Give yourself a moment to absorb these words…. This place where you are right now… God circled on this map for you… Notice how you feel when you hear these words… Pay attention to the “place” that is circled on the map before you… Where is it?... Is it somewhere you planned to go?... Have you been in this place a long time… or a short time?... Is it somewhere you’d rather not be… or is it somewhere you don’t want to leave?...
Whatever the answer… take a moment now to absorb the sacred knowledge that you are exactly where you are supposed to be... You are exactly where you need to be… and remember that this place where you are right now is either a destination… or another stepping stone on your journey… and that you and you alone can choose which it is…
Take a moment now to thank your Wise One for showing you the map… and the circle on the map… If you choose… ask for a gift or a symbol to take back with you to remind you of this inner journey today…
And when you are ready… take another moment to come back to your breath… Notice the air as it comes into your body and fills your lungs... Then notice how it feels to release the breath through your nose or mouth… Follow the sound of my voice back to this present moment… back… and back… to our gathering today…
If it feels good to do so… you might want to stretch your fingers and toes… move your head and neck slowly from side to side... And in whatever way feels good to you… offer a prayer of thanksgiving for wherever you are on your journey at this time… remembering the comforting words of Hafiz… This place where you are right now… God circled on a map for you…
Opening your eyes when you feel ready… Taking your time… I will wait for you… and remember that all is well.
Plugging Into Source
Begin by bringing your body into a comfortable position… keeping your spine straight… adjusting any part of your body… doing whatever you need to do to adjust your body so that it is feeling ahhhh… just right… so comfortable… Coming to a gradual stillness… coming to that place where you can hear your breath… and just listen to your breath for a moment… not trying to change it… just listening to it… Rising… falling... Breath coming in…. breath going out… You have nowhere to go and nothing to do right now… Just relaxing your body… becoming calmer and more peaceful… as you bring your awareness to your breath…
Breathing just a bit more slowly now… and setting the intention that during this quiet time you will be plugging into Source… or whatever you choose to call Source… God… Spirit… The One… All That Is… Just setting that intention now… feeling that longing to connect to Source… to rest in the presence of Spirit for a while…
And now imagine that you are standing up… right in this room that you are in… just imagine standing up for a moment… still feeling that longing to plug into Source… that desire to fill yourself with Source Energy….
Looking down now… you see that your feet and legs are attached to many different cords and the cords are all plugged into outlets all around the room… You realize that you can’t move… that you are tethered to these cords… You realize that you can’t really plug into Source.. until you unplug yourself from all of these outlets that are depleting your energy…
Each of these cords represents some aspect of your own life… a project… a class… a person… a task… a situation… a pattern or way of being that you have outgrown… a challenge that you are facing…
So now… if you choose to do so… take some time and name each cord that is holding you here… Name it gently and without judgement… and then unplug it from the wall… slowly… taking your time…
Reminding yourself that you aren’t unplugging from these things forever… just for now… so you can have more space to plug into Source….
Unplugging the cords… one by one… the cords that keep you tethered and bound… unable to truly connect with Source…
And now… when you are ready… when most of the cords are unplugged… stand right where you are in your imagination… and stretch… moving your legs and arms in a sweet dance of freedom… enjoying, savoring this spaciousness you’ve given yourself for a little while…
If a thought comes up… just find the cord and the outlet… and unplug it… You don’t
need that thought right now… Just let it go….
When you are ready… imagine that you are coming again to stillness… and you are opening up the space at the top of your head… A beautiful white light is reaching down towards you… This is the light of Source… and the wider the opening at the top of your body… the more light can pour into you… soothing your mind… calming your body… energizing your spirit….
