Healing Space Visualization
Today has been a bit of a theme on healing space as I move into this new year with decluttered closets and fresh resolve on adding movement and time for renewal into my day.
I’ve been meditating for years and occasionally turn to guided visualization from Insight Timer or other similar apps.
One of the great joys of my life is teaching a twice a week corporate meditation class (by conference call… who knew?!) and we explore all sorts of mindfulness techniques.
Most of us know this technique as its used by athletes and professional speakers to visualize results before a high stakes event or performance.
However, it’s also an easy technique for mere mortals like the rest of us to incorporate into practice.
As part of the Martha Beck Coach Training course that I’m enrolled in, we often incorporate visualization or meditation practices as part of our coaching process depending on the client’s interest. This type of practice is great for getting out of your analytical brain and exploring your more creative and emotional side.
Plus, there’s all sorts of fascinating and seemingly random bits of imagination that hold real clues to what your essential authentic self really wants. It’s a technique that also has expanding science behind it as healthcare facilities begin to embrace more integrative mind-body techniques.
My colleagues in the Spring 2018 Integrative Health and Lifestyle Program (iHELP) from the Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine had the pleasure of attending a January 2018 retreat in Tucson with specific sessions on mind-body medicine, including guided imagery.
Since a number of my clients are thinking about clearing out the old, decluttering and finding out what brings a fresh sense of joy into their homes, I decided to create a Healing Space Meditation script to facilitate.
It’s simple to do and you might be surprised at what comes up!
Healing Space Visualization
Find a comfortable seat, feeling your feet on the floor & letting your spine be long & tall. Gently close your eyes & rest your hands in your lap.
Begin to notice your breath- from belly to mid chest to upper chest. Allowing it to deepen.
Allowing your body to be supported by the chair. Letting your thoughts begin to settle.
There is nothing required of you other than to simply breathe and notice what comes up for you for the next few minutes.
Imagine you are standing in the most calm and relaxing space you can imagine. When you're in this space, you feel whole... complete... like your best and most vital self. How does this feel in your body?
Look around in your mind's eye. What is here to be noticed? Take in the sights, sounds, smells, textures. Rest in the knowledge that this is your healing space- the space that's yours to breathe and feel into at any time you wish.
While you're in this space, someone or something comes to you as a guide. See this guide in as much detail as you can bring forward. Capture this vision like a photograph. Your guide is here to help you and has brought a message in the form of an object.
See this object in as much detail as you can imagine... what is its shape, color, texture, weight? How does it feel? Are there any words written on it? Is there a message?
Thank your guide for bringing your sacred object and know that this is not the last time you will meet. Move out of your healing space and walk slowly out into a clearing. This is your path home. Notice everything you can see on this path.
Come slowly back to your breath & body. Come back into the room that you're in... Slowly open your eyes, keeping a soft gaze.
Allow your vision to encompass the space that you're in. Taking in all that's there to be seen, heard, smelled, felt... letting your gaze wander around the room with curiosity... as if you've never seen it before.
Is there anything in this space that calls forth how you felt in your healing space or on your path?
How do you feel in this space?
Use this practice to change the spaces that surround you. Find ways to render them beautiful and healing.
