You are feeling very curious about these animals… You believe they each have wisdom to share… and you are certain that one of these animals has something
very special to give you right now at this moment… So turn slowly… slowly around… in the center of the circle… and say out loud in your imagination… “Who wants to come forward now?”… and then watch… just watch what happens…
Perhaps an animal has joined you in the center of the circle… Whatever animal it is, welcome it with a smile and curious delight… Be as open as you can to its energy… Ask it who it is… and what wisdom it wants to share with you today… You may choose to just listen to him or her… or you might choose to have a conversation…
If an animal has not come forward… know that this is perfectly okay… know that you can return here to this circle in your imagination at any time… and for now… just bask in all of this animal energy that is present for you today…
It’s almost time to leave the circle now… but before you go… if an animal has
come forward… you might choose to ask this animal to touch a part of your body… and simply watch what it does when you ask this… Now ask your animal guide if it has a gift that it wants to give you before you leave… a gift to take with you so that you can remember this special encounter always… and then watch what happens… What gift does your animal give you?...
Now… find a special way to thank your animal friend… And then perhaps bow t
o all of the animals that surround you… or simply wave good-bye to them…
Then in your own time… and in your own way… step out of the circle… and follow your safe path back… and back… .until you are able to feel your body resting
on your chair…
Bringing yourself back to your breath… and back to your body once again…
You might want to lightly flex your fingers and toes… or gently shake out your arms and legs… moving your body in some way that brings you back to our gathering… You may want to shake off the beautiful blanket or sheet that you’ve been wearing… Or you may decide to leave it on…
Opening your eyes when you feel ready… Taking your time… I will wait for you… Remembering that all is well…
Sacred Animals Circle
Begin by making your body as comfortable as you can… Closing your eyes when you are ready… or choosing to keep your eyes open with a soft downward gaze… Focusing on your breath… as the air comes in… and as it goes out… in… and out… Feeling your chest rising and falling… rising and falling…
Giving the weight of your body over to the support of your chair… leaning back… surrendering… Giving the weight of your thoughts and feelings over to the presence of the Divine… however you imagine the Divine to be present in your life today…
Now you are even more relaxed… and in your imagination I invite you to imagine a path… It can be any kind of a path... a little trail in the woods… or a country road… or a brick walkway in a garden… This path can be anywhere you want it to be… by the ocean… in the city… up a mountain… in a meadow…
Wherever this path is… know that it was created just for you… Know too that it is a safe and friendly path… and as you start walking on this path… you are noticing a lovely sense of delight and anticipation…
Following this path… trusting that it will lead you wherever you need to go…
Looking around you as you walk… and just noticing… sights… colors… sounds… smells… textures…
As you continue on this path… you will soon be finding a Sacred Circle… This is a very special place where your Animal Companions will gather once you invite them in to the Circle…
Continuing to walk now… and pausing whenever you want to simply enjoy your surroundings…
Now… up ahead you can see the space where your Sacred Circle awaits you… So go ahead and make your way over to this sacred space now…
As you approach your Sacred Circle… you notice that there is a beautiful cloth or rug laid down in the center of it… If you like… go to that beautiful cloth or rug… and stand in the middle of it… reveling in the beauty, the sweetness… of this space…
Know that some of your Animal Companions are going to join you very soon… and remember… you don’t have to do anything for them to join you… Remember also that your Animal Companions have already chosen you… You don’t need to decide… They have been waiting for the opportunity to introduce themselves to you… They
have been waiting… for a moment just like this one… so simply hold love and acceptance and openness in your heart… and they will reveal themselves to you… all in good time…
We’re going to start by focusing on the first chakra… the root chakra…This is the area at the base of your spine… Begin by breathing into this area of your body… If you find that difficult, it’s okay….Just concentrate on or think about that part of your body… This energy center is often associated with the ideas of safety… survival…
home… healthy relationship to the earth… This chakra is all about your right to have… and your right as a human being to be here…
As you focus on the energy that is in your first chakra… at the base of your spine… imagine yourself squatting down in the center of your Sacred Circle… Then say or sing or just think these words into the wilderness around you… I invite my first chakra animal to come forward now…
And then watch what happens… Who comes forward into the Circle with you?... You may just sit in silence with this animal… or you may play a game with it… or have a conversation... or you may simply sit and wait… Perhaps this animal is not ready to come forward yet… Remember, whatever happens is perfectly okay…
If you’ve been conversing or playing with an animal here in this chakra… thank them for spending time with you… and then ask them to step back into their place in the Circle while you continue on this journey…
Now…. Take some time to focus on your second chakra… This is the sacral chakra… and it is located in the curve of the sacrum, where your pelvis is… Begin by breathing into this area of your body… or just focus on that part of your body now…. This energy center is often associated with creativity… emotions… and sexuality… This chakra is all about your right to feel… and your right as a human being to want… to desire...