Take some time now to connect with Source in this way… opening… opening…
allowing the light to fill you… bathe you… love you…
If a distracting or critical thought seeps into your mind… give yourself permission to know that it’s just a thought… It has no power… It is not who you are… and simply unplug yourself from it…
Feeling the power of Source seeping into your breath… your heart… and your life... feeling this light radiating through your body… and out into the world…
Any thought that enters your mind… remember that you can simply disconnect from it… by naming it and unplugging its cord…
Remembering also now that Source doesn’t communicate with words… but with breath… with light… with energy… and allowing yourself to bask in this Source energy a while longer…
It’s nearing time to end this journey… so begin to come back by expressing gratitude to Source for this time of connection… If you can… find a way to thank Source without words…
And then you might want to close the space over your head just a little bit… until it feels just right for your return… Not shutting off the light of Source completely... just letting there be enough light there… in your head and in your heart… to sustain you in your daily work in the world…
At this time… you might also want to re-plug yourself back into only those projects… or people… or tasks… that you need to focus on for the rest of your day… Naming each cord as you plug it into its outlet… Noting how it serves you in your world… And when you are connected back to your life… begin once again to become aware again of your breathing… Your chest is rising and falling with each breath… Allowing the sound of my voice to bring you back to our gathering… stretching and breathing more deeply…
Opening your eyes when you are ready… Taking your time… I will wait for you… Remembering that all is well…
Journey to the Center of You
Take a moment now to make yourself as comfortable as you can… consciously relaxing any part of your body that feels tense or tight… giving yourself this time to be still… to journey within… to your center…
Paying attention to your breath for a moment… not trying to change it… just being with your breathing… in… and out… in … and out… Noticing how the air
feels coming in… and how it feels going out… Breathing… Relaxing… Breathing… Relaxing… There’s nowhere to go... and there’s nothing to do but simply
be here with yourself… journeying within…
And now in your imagination… I invite you to find yourself in your inner sanctuary…
a safe place in your imagination where you can go to escape the pressures and stress of your daily life… It might be a cave… or a sacred forest… a cottage by the sea…
a church… an oasis in the stars… Your inner sanctuary is a place where you feel loved… and safe… secure… and grounded… There may be others in this space… others whom you have invited… or you might be alone… Take a moment now
to explore this inner sanctuary space… What do you see?... What do you hear?... Smell?... Feel?...
Now I invite you to look around… wherever you are… and start looking for the pathway that leads to your center… That’s right… you are going on a journey di
rectly to your center… whatever that means to you… So if it feels right… take a few minutes to look around inside of yourself… until you find the beginning of the path or road that leads to your center… Look carefully… You will know when you find it… It might be a winding path like a labyrinth… or it might be a ladder… or a simple stone walkway… maybe a stream… a spiral… a set of stepping stones… Your path might look like a river of fire… or even a rainbow… Just spend some time now looking around your inner world for the beginning of this sacred pathway…
the pathway that leads you to your center…
Once you’ve found it… I invite you to pause at the beginning of the path
and look around… noticing where you are… and what is there… what you see… what you hear… what you can touch or smell…
You have found a safe starting point for your own journey to your center…
And now… if you choose… begin to move slowly forward on this path … You might be walking… or you might be swimming… or flying… skipping… or even dancing… Feel free to move in whatever way feels right to you…
and notice… as you begin this journey… if anyone is with you on your path… Perhaps you are choosing to make this journey to your center alone… or perhaps
you have invited a safe loved one with you… Either way, it’s good… It’s your journey… so you get to decide… You may even discover different beings such as animals… humans… spirit beings… traveling with you… the farther in that you travel…
Simply allow this journey to be whatever it is… knowing that you are safe and in control at all times…
Continuing to follow this pathway as it leads you to your very center… Traveling inward… inward… Noticing how it feels to be moving
so confidently towards your center…
And when you have arrived at the center of your being…
just pause for a moment here… Pause… and breathe in this very sacred place that exists within the center of your self… Pause… Breathe… Notice… Feel…
What is it that you see or sense here?...What images come to you in your center?... What does your particular spark of the Divine look like here?...
What can you hear?... What can you taste… touch… smell?…
Allowing whatever comes to you to be perfect as it is… for this is your journey… and this is the center… the heart… the SoulEssence of beautiful, precious you… Taking this time now to explore your center… exploring… allowing… noticing… feeling…
It’s nearing time to leave your Center now… but before you do… if it feels right… take a few moments to express gratitude to the Divine for this space inside of you… for the sacred spark of the Divine that lives within you… for any gifts you have been given today just by visiting this sacred place… this sacred center of your being…
And then… when you feel ready… begin to follow the path back outwards…
outwards from the center… taking your time… pausing along the way if you need to… knowing that you carry this Center with you at all times…
knowing that you can consciously return here just by closing your eyes… and following that same inner path…
Following your special path back outwards now… outwards… following the path towards the sound of my voice…
bringing yourself back to this day… to our gathering…
Taking your time… moving slowly… stretching gently if you need to… so you can come back more fully to your body…
Open your eyes only when you feel completely ready… Please take your time… I will wait for you… All is well…
Part 8
Miscellaneous
Some stories are true that never happened.
