Magical Inner Journeys
Page 14
can choose to journey in solitude… If you were traveling alone and you’d like a companion or two on this leg of the journey towards Oz… look around and see if someone is there to join you now…
Remembering that you are safe because of Glinda’s magical dust… that you are journeying towards your heart’s desire with an open heart… an open mind… and much courage… just continue your journey down the Yellow Brick Road… remembering why you are traveling to Oz… remembering your heart’s desire… and maybe even saying it out loud in your imagination to yourself or to your companions…
As you are walking you are noticing that you are not on a straight path… There are twists and turns… Maybe there’s a stream to cross… or some rocks in your way… Just continuing to navigate the journey with your companions… seen or unseen…
Now you are noticing that you are coming to the edge of a forest… There’s no way around it… You’ll have to go through it… So… in you go… Noticing how much quieter… and darker it is here… But the Yellow Brick Road is still clearly marked and
so you continue to follow it… deeper and deeper into the woods… feeling yourself grounded in your ruby slippers… or whatever fabulous, powerful shoes you are wearing… as you step along the Yellow Brick Road in the woods…
Eventually you come across someone or something that is blocking your path… or maybe more than one being or thing… It might be a Wicked Witch… or maybe it’s a sad little Munchkin… It might be a horde of flying monkeys… or someone or
something else entirely… Whoever it is… it is trying to stop you from moving towards Oz… towards your heart’s desire… So… remembering that you are protected and safe… remembering that this is your journey and that no one can harm you here…
I invite you to pay close attention to whoever it is that is intent on stopping you from reaching Oz… stopping you from having what it is that you really want… Who is it?... Is this being alone… or is there more than one?... Just allowing the scene to unfold however it wants to… knowing that you are safe… allowing yourself to be curious…
Paying attention also… to what is being said about your heart’s desire… There might be some negativity hurled at you… Nevertheless you are standing still… in your shoes… and listening… knowing that they can’t hurt you physically… Just listening to the kinds of things they are telling you… What is it that is getting in the way of your heart’s desire?...
Remembering that obstacles come up on any journey… It’s perfectly normal… And also knowing that you don’t have to believe what your own personal “wicked witch” or “flying monkeys” are telling you about your heart’s desire…
So now… you can choose to turn around and go back to the beginning of the Yellow Brick Road… where you began… or you can choose to take a quiet breath and stand firm in your decision to travel onward to Oz… to reach your heart’s desire… If you are choosing to move forward… go ahead and use whatever language you need…
to get these hindrances out of your way… so you can continue on your journey to Oz… towards whatever it is that you really want…
Noticing that as you tell the hindrances to leave… as you tell them that you choose not to believe them… notice that they diminish in size… and disappear…
Now you are free to continue walking on the Yellow Brick Road… maybe singing with your friends… or maybe just traveling quietly… heading through the forest… and out again into the sunshine… feeling perhaps a bit more powerful than you did when
you began… continuing your journey to Oz… to your heart’s desire… calm mind… peaceful heart… activated courage…
Walking… walking… journeying on… and now you are approaching Oz… It is brighter and more beautiful than you ever imagined… Your version of Glinda is there to greet you… She smiles and welcomes you with open arms… She leads you into the palace and there you find it… your heart’s desire… whatever that is for you right
now… If you choose to… go forward and claim it… This is what you’ve been wanting… what you’ve been seeking… and now it is yours… How does it feel to have this now?... Take some time to savor the feeling of having it… owning it… making it a permanent part of your life...
