Friends!
Merry Christmas to those of you who celebrate this holiday.
Since I always post on Mondays, this day – even if it’s a national holiday – is no exception.
I wanted to bring you a post that reflected love, light and happiness – wonderful themes for this time of year.
And, I know it can also be a difficult time for many. Many more are experiencing some degree of loneliness. While many celebrate, it’s good to remember and be mindful of those who are not able to.
Still, there are many out there who do not celebrate Christmas and it’s just a regular day to them.
For all these reasons, I wanted to produce an uplifting meditation.
I created an 11-minute guided meditation for happiness.
[bctt tweet=”Take a moment to allow yourself to do a guided meditation on happiness.” username=”n2itvnspiritual”]
It is in video format, but you can always turn down the brightness of your screen to just listen if the visuals distract you.
The music I selected comes from a meditation site that specializes in beautiful meditation music. Credit for this music goes to Eric Bartel and is licensed by Free Meditation Music.
As a side note, I’m learning how to remix and possibly use audio software to create my own meditation music – with binaural beats!
I have included the meditation script that you’ll hear in the video. Enjoy!
May you have many blessings and light!
Guided Meditation for Happiness*
Welcome to this mediation on cultivating more happiness.
Before you begin, it’s good to wear comfortable, loose clothing.
You can lie down or sit comfortably, you can sit in a chair or cross your legs with your hands resting one over the other in standard meditation pose.
If at any time you feel uncomfortable, stop the recording.
Now, close your eyes. Begin to listen to the sounds of the music.
During this time, know that you are allowed to release yourself from the tasks of the day and the responsibilities you have – just for a little while. Let yourself be free to explore, smile, and experience bliss.
Bring your focus to your breathing.
Feel your breaths grow longer and deeper.
Take a few moments to breathe in and out, letting yourself leave the outside world behind.
In your mind’s eye, imagine a path. It can be any type of path you choose, but at the end of it, you see a door. This door opens to your inner world.
As you push the door open, you see a ray of light. It is warm and inviting, allowing you to relax.
This is your inner world. Step into this beautiful world.
Relax into the warmth and harmony.
Only you know about this place.
Take a deep breath. Close the door to the outer world. Let yourself fully engage into this inner world. A world where you are safe and can experience happiness.
Allow yourself this special time to work on your levels of happiness so that you may spread joy within yourself and eventually radiate it out.
It’s okay if your mind wanders. When you realize you have gone on a thought tangent, it’s all right.
As you are able, bring your awareness back to this meditation. To the sound of my voice.
Now, take a deep breath.
Feel your toes and feet begin to relax.
Feel your legs relax.
Feel your thigh muscles loosen, followed by the muscles in your abdomen.
Gently tell them to relax.
Moving up your chest, relax the muscles around your ribcage, and release the muscles around your back.
Feel the muscles in your shoulders releasing tension.
Now, let the muscles in your neck relax, followed by all the muscles surrounding your head.
Take another deep breath. Let the air gently fill your lungs.
Breathe out, allowing yourself to exhale until no more air is in your lungs.
Breathe in again. Feel your lungs expand.
And breathe out.
Breathe in through your nose for a count of four: 1…2…3…4…
Hold.
Breathe out through your lips for a count of eight: 1..2..3..4..5..6..7..8
Breathe in: 1…2…3…4…
Breathe out: 1..2..3..4..5..6..7..8
Imagine the path you were on when you entered your Inner World. Continue on that same path. You are surrounded by the same golden light that you first saw.
The path upon which you are walking is well marked in a rich alpine forest. White pine trees line the path.
The morning sun shines brightly above you, casting golden rays of light all around you.
You walk until you find a rock outcropping overlooking a mountain vista. Hundreds of peaks span the horizon. Some are near, and some are farther away.
As you gaze at the expanse of mountains, a feeling of peace comes over you. Nature’s beauty is so precious and she gives us this gift so freely.
You take in this beauty. And you allow yourself to smile: to smile at the jeweled blue and green mountain peaks.
The golden rays illuminate the landscape, and gently mix light and color so that the view looks like a painting.
Smile as you become aware of the wonderful plants and animals around you. The sound of birds singing their morning song reaches your ears.
You notice a large tree near you. It is old, as the girth of its trunk is very large.
The papery bark tells you that it’s a sweet birch tree. The leaves smell of sweet wintergreen.
A few leaves fly away from the tree in a warm, gentle wind. One lands in your hand and you smile as the leaf gives off the its minty scent in your palm.
You smile at this marvel and take a deep breath.
There’s something else. Besides the glorious aroma, the leaves start to make beautiful sounds – like a beautiful stringed dulcimer – as they flutter in the mild wind.
Light, airy sounds.
Sounds that have a beautiful, melodious tone that compliment the golden rays of light all around you.