~ Elie Wiesel
Yellow Brick Road- Part 1
Take a moment now to shift into a comfortable position… paying attention to any part of your body that might need to stretch or relax a bit more…
Taking three slow breaths consciously now… In… and out… in… and out… in… and out… Ahhh… Closing your eyes if it feels comfortable to do so… or simply keeping a soft downward gaze… Imagining now that every part of your body is comfortable and relaxed… Enjoying this little respite from your busy life…There’s nowhere to go… and nothing to do for this next little while… except to relax… and to rest… relaxing just a little bit more… and resting just a little bit more…
In your mind’s eye… I invite you to picture yourself in Munchkin Land…
but instead of Munchkins, you are seeing all the members of your Community… family, friends, teachers, pets… from the past as well as the present… They are
all here to wish you well on your journey… so spend a moment among them now… listening to their well wishes… their encouragement… their love…
And now they are fading away… Wave good-bye if you like… and know that
you take a little bit of each one of these loved ones with you on your journey today…
As they leave… you notice that you are standing at the beginning of a long
and winding road… It is glowing in the sunlight… and it is made of yellow bricks… Yes, it’s the Yellow Brick Road… You look off in the distance… and you can see the Emerald City of Oz waaaaaay over there… This Yellow Brick Road can lead you directly to Oz…
As you are wondering if you’ll ever be able to follow this winding road all the way
to the Emerald City… someone appears before you in a magical swirl of glittery dust… Look… it’s your very own Glinda… What does your Glinda look like?...
What is she wearing?... Find a way to greet your Glinda… and then listen as she
asks you what it is that you hope to find when you get to Oz… “What is it that you really want right now in your life?”…and then take a moment to let an answer rise up from your heart… When you are ready… say to Glinda…
“What I really, really want right now, more than anything is…”
Listen now as your version of Glinda affirms you… and reassures you that you can
have whatever it is that you really want… that it will be waiting for you when you
arrive in Oz… Taking in her words… absorbing her assurance… her confidence…
How does it feel to know… to truly believe… that you can have your heart’s desire?...
Now Glinda is urging you to begin your journey… and she sprinkles some magic sparkly dust over you… Notice what scent this magical dust carries with it… and notice the colors… Glinda is telling you that the magic dust is to bless you with an open mind… an open heart… and a lot of courage… Imagining now… your mind opening… your heart opening… and a feeling of strength and courage flowing through you…
If it feels right… you can choose to take some steps along the Yellow Brick Road now… or you can stay right here and explore where you are… If you are heading for Oz… and your dreams… go ahead and start walking on the Yellow Brick Road now… leaving Glinda behind as you go… looking around you on the path… feeling safe and secure… heading towards Oz and your dreams…
Continuing to walk… noticing… observing… listening… feeling… As you are walking… you might want to take note of anyone you meet… You might come across the Tin Man… or the Scarecrow… or even the Cowardly Lion… You might meet up with some other fellow journeyers… Just notice who crosses your path as you walk… and listen to any wisdom these fellow travelers might have for you as you follow this Yellow Brick Road to Oz… and your heart’s desire…
Remembering as you walk… why you are on this journey to the Emerald City of Oz… Remembering your heart’s desire… Maybe even telling your companions what it is that you want the most… and listening also to what they want…
It’s almost time to come back now… We will continue this journey later… But for now… make note of where you are on the path… because you’ll be coming back to this spot when you return… Saying good-bye to any
traveling companions you’ve encountered… and thanking them for journeying with you today…
And now in your own time… and your own way… traveling back to this room… back… back… following the sound of my voice… slowly and gently…
You might want to stretch any part of your body that’s needing to move right now… Grounding yourself back into your breathing body…
When you are ready… gently opening your eyes… Taking your time… I will wait for you… All is well…
Yellow Brick Road- Part 2
Take a moment now to shift into a comfortable position… paying attention to any part of your body that might need to stretch or relax a bit more…
Taking three slow breaths consciously now… In… and out… in… and out… in… and out… Ahhh… Closing your eyes if it feels comfortable to do so… or simply keeping a soft downward gaze… Imagining now that every part of your body is comfortable and relaxed… Enjoying this little respite from your busy life…There’s nowhere to go… and nothing to do for this next little while… except to relax… and to rest… relaxing just a little bit more… and resting just a little bit more…
And now… in your imagination… I invite you to bring yourself back to the place on the Yellow Brick Road where you were the last time you were here… taking in the sights… glancing down at your ruby slippers… or whatever fabulous shoes you are wearing… and noticing how they feel on your feet… wiggling your toes… Thanking these shoes… your inner power… for accompanying you on this journey today… Looking around you now… and paying attention to where you are with all of your senses… What are you seeing... hearing... smelling?... feeling?... If you were traveling with some companions you might choose to call them back to you now… or you
Magical Inner Journeys Page 13