UNBINDING RITUAL WITHIN
BY SHALYN TROXEL
Where am I? Who am I? And what do I do? Find a place deep inside you; where you feel safe, accepted, and perfectly you. Let's start a new practice, a new ritual for you to tune into yourself and love what you do. Something special to unbind the negative thoughts and feelings you hold onto.
Close your eyes, and relax your bones too. It’s not time to worry, but to let go of the old and in with the new. Release your tension and all of your stress. I am going to need your complete focus until this meditation is through. While you find your breath exhaling, you are no longer aware of anything around you. A breathtaking image is forming in your view. Without opening your eyes, you can see an ocean. The sand beneath your feet is soft and warm. You love the way it feels as you walk toward something new. You can see waves splashing and a fire burning surrounded by people. Feel the breeze blowing gently through your hair, and the warmth from the sun kissing your skin. You let these comforts into your heart and bringing forward internal peace. You stop walking for a moment, just to capture this small piece of heaven, before you ascend to those people, fire, and ocean.
Coming out of that revere, you are still at your ocean traveling toward the people who welcome you. You're consumed by their presence — they are your family and friends. They have all come to tell you: “You're perfect within.” This is your circle of acceptance, your story of family compliments. Each member tells you a quality they love that you obtained from them. Smiling, you feel loved as the pieces within you mend. All doubt you've had about yourself is drowned out with all the good surrounding you. These loved ones have shown you all the threads that designed you, weave a spectacular web. — all intertwined with each circumstance, and reflecting what has molded you. You've grown, you've learned, you've loved, and lost. Through it all you've had these people who've loved you. These people who see the beauty within you, they beg and plead for you to see it too.
After you let this version of you absorb into your heart and into your view. It’s time to let this image of all the people that showed up just for you fade back into this place that's all about you. They've done their job, they fulfilled their purpose. They have given you the acceptance you needed from them. As their voices drift off in the wind; take one more moment to feel that sun on your face. Let it warm your skin before you become aware of your breath. With the next deep inhale and come back to this present moment — healed, and perfect within. | ST