Guided Meditation: Forest walk

You are lying a forest clearing.
The sun is warm upon your skin.
There is bird song.
It is peaceful here. It is safe.

You stand and look at the ring of trees.
There is a arch in south-west leading out the clearing.
You walk through it and follow the path.
The path winds through the trees.

It is cool between the trees.
The light falls in dappled patches on the ground.
Soon you hear running water.
The shade deepens as you approach the sound.

The path opens onto the grassy bank of a flowing river.
Trees over hang the bank keeping it in shade.
The river flows steadily from the west.
There is no place to cross here.

There is a basket near where you are standing.
Leaf litter from the trees lies scattered across the bank.
You pick up leaves as you walk upstream.
It is cold in the shade, you do not dwaddle.

Round a bend in the river, you come across a bridge.
It is made out of solid stone and easy to cross.
As you walk across the bridge, the basket you are carrying gets heavier.
Half way across it is too heavy to carry and you must put it down.

There is a phrase engraved into the upstream wall.
"Cast away your burdens here."

You look at the basket of now mouldy leaves.
There is writing on them and recognise them as your current worries and troubles.
One by one you let them fall into the water below,
Watching them wash away beneath the bridge.

Soon your basket is empty.
You choose to leave it behind.
Continue across the bridge to the otherside
As you step off the otherside, you feel lighter.

This bank is sandy, more like a beach than a river bank.
The sun shines down warming the air.
Birds sing in the trees.
You follow the river as it flows east, enjoying the peace and calm.

After walking downstream awhile you can no longer see the bridge.
You pause and look across the river.
The opposite bank has faded into gloom with no visible features.
Aways downstream the forest breaks and there is sun on the oppsite bank.

You continue walking downstream towards the brighter sunlight.
You are approaching a rocky shallow in the river.
The sunlight glistens on the bubbling water.
It is possible to cross there.

White pebbles are scattered around as you approach the ford.
You pause to pick up three small stones.
They are warm and feel good in your hands.
You will carry them with you.

You cross the river here.
It is no deeper than your ankles.
The stones are smooth under foot.
The water feels good around your feet.

Walking out onto the grass on the otherside,
you see a path leading away from the river.
The trees stand back from the path letting sunlight bathe the way.
You walk along the path feeling calm and peaceful.

The path leads you back to the clearing you started in.
You re-enter the clearing from the north-east.
The birds are singing and the sun shines down.
It is very peaceful here.

You lie down in the middle of clearing, tired from the journey.
Before you fall asleep, you look at the pebbles you brought with you.
There are words on the pebbles.
Remember what they are.