Guided Imagery
(This is an excerpt from a University Of Metaphysical Sciences course at www.umsonline.org, please feel free to visit the school website)
By Kenneth Stubbs
Now, I am going to invite you to imagine an event, whatever comes into your awareness is perfect, even if it does not fit my words. There are not right or wrong experiences. Allow whatever comes up to come up. While I may say imagine or visualize, be open to feeling, sensing, intuiting, and any other means of perception available to you. Be open to experiencing any feeling, or sensation in your body.
I’d like you to begin to imagine yourself walking down a path in a forest. It is a beautiful and serene place. Now begin to be aware of how your feet feel as you walk down the path. Perhaps you are wearing sandals, or maybe you’re barefoot. Feel the texture, the softness or the hardness of the earth each time your foot touches the ground. Notice if the path is narrow or wide. Notice if it is rocky or may be muddy. Hear the sound of your footsteps. Let this be very real for you. Whatever feelings you have are fine. This forest is a special place. There is a richness and a beauty here. Allow your senses to perceive and to enjoy. As you walk down this path, begin to notice the subtle changes in the forest colors.
Look all round you and perceive all the varying shapes. Smell all the wonderful fragrances that the breezes bring. There are some places where the sun is more intense and you can smell the warmth. The places in the shade may have a different fragrance. There’s a world of many subtle smells along this path. Allow yourself to experience them. From time to time you may hear birds sing and other sounds of the forest. Maybe you can hear the trees creaking as the winds swish through their branches. You might even hear small animals scurrying through the brush. Be open to feeling peaceful on this path, Allow yourself to be with each step, each vision, each fragrance. To commune with nature is precious. Allow yourself this.
Walking down the path, you’ll find there is a clearing off to the side, maybe like a meadow, where it is soft and very easy to rest. When you see this clearing, walk over to it. As you enter, you can even smell the warmth of the sun. Find a comfortable place to lie down there. Notice how easy it is to totally let go and to allow all your muscles to relax.
Feel yourself being supported by the earth beneath you. There is nothing to do except to let go. As you rest there, begin to become aware of the warmth of the sun that comes to touch your skin. Even through your clothing you can feel the warmth. The rays penetrate each cell of your body. You can feel a gentle tingling as the cells are bathed in the sun’s energy. Feel it penetrating all the way to the core of your body, nurturing you. Allow yourself to melt into the earth. Let’s take a moment to give thanks. To give thanks to life. To give thanks to the beauty of earth. To give thanks to the warmth of the sun. To give thanks to the breezes and the fragrances they bring. To give thanks for the abundance of food. To give thanks for the water. This is a special place where we live. All we have to do is to open ourselves to perceive and enjoy these abundant gifts. With your inner voice take a moment to give thanks to this planet. Let’s begin to come back now. Know that these images and feelings images and feelings are available to you anytime you wish. Begin to take some fuller breaths. Perhaps inhale and hold your breath a couple of seconds before letting go. Begin to feel your body as it rests here. Come back even more. And when you feel ready, open your eyes and write down your experiences.