As you focus on the energy that is in your second chakra energy center… Imagine yourself standing with your legs spread apart but completely balanced… Then say or sing or just think these words into the wilderness around you… I invite my second chakra animal to come forward now…
And then watch what happens… Who comes forward into the Circle with you?...
You may just sit in silence with this animal… or you may play a game with it... or have a conversation… or you may simply sit and wait… Perhaps this animal is not ready to come forward yet… Remember, whatever happens is perfectly okay...
If you’ve been conversing or playing with an animal… thank them for spending time
with you… and then ask them to step back into their place in the circle while you continue on this journey…
Now let’s spend some time in your third chakra… This is the area of your solar plexus… just above your belly button and below your breastbone… Begin by breathing into this area of your body... or focusing on it… This energy center is your personal power center… and is often associated with the ideas of effective action… authenticity… and personal power… This chakra is all about your right to act…
the right to own your own personal power…
As you focus on the energy that is in your third chakra… above your stomach… imagine yourself standing straight and tall with your arms outstretched… in the center of your Sacred Circle… Then say or sing or just think these words into the wilderness around you… I invite my third chakra animal to come forward now…
And then watch what happens… Who comes forward into the Circle with you?...
You may just sit in silence with this animal… or you may play a game with it… or have a conversation… or you may simply sit and wait… Perhaps this animal is not ready to come forward yet… Remember, whatever happens is perfectly okay...
If you’ve been conversing or playing with an animal… thank them for spending time with you… and then ask them to step back into their place in the circle while you continue on this journey…
Now… Take some time to focus on your fourth chakra… This is your heart chakra and it is located in the center of your chest… Begin by breathing into this area of your body… or just focusing on it… Your fourth chakra… This energy center is often associated with the ideas of love of self… love of others… community… and relationships… This chakra is all about your right to love… and your right to be loved...
As you focus on the energy that is in your fourth chakra energy center... imagine yourself standing in the center of your Sacred Circle… with your hands resting lightly over the center of your chest… Then say or sing or just think these words into the wilderness around you… I invite my fourth chakra animal to come forward now…
And then watch what happens… Who comes forward into the Circle with you?...
You may just sit in silence with this animal… or you may play a game with it… or have a conversation… or you may simply sit and wait… Perhaps this animal is not ready to come forward yet… Remember, whatever happens is perfectly okay...
If you’ve been conversing or playing with an animal… thank them for spending time with you… and then ask them to step back into their place in the circle while you continue on this journey…
Now… Let’s focus on the fifth chakra… This is your throat chakra… located in the lower part of your neck… Begin by breathing into this area of your body… or just focusing your attention there now… Your fifth chakra… This energy center is often associated with the ideas of communication and self-expression… This chakra is all about your right to speak the truth… and to hear the truth…
As you focus on the energy that is in your fifth chakra…in your throat… imagine yourself slowly and gently rolling your neck from side to side… Then say or sing these words into the wilderness around you… I invite my fifth chakra animal to come forward now…
And then watch what happens… Who comes forward into the Circle with you?...
You may just sit in silence with this animal… or you may play a game with it… or have a conversation… or you may simply sit and wait… Perhaps this animal is not ready to come forward yet… Remember, whatever happens is perfectly okay…
If you’ve been conversing or playing with an animal… thank them for spending time with you… and then ask them to step back into their place in the circle while you continue on this journey…
Let’s focus on your sixth chakra now… This is the third eye chakra and it is located in the center of your forehead, between your eyebrows… Begin by breathing into this area of your body… or just focusing your attention there now… Your sixth chakra… This energy center is often associated with the ideas of intuition… imagination… and intellect… and of being able to see with your inner eye as well as your outer eyes... This chakra is all about your right to see… both inwardly and outwardly…
As you focus on the energy that is in your sixth chakra energy center… in the center of your forehead… imagine yourself standing in the center of your Sacred Circle with your eyes lightly closed… Then say or sing or just think these words into the wilderness around you… I invite my sixth chakra animal to come forward now…
And then watch what happens… Who comes forward into the Circle with you?... You may just sit in silence with this animal… or you may play a game with it… or have a conversation… or you may simply sit and wait… Perhaps this animal is not ready to
come forward yet… Remember, whatever happens is perfectly okay…
If you’ve been conversing or playing with an animal… thank them for spending time with you… and then ask them to step back into their place in the circle while you continue on this journey…
It’s time now to focus on the seventh chakra… This is your crown chakra… and it is located just above the top of your head… Begin by breathing into this area of your body… or just focusing your attention there… Your seventh chakra… This energy center is often associated with the ideas of self-awareness… and spiritual
connection… This chakra is all about your right to know… and your right to a spiritual connection to the Divine…
As you focus on the energy that is in your seventh chakra… just above your head… imagine yourself standing with your arms lifted high into the air… reaching toward the heavens… Then say or sing these words into the wilderness around you… I invite my seventh chakra animal to come forward now…
And then watch what happens… Who comes forward into the Circle with you?... You may just sit in silence with this animal… or you may play a game with it… or have a conversation… or you may simply sit and wait… Perhaps this animal is not ready to come forward yet… Remember… whatever happens is perfectly okay….
