Magical Inner Journeys

by Anne Marie Bennett

  You are seeing this place as sacred and holy somehow… What do you notice in this area that makes you feel that Divine energy is present?... Are there sacred objects?… Do you hear sacred music?...

  Just looking around and noticing everything about this peaceful, sacred, welcoming space…

  Finding a seat now… go ahead and imagine now that you are inviting into this wonderful place…

  a being of great wisdom and compassion… Because you seek understanding… this being is pleased to come to you… Soon you find that seated across from you is someone whose heart is full of love… and whose mind is pure and wise… As you are looking into their eyes… you are seeing only love… It is as if their whole body is radiating light and love to you…

  From the area of this being’s heart… a bright light shines… directly into your heart… You are feeling in that light a warm and special energy… A sense of well-being is building in your heart… spreading through your whole body... From head to toe… you are filling with a loving light that is flowing into every cell of your body… Every cell… every molecule in your body… is being touched by this love…

  Now… listening inside yourself… perhaps you find that you have a question for this wise one… Perhaps something has been troubling you and you would like some guidance... Feel free now to ask whatever you would like of this wise being… Form your question… and then listen very

  carefully… Take as much time as you need… Knowing that the answer may come as a thought… or you might hear words in your mind… or the wise being might show you an image…

  Just savoring this gift of inner time… and opening to whatever arises from this being of wisdom who has come to be with you today…

  You might also choose to have a dialogue with this friendly being…

  or maybe the two of you will just sit quietly together… Do whatever feels right for you…

  And now it is time to start thinking about leaving this sacred clearing and this wise being… but before you leave… find some way to say good-bye to this loving one who has come here to be with you… and know that you can return at any time… simply by closing your eyes and taking a breath… Knowing also that this loving being is always with you… whether you are consciously aware of it or not…

  Walking back down the path… away from the clearing… and standing once again in the warm light of the sun… in the beautiful place where you first arrived…

  And when you are ready… bringing yourself back to this day and this time…

  back to this room that we are in together… Focusing on your breath again… Following the sound of my voice right back here… Coming back slowly…

  Becoming aware of your body… Maybe shifting a little bit in your seat…

  Noticing your feet on the floor grounding you more and more into your body… Moving gently

  in some way that brings you back into your body a bit more...

  Opening your eyes gently when you feel ready… No need to hurry… I will wait for you… All is well…

  Meeting Your Creative Muse

  Please begin by making yourself comfortable… Sitting as straight as you can… Allowing your chair to support your whole body… Listening to your body…

  Respect what it is asking you for right now… and shifting or adjusting any body parts so that you can be a bit more relaxed… and maybe even a bit more relaxed…

  Now focusing on your breath… feeling the air flowing in and out of your nose… in and out… in and out… Feel your chest rising and falling with each breath… rising and falling… rising and falling… Breathing in… breathing out… Breathing in… breathing out…

  Every time you breathe in… imagine that you are breathing in the warm, sweet air of creativity that is all around you at this moment… And every time you breathe out imagine breathing out any worries or stress… Breathing in creativity… breathing out worries… Breathing in creativity… breathing out stress… Slowing down your breath

  just a little bit… Slowing down your thoughts a little bit more… Relaxing… Relaxing… Being so… so… gentle with yourself…

  And when all is quiet and calm within… I invite you to take yourself… in your imagination… to a hot, dry desert… All is quiet here… You can see the sun shimmering on the sand… Your skin feels warm in the heat of this beautiful golden sun… In the distance you might be able to see a circle of tall flowering cactus plants… If it feels right, head on over to them now… Taking your time… If you

  are thirsty, notice that you are wearing a magical fanny pack and there is a water bottle inside that will never be empty… so drink some water if you need that… and continue walking towards the circle of cacti…

  As you get closer… you notice that they are flowering with the most beautiful and fragrant flowers… What color are these flowers?... You might want to pick one and weave it into your hair… or place it in a buttonhole… or maybe you’ll choose to leave the flowers where they are and just inhale their fragrance for a moment...