Now you’re surrounded by golden light and glorious sounds.
As you listen to the music, you feel your heart lifted and full of joy: there’s such beauty all around you, making your senses dance in euphoria.
Next to the tree is a bush with emerald leaves ending in triangular points.
At the base of the leaves are small berries that resemble raspberries, but they are lighter red in color and smaller. They are wine berries growing in abundance all over the bush.
You pick a few and eat three at once.
The sweet tangy flavor makes your mouth water!
You close your eyes and savor the flavor.
As you chew and swallow these delicious fruits, you feel a warmth and energy emanate from your core. Life-giving energy rises within you and makes its way out through your head, arms, core, and legs.
You feel this energy as a life-force that grows stronger with each beat of your heart.
All your senses are in ecstasy.
You feel a sense of calm appreciation for this beautiful bounty you’re able to experience.
You look out toward the berry bush and poplar tree, and then back out to the landscape.
The sun is even higher in the sky now, and you can make out beautiful flowers dotting the landscape in pastels. Splashes of crimson and gold also speck the landscape.
More scents come to your nose: honeysuckle, rosehips, lilac.
The bliss you feel at nature’s richness radiates within your body.
This powerful energy continues to radiate out of your core, out of your head, and out of your feet, casting more light all around you.
You look up and see a golden aura of energy surrounding your body.
It’s pure energy and light, and you can’t help but smile.
You bask in this life force energy combined with the sunlight and feel every muscle, every cell, every part of your being infused with nature’s happiness.
You stay here for a few moments, just listening to the sounds of the music, smiling, taking it all in.
Now that you are infused with this golden energy all over your body, you are ready to leave this inner world.
It has infused you with the tools you need to return to your day with bliss, more energy, and more happiness.
The beautiful vista looks more golden through your aura of energy. You feel strong and vibrant.
The smile on your face grows wider and a sense of gratitude comes over you for having the chance to visit this special place.
You turn to go, but the beautiful sound of the leaves keeps you still for one moment longer.
The notes beckon you to stay strong, and to radiate your beautiful golden energy out to the world.
Once more you take a deep breath in and breathe out in tandem with the music. Once more you encounter the scent of sweet mint.
Slowly, you start to walk back up the path. You see an eagle flying in the distance. Its wings span a great length and it stares at you. As a final gift, it sends you more energy and light to soar in your outer world.
You continue to walk back up the path. The music from the leaves still plays as you approach the door. Slowly you pull it open and continue on the path to the outer world.
You arrive and stop for a moment to take a deep breath.
You hear the music from the leaves fading out as you return to your outer world.
You breathe in, slowly and deeply.
Then you breathe out slowly, deeply.
Breath in and hold for 1…2…3…4…
Now breathe out and hold for 1..2..3..4..5..6..7..8
Take one more deep breath in through your nose, and out through your mouth.
Slowly open your eyes and feel the energy of your inner world shining through and the golden energy that surrounded you is still there, radiating from your core.
Smile and take one more deep breath as you return to your day.
I really enjoyed creating this video. The photos came from all my journeys and travels in the past year or two.
I love coming up with “little stories” to use in these guided meditations and you can probably tell I’m incredibly inspired by nature and everything it represents.
Please tell me what you think if you try this meditation.
Sending you blessings and light!
*Please note that I need to include the standard disclaimer: these meditations are for “entertainment” purposes and not intended to diagnose, treat, or cure any illness.
Just have a few quiet moments here in between Christmas stuff here. But wanted to stop in to wish you and your family, the merriest of Christmases today and also a very, healthy New Year, too!!! Many hugs and love, my dear friend <3 <3 <3
Hehe, me, too! We’re between Christmas activities and I thought I’d get a few things done. Sweet friend! I hope this day is as special as you are! <3 <3 <3 And I hope your New Year is just as fabulous! Sending you big hugs, lots of love and wishes for some relaxation time, too.
Thanks for sharing this and hope your Christmas was all you hoped for and your new year is bright with new possibilities. It’s very quiet here and there will be much time for peaceful meditation. Happiness is a moment by moment choice. It’s where I put my focus.
Marlene – and thank YOU for your sweet and kind words! I hope you had a wonderful Christmas, filled with glad tidings and visits from friends and family spreading good cheer. I had a wonderful Christmas: I spent much of it making “new” traditions with my husband: we decided to stay home on Christmas Eve (usually we spend the day with family) and watched “It’s a Wonderful Life” and “Scrooged.” Then we made a little spaghetti dinner, followed by family visits, dinner and gift giving on Christmas. It was actually one of the best Christmases I’ve had: calm and chill, just the way I like it. lol.