If you’ve been conversing or playing with an animal… thank them for spending time with you… and then ask them to step back into their place in the circle while you continue on this journey…
Now, your time in your Sacred Animals Circle is almost done for now… but before you leave… go ahead and slowly turn around… perhaps bowing to each of the
animals who have joined your circle today… There may be seven animals in your Circle… or just a few… or only one… It doesn’t matter… It’s all okay… Simply bow to any animals that are there… making eye contact with each one as you do… one at a time…
If no animals have shown up today… that is okay too… Know that you are creating this special place just for them… and when they feel it is time… they will come to you if you continue to show up for them…
Still standing in the center of your Sacred Circle now… just imagine that each animal there is shining its beautiful precious light onto you… in the center… all at once…
and you are just savoring the feeling of love and light that washes over you as they do this… If no animals are here yet… simply imagine Divine Love shining down on you from above… and filling you with a feeling of safety… and of being loved…
It’s time to start thinking about leaving your Sacred Circle now… but first say good-
bye to your animals… and let them know that you will be back soon…
And when you are ready… slowly and mindfully leave the circle… Find your way back the same way you came in…. Walk as slowly as you need to…
Becoming aware now of your breath moving in and out of your nose… Coming back to this room… Feeling your feet on the floor… Now feeling your legs and your back against the chair … Coming back to your body now… Maybe stretching your body in a way that feels really good to you in this moment… Feeling your chest rising and falling with each breath…
And when you are ready… only when you are ready… go ahead and open your eyes… Please take your time… I will wait for you… All is well…
Part 7
Spirituality
The power of imagination makes us infinite.
~ John Muir
Circled on a Map
This place where you are right now God circled on a map for you
Wherever your eyes and arms and heart can move against the earth and the sky,
the beloved has bowed there-
the beloved has bowed there knowing you were coming…
~ Hafiz
When you are ready, allow yourself to come to stillness… Give yourself permission to come home to yourself for these next several minutes… Give yourself permission to come home to Spirit… to the One that holds the many parts of your world… Paying attention to your breath… not trying to change it… Just noticing as you breathe in… and noticing as you breathe
out… Breathing in the stillness that is always inside of you… breathing out any inner chaos… Breathing in peace…. breathing out any inner conflicts that have been going on… Giving yourself permission to just breathe in… to just breathe out… and to simply relax…
And as you come into this beautiful sense of centering… of coming home to yourself… imagine that you are sitting in an ancient room full of maps and charts… Take a moment to walk around the room… and as you do… notice that everything in this room is related to your own personal journey through life… Acquaint yourself with the many atlases and diagrams… navigational tools… drawings of sacred places… all of them representing your life… Lands that are known and unknown to you are represented on all of these maps… and charts… books… and tools… Take a
moment now to explore this place… this navigational homage to your own journey…
In a moment, you see a Wise One standing in the doorway… and now you have the choice to invite this Wise One in… or you can choose to say “not now”… and to continue to explore on your own… If you choose to let the Wise One in… see that
he or she is gesturing for you to sit down at a big table in the center of the room… If it feels right… go ahead and sit down… and now watch as your Wise One goes to one of the shelves… takes out an ancient volume… brings it to you at the table… and opens it to a specific page… Just watching for a moment… You notice that there is a
beautiful map on this page... It is exquisitely etched on silk-like paper… If you like… take a moment to run your hands over the map… Feel how beautiful it is to touch…
Now your Wise One points to a specific place on this map… It is circled in a glowing golden light… Listen as your Wise One speaks… “This is where you are right now on your life’s journey”… he or she says gently… “God circled this place… on this map… for you”…
Magical Inner Journeys Page 12
