An Invitation to Solitude

Make yourself comfortable.

Perhaps remove your shoes.

Focus on your breath.

Breathing normally.

Just noticing the ebb and flow of breath.

Imagine you are sitting in a comfortable chair, inviting you to relax.

You are surrounded by nature - natural sounds around you,

notice the sounds within you as well.

Hear the sound of each breath.

Deep Reflections

On the next in breath allow your awareness to follow your breath inside.

Begin to notice the inner space.

Deep reflections all around, space abounds, expansive, soft, dreamy space.

Imagine your are standing - look down at your feet.

Your feet are resting in a pool of water.

Clear water, just up to your ankles.

Cool refreshing water.

Notice your reflection in the water as you look down.

Smile at yourself. Enjoy. This is your time.

Tree Mudra

Continuing to focus on the breath.

Breathing more deeply.

Rest your hands, one inside the other on your lap, allow your thumbs to touch.

This hand position is called a mudra.

A position of the hands for meditation.

As you sit, with hands in this mudra

and practice meditation;

as the minds begins to quiet with your hands in this mudra.

As you experience this again and again,

the mudra itself will bring you back here

to this time and place of deep reflection, relaxation

and focus on the breath.

Earth Touch

Breathing more deeply still.

Imagine now you are holding these rocks in your hands, representatives of the earth.

The rocks are heavy, solid, still in your hands.

You feel the texture of the rocks, see the colors, the shapes.

You notice hairline fractures, scratches, cracks in the rocks.

Your focus deepens - its as if you can see inside the rocks with x-ray vision.

You are drawn in by the texture, colors and sensation inside the rock.

Stepping back, the rock still in your hand.

Back to your breath.

Still breathing, softly, quietly and deeply.

A few cracks in solitude

Stay with the breath

The breath is our friend

From the beginning of life to the very end

Stay with the breath

Know all is well in this Eternal Now

No matter the cracks, the imperfections

Aches, pains, disillusionment

Stay with the breath

The body softens to receive each breath

And in that softness

The Light grows

The passion for Life is enhanced

An ever expanding inner state which knows no bounds

Coming back to the breath

Only Stillness, Silence, Peace

Footprints of Solitude

Deepening the breath

breathing more deeply still

the coming and going of the breath

moving us forward

as if step by step

each breath

comes and goes

find the rhythm of your breath

then deepen the breath

breathing more deeply still

watch each breath escape, disappear

the journey of each breath

left behind

as footprints in the night