I hope you have a wonderful New Year! I can’t wait to read more of your posts in the coming years and see your happiness blossom! Sending you hugs and light! xo
Hey, Lil Sis, Merry Christmas to you as well. Thank you for your friendship. You have been a gift in my life for a long time now, and I am very appreciative.
hugs
bro
Big Bro, I could say the same to you! Thank you for being a mentor and a constant source of inspiration to me. You’re pretty incredible, you know. 🙂 I’m appreciative of your hard work, your work ethic and the difference you make. Keep on keepin’ on!
This was a beautiful share Cynthia.. So enjoyed it.. And I hope you had a most magical Christmas, Just returning to blog land today. Have a most wonderful New Year dear friend.. Thank you for all of your love and support, and I look forward to more of your inspiring and wonderful creative posts in 2018 ..
Happy and Healthy New Year and Beyond my friend xxx <3
Sue – aww, thank you! Christmas was nice and peaceful – everything I needed/wanted it to be. 🙂 Welcome back. I saw your beautiful post over at your blog; sorry I didn’t see it earlier. Lovely poem. Just lovely! I hope you also have a fabulous new year and thank you for your comments over here on this meditation. I thought it would be fun to spread some love and light. 🙂 Here’s to 2018: a year where we tip the odds in favor of love, enlightenment, bliss, and all the good things! Sending you hugs and light, love and wishes for glad tidings and wonderful things to happen this year!
Bless you Cynthia.. just left you a reply also.. As I am trying something different.. Trying to us the computer to record my voice in the hopes of it uploading.. But when I try it fails.. so do not know what I am doing wrong.. I may have to try using my old phone and see it that works.. as the folder appears empty when I try to upload to WP media.. Maybe I need to be upgraded for it to work on WP I don’t know. Yet the facility is there.. SO.. Never mind.. My idea was to read a poem as a New Year wish.. I will keep trying.. xxx if not its not the end of the world haha..
Happy New Year dear friend and you will be hearing from me soon.. xxxx <3
Sweet Sue – you are really good at all these replies! Even if you turn that modem off. I think you’re magic. 😀 As for using the computer to record your voice, well, I can say that it’s not very good unless you use some good software. Last year I purchased and downloaded the Dragon Speaking (or is it Dragon Naturally Speaking?) software on my computer and I have enjoyed it, but it’s a huge learning curve and you still have to be right on top of things so it doesn’t go crazy and start typing all kinds of things you don’t intend. I think we’re still a few years off from having better voice dictation technology. Hehe. My sister in law was trying to dictate a text to my brother yesterday and oh lawd, it said all kinds of things she didn’t mean it to say including words that she would never utter aloud to her brother (my husby) HAHAH. We all had a good laugh. As for your New Year poem, I read it yesterday (was it the same one you were trying to record?) and it was beautiful! So loving and so peaceful. 🙂 I hope you had a wonderful New Year’s Eve! Sending you big hugs!
Wishing you a new year filled with promise, happiness and love, dear Cynthia.
I’m grateful for our friendship – you continue to inspire and amaze me in every way.
Love, peace and hugs, Maria
Sweet Maria! I hope you had a wonderful, safe New Year’s and that you were surrounded by lots of love and happiness. I’m also grateful our paths have crossed. You are an inspiration, as well. I so enjoy how good you are at sending sweet cards and notes – I must resolve to be good at this like you are! <3
Sending you so many hugs on this New Year’s Day and may your 2018 be everything you want it to be! <3 <3 <3
Thank you for that advice,, I see on other peoples blogs little slots of voice recordings which you just play, but I tried several times and saw a different folder to open it up with, but still to no avail, so its not meant to be, as yet.. So I left it.. Yes I was going to record just a couple of verses only not the whole thing.. But the whole computer world has been a huge learning curve, as I taught myself by trail and error,, Thankfully not so much error.. 🙂 But its made me remember and not be afraid of clicking, but I have learnt to read the small print… LOL..
Thank you I just saw your comment and left you a reply, as I work my way through comments..
I adjusted my comments to be approved as I had thought not to be on line today, But its been a dreary damp dark day all day here, so I was busy model making.. 🙂 lol.. I will explain in an email. Which still needs writing, but It will arrive.. 🙂
So loved your video, left you a little note on it.. 🙂
Have a Wonderful New Years Day and a Fabulous 2018…
And speak soon..
Love and Hugs dear Cynthia..
Sue <3
Sweet Sue – I have to admit that it makes me a little crazy that WP doesn’t put our comments in linear fashion – I didn’t see this until I came back to this post to refer to something else. AH! Well…I hope you’re having a fabulous Sunday!
Did you get those recordings figured out? I can’t wait to hear your beautiful voice! Incidentally, it’s a dark, damp day all day here, too. I’m going to make a cup of tea and start my blog post for tomorrow. <3 Have a wonderful rest of your weekend, sweet friend! xoxo