A warm summer day – guided meditation
This is one of the short meditations that I have used during workshops and classes. Feel free to use it, or the recording of it.
- It is a warm summer day, a perfect day.
- You are in the terraced garden of large country house where there are people sitting, sunbathing, or strolling.
- It is peaceful and quiet – everyone here has come for a rest and are quietly appreciating the beautiful surroundings and you, like them, are listening to the bird song.
- As you walk across the lawn you can feel the grass under your bare feet. It is a very comforting feeling.
- Ahead of you, you see a broad stairway that leads down to the next terrace. There are seven stairs.
- Count them as you slowly descend. On each of them you become more relaxed and your breathing becomes deeper and effortless.
- This terrace is quieter, with fewer people.
- As you walk across the grass, you become aware of a high wall that has ivy and honeysuckle growing on it.
- You recognise this wall. It surrounds a secret garden and you have the only key. This is your garden, your secret place, where you can sit in peace while you relax and recharge your batteries.
- As you get closer, you can see your secret door.
- Unlocking and opening the door, you enter a magical space with trees and plants of every kind.
- The trees provide a canopy of shade with dappled sunlight beaming through.
- You see your favourite tree and walk over to it, sitting down and resting your back against it. It is like an old friend who brings feelings of warmth, comfort, and safety.
- Sitting here, you feel the gentle spots of sunlight that have slipped through between the leaves, gently resting on your skin.
- Feel these small areas of warmth.
- Each of these spots of sunshine contains a smile for you. A smile that radiates through your entire being.
- Allow yourself to spend some time here.
- Feeling rested, you decide to walk deeper into the garden.
- With each step you feel lighter, you feel more at home.
- You become more aware of the scent of the flowers, the colours, the shapes.
- The bird song is clearer than you have ever heard before.
- You hear a buzzing and look over to see a honey bee moving from flower to flower. We often think about busy bees and how they move from plant to plant, working away. And often we think of ourselves moving through life in the same way, creating aims/goals and struggling to achieve them. But, look again at the bee. It is not frantic. It looks almost aimless as it goes about its work. It meanders through life but still achieves its goal – it makes honey and that brings contentment to the bee…………. Contentment is the root of happiness. The flowers, in themselves, are not goals. They are merely stages that the bee passes through to achieve its contentment and happiness.
- Listen to your inner self, that positive soul. Listen to your positive, happy, inner thoughts. Each of these is a treasure to be held on to, to be nurtured.
- Nurturing your positive thoughts leaves less space for any negative ones. Fewer dark corners for them to hide in.
- Take your time in the garden to explore yourself and your thoughts. Feel the positive energy entering your body, your mind and your spirit. Enjoy!
- It is time to leave your secret garden now. But it is always here for you and always within easy reach. Remember, just across the lawn, down the seven steps to the quieter terrace and then a short walk to the walled garden that only has one key. Your key.
- You are now leaving the garden, gently closing and locking the door behind you, slowly walking back across the lawn that leads back into this room.
- As you come back into the room, I want you to bring some movement back into your hands and feet by wiggling your fingers and toes. Then, slowly, open your eyes. Don’t forget to smile…….