Tag: meditation

What is your heart calling you towards?

Hello dear wild and gentle heart,

I hope that my words find you in a space of peace. I’d like to invite you into a moment of stillness and deep breathing.

Look at the ocean picture below and breathe in its wild healing.

Relax and be open to following the ocean’s wisdom. Does it have anything to teach you? Let your breath and heart synchronise to the rhythm of the waves…deep, slow and steady.

Listen to what it is telling you.

Which part of yourself to do see a reflection of when you watch the waves? What place inside of you does the immense ocean mirror?

What does that part of you need right now? And how can you draw the medicine of the sea into your body and soul?

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Spending the last few weeks of the year (2015) at the coast made me feel that I want to be like to ocean, because no matter how far it stretches out venturing over the shores, it always washes back and returns home to itself in the next breath.

Do you know what it feels like to come home to your own full heart over and over again? To be held in its grace?

I think we all do in some way. I want to feel the thrill of that reunion in a much bigger way, though. I want to rush back into my own arms and be fully immersed in my centre, my essence, in a more complete and accepting way than I’ve always struggled to. Don’t you?

Right now, the old tides of time have washed out to sea and are long gone. New waves are slowly washing in like soft laps upon a calm shore, a New Year full of hope and beauty. And of course this newness is stirring wild dreams within, awakening visions of what I hope the year ahead will bring. These dreams are still seeds, settling into the soil of my heart and slowly taking root. I’m allowing these stirrings to unfold at the pace that they need to, trying not to rush into giving voice to them. Slow beginnings are good. They make for authentic and solid foundations on which to build.

So tell me dear friend, what is your heart calling you to this year? May these wild dreams of yours be washed in love and light.

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A Whale Song Meditation

A few months ago, my parents retired and moved back to the coast, a place we’ve all always loved. When I was chatting to my mom yesterday, she mentioned that she’d spotted five whales out on the water. They passing through the area. How incredible! It made me really miss living by the sea and getting to spot these beautiful angels of the ocean. Thinking about whales reminded me of the short Whale Song Meditation I wrote a for the Healing Moments e-book a while ago. Earlier today, I spent a little time doing the meditation to connect with whale energy. I’ve tweaked the original meditation a bit and thought I’d share it with you here today.

  Whale Song Meditation

Close your eyes and relax, breathing in and out slowly. Imagine that you are floating in the middle of the ocean. Your ears are submerged in the water and you hear a sound in the distance. As it draws closer and closer, you realise that this is the song of the whales.

The vibration of this whale song travels through the water. When it reaches you, feel it resonating in your heart centre. The sound vibration of the whale song shatters any lower energy around your heart and opens your channels of Divine love. Old stagnant emotions are released and deep compassion fills you.

Breathe in and out slowly. Be present with the feeling of love and compassion. How can you be more compassionate towards yourself? Where can you be more compassionate with others? Listen to what the intuition of your wild inner essence tells you.

When you are ready, bring your attention back to your body and  open your eyes. Carry this intuitive wisdom and compassion with you into your day. 

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Fairy Feet and a Tree Breathing Meditation

I took midday break with my husband and we went walking at one of our favourite spots today. The weather was temperamental, hot and sunny in parts, but mostly overcast – the kind of undecided weather that precedes the African afternoon thundershowers. Though I usually walk with my hiking shoes, today I wore my ‘fairy shoes’. They are cute pointy-toed gold and black satin flats that make my feet look dainty and me feel like a fairy waltzing through the fields. Silly, I know, but I like the way I feel in them.

fairy feet

We took a different path today, one that diverges away from the grandmother quaking aspen that I love to climb and meditate in. All around, the grass was long and lush, a consequence of the plentiful rains we’ve been having. I love the eerie air that unkempt fields of tall grass and wild flowers create. It makes me feel untamed and free too and the Goddess is near too.

tree breathing

On the water’s edge of this unfamiliar path, I met a great mature tree whose name I do not know. I stopped a while, requesting to enter her space and placed my hand on her bark, honouring and breathing with her for a few moments. Inhaling and exhaling while consciously sharing my breath with a tree is simple yet precious process that connects me deeply with my inner essence and the sacred thread of light woven through all life. It leaves me humbled every time and my heart full with the love that Nature seems to share so willingly, especially on those low days when melancholic feelings set in. Tree breathing is such a basic yet uplifting form of meditation. If you haven’t done so already, then please do give it a go. Below are some brief guidelines on how to go about it:

How to do a Tree Breathing Meditation:

  • Find a tree in your garden or a nature space to connect with (always ask permission first).
  • Sit on the ground near the tree, or stand next to the tree and place your hand on its trunk.
  • Take a deep breath in. As you do, give thanks to the tree for the life giving gift of air. Give thanks for the breath that fills your lungs and feel your life force expand.
  • When you exhale, offer you breathe back to the tree and to Mother Earth.
  • Honour the tree and Mother Earth for this sacred connection.
  • Inhale and then exhale again, repeating the process of focused attention. Say “I thank you for this breath” each time you breathe in, and “I offer you my breath” each time you breathe out.
  • Bring your attention to the fact that all life is connected in Oneness and we are all connected through breath. You are part of this beautiful network of sacred mystery.