  Now you are standing in the center of this circle of tall blossoming cactus plants… Some of them are as big as trees… You can choose to be here alone if you want… or you can choose to invite some creative people to join you... If you want to, imagine several different creative people standing around you in the circle of cacti… Make eye contact with each one… Feel their creative energy beaming into you… Maybe

  smiling… Laughing… Maybe even dancing if that feels good... Knowing that this is a time of celebration of your creativity as well… Because you recognize the creative spirit in each of them… you can acknowledge that you too possess it…

  After a while… you notice that there is a large metal circle in the sand… If you choose to, get down on your hands and knees… and touch this metal circle… Brush some

  of the sand off of it… You can see that there is a handle on this metal circle… If it feels right… just pull gently on the handle until the metal circle easily lifts up in your hands… You are opening the door…

  If you feel curious… dip your head into the opening in the sand… You can hear music coming from deep within the earth… You can see beautiful lights down below… and it smells like a lovely mixture of all of your favorite fragrances…

  You raise your head back up into the bright desert sunshine… and look around at your creative companions… They are urging you to go down through the opening… to explore what is beneath the surface… “We have been there”… they are saying… You hear the words… “safe”… “joy”… and “self-expression”… What other words are you hearing as they encourage you to go deeper?...

  Looking back down into the earth… you see someone or something below you… It is holding the bottom of a beautiful shimmering ladder… If you want to… only if you choose to… climb down the ladder… down… down… If you want to stay up in the

  desert sun and play with your creative friends for these next few minutes… that’s okay too… Feel free to make the choice that is best for you… in this moment…

  If you are journeying down… keep climbing slowly down the silver ladder… and when you get to the bottom… notice who has been there holding the ladder steady for you… It might be a person… someone you know or don’t know… It could be a mythic creature or a spirit guide… Or maybe it’s an angel… or even a special animal friend… Whoever it is… this is your Creative Muse for today… If you want, shake his or her hand… or paw or wing… and allow your Muse to take you on a little tour of your own creative depths…

  During your tour, make note of what you see… and hear… and smell… and touch… What creative adventures lie hidden below the surface for you… in your own inner world today?...

  After a while…your Creative Muse guides you to a large open area where there is

  a bonfire burning… Sit next to the fire for a while with your Muse… resting in the presence of this creative spirit… If you have questions for him or her… now is a good
time to ask… and simply listen for any answers that you are given…

  In a little while… you’re going to be finding your way back to the ladder…

  but first… take a moment… and think about something that has been getting in the way of your own creative playtime back on the surface of your life… Think of those times when you long for creative time but don’t give it to yourself…

  What is it that is stopping you?...

  Your Creative Muse is handing you a piece of paper and a pen… Go ahead and write whatever it is that blocks you from your joyful creativity… Write it down on the piece of paper… and then toss it into the bonfire… and watch it disintegrate to

  ashes before your eyes… You might be noticing that you feel freer… calmer… or that something has been released from inside of you… and it feels good to know that you did it yourself…

  Now it is time to find your way back to the ladder… Your Creative Muse is guiding you back to the opening where you entered this creative space… So say good-bye to him or her now… Be sure to express gratitude for their willingness to guide you today… taking all the time you need... and when you are ready… you can climb back up the ladder… up and up and up… knowing that your Creative Muse is holding the ladder steady for you and that you will not fall…

  When you reach the top… climb joyfully back into the desert sunshine… Your creative team is still here waiting for you… cheering you on… You might want to return later and toss around some ideas with one or all of them…

  Now… thanking each of them for joining you today… You might want to hug them or shake their hands… or just look each of them in the eyes… but do take a moment to bask in their creative energy… Take a moment now to appreciate the creative blessings they have gifted you with on your journey…

  And when you are ready… you can leave the circle of flowering cacti in the warm and sandy desert… knowing that you can return here any time you like simply by closing your eyes and taking a breath… And find your way slowly… slowly back… to this room… following the sound of my voice… back here to this time and this place…

  Finding a gentle way now to bring yourself back into your physical body… Feeling

  your feet on the floor… noticing the position your legs are in… feeling your back against the chair… Maybe slowly moving your head from side to side… or shaking out your hands… Finding a way to ground yourself back into your physical body…

  When you are ready, open your eyes… There is no rush… I will wait for you… Take your time… Knowing that all is well…

  Archetypes Along Your Journey

  Please begin by making yourself comfortable… Sitting as straight as you can… Allowing your chair to support your whole body… Listening to your body… Respecting what it is asking for right now… and shifting or adjusting in any way so that you can be a bit more relaxed… and even a bit more relaxed than that…

  Now focusing on your breathing… Feeling the air flowing in and out of your nose… in and out… in and out… Feel your chest rising and falling with each breath… rising and falling… rising and falling… Breathing in… breathing out… Breathing in… breathing out…

  Every time you breathe in… imagine that you are breathing in the sweet air of wisdom that is all around you at this moment… Every time you breathe out… imagine that you are breathing out any worries or stress... Breathing in wisdom… breathing out worries… Breathing in wisdom… breathing out stress… Slowing down your breath just a little bit if you can… Also slowing down your thoughts just a little bit more… Relaxing… relaxing… being so… so… gentle with yourself…

