Welcome to today's Summer guided meditation.
We will begin by finding a comfortable position and gently closing your eyes.
Take a deep breath in and feel the rise of your chest and belly as you take air into your lungs.
Breathe out deeply and feel the heat of your breath as you release the air from your body.
Breathe in...
And out...
In...
And out...
Picture yourself now in a busy city.
Cars whizzing by, all around you... people rushing to and fro.
Listen to the noises of the chaos surrounding you.
Perhaps you hear car horns honking or conversations buzzing around you...
Notice where you are in space in relation to the other people in the city.
Notice any buildings or structures that tower over you...
And allow yourself to feel anything that comes up.
You notice a door in front of you, not attached to anything...
Just a simple door, standing on its own...
What does it look like
You move toward the door, grasp the handle, and open it.
Beyond the door is a vast nature landscape.
It is around sunset and trees surround you.
You close the door behind you and take a deep breath.
Notice the colors of the sky...
The peace and quiet of nature...
Listen for the sounds of this landscape...
Perhaps you hear animals rustling in the trees...
Cicadas singing...
Birds chirping... or perhaps it is completely silent.
Notice the gentle breeze on your skin...
The moist and dewy summer nighttime air...
A fire has been built in front of you...
And its flames flicker ever so gently in the fading daylight.
Fireflies dance around the fire and stars twinkle just above it...
Just be here for a moment...
Any time you feel overwhelmed...
Any time you are anxious or melancholy...
You can always come to this space in your mind.
The woods will always welcome you and the gentle flicker of the bonfire
will forever be present...
Breathe deeply as you turn away and face the door yet again.
You open the door and move through it, back to the daylight
and hustle and bustle of the cityscape.
Notice now how this setting mirrors nature...
How the buildings stand tall like trees..
The people dance and buzz around you like fireflies...
What else do you notice?
Feel the peace and calm, even in the midst of the busy city movement...
And know that your bonfire is present, deep within.
Breathe deeply and connect once more with your breath...
Feeling the gentle rise and fall of your chest...
Breathe in, feeling your stomach expand...
And out, feeling the heat of your breath as it exits your body...
In...
And out...
Move around in any way that feels comfortable...
Slowly coming back to your body in this time and space...
And whenever you are ready, slowly open your eyes.