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| comfort zone > de-stress not distress relaxation skills visualisations |
the plant of understanding, dedication and love
Get
into a comfortable standing or sitting position – if sitting, make
sure your feet are firmly planted on the ground in front of you [not cross-legged].
Become aware of your physical body and relax the tensions in it. Gradually
bring your breathing into your conscious mind. Feel the cooling balm of
your in breath, feel the wonderful release of your out breath.
And as you feel more and more relaxed, I'd like you to imagine that you
are a magnificent plant. You are healthy and vigorous with sturdy roots,
a flexible stem with lush leaves and a single beautiful pink flower.
Just see yourself as this wonderful example of nature’s creation.
Now take a closer look at yourself as this magnificent healthy plant.
The earthy roots of understanding
Start by imagining your brownish roots spreading out from the soles of
your feet into the floor and soil beneath. Feel the depth of the roots
as they anchor you firmly to the ground. These are the roots of understanding.
You can read and study, you can attend meetings and debate spiritual matters
for hours on end, but without true rooted understanding you will have
difficulty putting things you see and hear into long- term practice. So
your roots allow you to understand the simple way to peace and natural
goodness which is inherent in every person – however unlikely they
may seem at times. Your roots anchor you to your common sense and to the
practical aspects of living well. Feel your strength derived from this
firm foundation of understanding.
The
working stem and leaves of dedication
Moving up from your roots, gradually bring your attention to your stem
with its robust yet flexible character and its cheerful green spreading
leaves. Just feel the ability you have to sway in the breeze. Feel the
ability you have to act as a vital transport system for all the things
that other parts of your plant needs. Feel the ability you have to make
food – yes – you can actually entrap the sun’s energy and
turn it into food!
This stem and leaves part of you has to work quite hard. And whenever
you are engaged in hard work, discipline and dedication are required.
The stem and leaves of your plant represent discipline and dedication
to your task in life – your purpose - which is to use your life force
energy to be happy and to serve others.
The wonderful pink flower of love and
compassion
And so to your crowning glory – a beautiful pink flower with a magnificent
scent. See yourself as this flower, uplifting your petals to the sun’s
life-giving energy. You hold the next generation of plants in your centre
- you can make more of you! Breathe in your own scent, feel good about
yourself. And as you do so send out thoughts of love and natural goodness
to all those people that you love and to all those people that you don’t
like so much! In particular focus on people who may annoy you, upset you
or bore you. Send them the pink ray of the heart. Feel yourself giving
this compassionate energy to others. Your flower is truly blooming.
Now visualise your entire plant as a great example of an understanding,
dedicated, loving creature – and be that creature.
When you’re ready gradually come back into the room, stretch
and smile.