  And when all is quiet and calm within… I invite you to take yourself… in your imagination… to a large open meadow or field… The sky here is wide… and as blue as you want it to be… You can’t see anything or anyone for miles and miles…. But you don’t feel alone… You are feeling safe here… in this wide open space… Noticing the sun on your skin… Noticing the silence… the peace… or any sounds in the distance…

  This place where you are standing represents where you are on your life’s path right now… So now that you know this… use your imagination to fill in the scenery a little bit… You might be in a really creative phase of your life, so there might be beautiful waterfalls and lots of green foliage and flowers… Or you might be in a difficult part of your life’s path, so the space might be rocky or even mountainous… Perhaps you are feeling that your life is like a dried up desert… or a jungle… or something else

  entirely… How does where you are on your life journey right now look to you… in this space that is yours and yours alone?… And what about the air… Is it clear… foggy?... polluted?… sweet?... There are no right answers… It is simply what it is… nothing more, nothing less… And you are just observing… just noticing… not trying to change it… simply noticing your current location…

  Noticing colors… sounds… smells… textures… Maybe even noticing how your body

  feels in this place that gives image to where you stand on your life’s journey at this time… Are you breathless from climbing… tingly from joy… tired from the journey… just how does your body feel to be in this landscape of your place on your life journey?...

  Now I invite you to take a look around… until you find a magical vehicle that is going to lift you effortlessly into the air to give you some perspective on your life’s journey at this time… It might be a balloon… or a rainbow colored airplane… a magic carpet… a silly looking flying machine… or maybe you will suddenly be given wings to fly… Just take a moment to look around… until you find this magic vehicle… Now

  you are climbing in or on it… and then… slowly… slowly… allow it to lift you up… up… into the sky… Lifting you up a little farther… until you are hovering about 100 feet above the landscape of your current life journey… or whatever feels a comfortable distance to you… Remembering that this vehicle is magical… and you are safe… completely and totally safe at all times… Remembering too that you are the one who is in control of this journey at all times…

  Now… still hovering in one place… try looking down towards the landscape of your current location… and notice that… from this high up… it is just one little spot on a very long path or roadway… Looking towards the left and noticing the path that led to where you are right now on your journey… Now looking towards the right and noticing how the road continues on… What you are seeing now is the aerial view

  of your life’s journey… And you are noticing how… all along the path… at various places… there are certain Beings of Light hovering over your path…

  They might appear as physical entities... or they might look like glowing spaces… or beautiful multicolored lights… These Beings of Light are representing the archetypes that have been present to you as guides on your life’s journey… These are the archetypal energies who are currently guiding you… and those who will be with you as your journey continues… You are high enough now to see all of it… your whole life’s journey… unfolding below…

  If you choose… still floating high in the air… turn your magical flying vehicle to the left and steer yourself away from your current location… still flying now... and travel to where the path of your life began…

  When you arrive at the beginning of your life’s path… bring your magical vehicle a little bit lower… Note the year where your path begins… and also note that because you are a little bit closer to the ground… you can see your entire childhood from up

  this high… And because you are closer… you can also see more clearly the specific guiding archetypes or themes that have shaped your life and your path… Making note of these themes or archetypes now… as you are looking down over your infant and childhood years… What were you doing?… What were you passionate about at that time of your life?... Just drifting slowly overhead… and noticing… Not judging or criticizing or wishing it was different… Jus
t noticing… and allowing the archetypal energies to make themselves clearer to you… Perhaps becoming aware of any themes or patterns that emerged during your childhood years…

  And now… steering your magical flying machine further on the path… You are now hovering over your adolescent years… As you look down over these teenage years… simply notice… What were you doing?… What were you passionate about at that time of your life?... Just drifting slowly overhead… and noticing… Not judging or criticizing… just noticing… and allowing any archetypal energies to make themselves clearer to you… Noticing any themes or patterns from your childhood years that continued on with you to adolescence… Maybe noticing any themes or patterns that emerged and were new to you during your adolescent years…

  Very good… Now steering your magical flying machine onward to the right… following your life’s path… slowly… Looking down on the different stages of your life… One set of years at a time… What were you passionate about then?... What were you doing?… Just drifting slowly overhead… and noticing… Not judging or criticizing… just noticing… and allowing the archetypal energies… those beings of light… to make themselves clearer to you… Noticing if you are seeing any themes or patterns emerge… I will give you a few minutes now… to observe the other stages of your life… in your own time… taking your time…

  I invite you now to bring yourself in your flying machine back to the current landscape of your journey… Still hovering overhead… Still feeling safe and secure… Perhaps being more aware of the big picture of your life… the overview of your own particular path…