
And the awareness of things around us.
Bringing us a sense of appreciation and compassion for what we have.
And quietly think to yourself.
My relationships bring me value.
My boundaries are respected.
I am compassionate with others and with myself.
And finally we turn our attention to the fifth element of ether or space.
Knowing that this space is present everywhere.
It is the experiencer of life.
That never can be excluded.
Send your awareness now outside of your body.
Me imagining that you can send a small glowing light out to anybody in your life.
Who needs your spark of energy?
Who needs your acceptance?
Maybe even choosing to send the spark of acceptance to people you don't even know yet.
In this space of all things.
And silently say to yourself.
I am open minded.
I am accepting.
I bear my truth with integrity.
Gently bring your attention back to your breath.
Slowly come back to your body.
Notice the surface supporting you.
Notice the quality of your thoughts.
Continuing to offer yourself forgiveness whenever your attention wanders.
Take another breath in through your nose.
Gently part your lips and sigh it out.
And take one more breath in through your nose,
Filling your lungs,
Allowing your chest to expand.
And exhale through your mouth.
Whenever you feel ready.
Gently blink your eyes back open.
Perhaps bring your hands together.
Touching the tips of all five fingers together.
Offering yourself a moment of gratitude and appreciation.
Before you continue with the rest of your day.
Thank you for practicing with me today.