It’s time to start thinking about coming back… so find a way to thank your version of Glinda… as well as any companions who joined you on your journey… knowing that you are bringing your heart’s desire back here with you… that it is truly yours… that you have already claimed it…
You might want to ask for a gift… from Glinda… or from one of your companions… a gift that will help you to remember this journey always…
And now in your own time… and your own way… traveling back to this room… back… back… Following the sound of my voice… slowly and gently returning to our class… You might want to stretch any part of your body that’s needing to move right now… Grounding yourself back into your breathing body…
When you are ready… gently open your eyes… Take your time… I will wait for you… All is well…
Gaining Perspective
Allow your body to experience the contact that it makes with the chair and with the floor… and let it adjust itself in any way it needs to in order to be just a little bit more comfortable… Shifting any part of you that needs to move for that settled feeling of ahhh… You can close your eyes when it feels safe and comfortable to do so… or you might choose to keep a soft gaze downwards…
As you tune in to the rhythm of your breath, imagine that when you inhale… you’re inhaling a little bit of the sky… and it’s very clear and very refreshing… And as
you exhale, imagine that you’re letting go of whatever you don’t need right now… Inhaling the light, clear sky… Exhaling that which does not serve you right now… Letting the rhythm of your breath be just what it is… a simple and beautiful process of taking in what’s fresh and clear… and letting go of what’s no longer needed…
Each breath you take relaxes and refreshes you… Your breathing and your mind are becoming clearer and clearer… Your body is relaxing a little bit more with each inhale and exhale…
I invite you now… in your imagination… to look into the sky… and begin to think of all the things that can fly… insects… birds… balloons… rockets… airplanes… helicopters… What else comes to mind when you think of things that fly… real things… or imaginary things…
Now… imagine yourself walking out in a large open field… and there… resting there just for you… is your own personal flying machine… Walk all around it now… Notice any colors… its shape… Is there any writing on it?... Any symbols?... Is it making any sounds?... How does it feel if you choose to touch it?...
In a minute, you’re going to climb aboard… but before that, I invite you to think of a particular challenge that you’re experiencing in your life right now… It might be something to do with your health… or a relationship… Perhaps it’s about your job
or career… Just choose something in your life that’s difficult for you to navigate right
now… for whatever reason… Just name it to yourself…
And now listen inside yourself… Maybe there are parts of you that are criticizing you… putting you down about this situation,… this challenge… If so, I invite you to visualize them for a moment… let these inner voices take human form… See them…
Hear them… Thank them for sharing… Know that they are not the only parts of you… and then climb right into the pilot’s seat of your flying machine… That’s right… You are taking the pilot’s seat… and as soon as you are cleared for take-off by your Safety Crew on the ground… you can choose to stay on the ground… or you can taxi your plane slowly… and then a bit faster… until you are gliding right up into the air… flying higher… and a little bit higher… only as high as you choose to fly… and knowing also that your Safety Crew on the ground is keeping you perfectly safe… and that you can choose
to land whenever you want to…
Waving good-bye to all those critical… unhelpful… inner voices on the ground… noticing that they are getting smaller and smaller as you continue to fly higher… knowing that you are lifting yourself above some of the old patterns of your life… knowing that you can do this anytime you like… breaking free of the gravity of your old limitations… and just noticing how that feels…
Once you’ve reached a comfortable altitude… whatever that means for you… go ahead and put your flying machine on autopilot… knowing that you are completely safe… and that your Safety Crew on the ground will notify you if anything needs your attention…
Take a moment now to look below… and think again of the challenging relationship or situation that you named before you got into your flying machine… Notice that from this higher vantage point… you have a much better… clearer perspective on this challenge…
Looking down and behind… you can see where and how that particular challenge began… and you might even be able to notice that you’ve already made some progress with this challenge in your life…
Looking down directly below… you can see more clearly what is really happening right now in this challenge…
And looking farther ahead… Is it possible that you can see that progress has already been made… or that your next steps are more clear?...
I invite you now to settle back into your pilot’s seat… and I’m going to give you two minutes to have a gentle conversation with yourself about this challenging
situation or relationship… In this time, I invite you to say only compassionate things to yourself… the kind of conversation you might have with a beloved child who is
struggling with something… This talking with yourself is about being kind to yourself about this situation… It’s about retaining a sense of humor and balance… about accepting yourself and your situation exactly as it is… You might even want to give yourself some tender encouragement about whatever your next steps are to be…
Taking one more minute… saying loving, gentle, encouraging things to yourself…
Very good… Now… when you are ready… I invite you to look down once again… from this higher perspective… look down once again on the challenge that you’ve been thinking about… and find a way to bless it… again, from this higher
perspective… You might use your hands… or your voice… or your breath… blessing this challenge that you are facing…
Now it’s time to start thinking about landing your flying machine... so… back in your pilot’s seat… facing forward again… taking your flying machine off of autopilot… flying back… and back… back to where this inner journey began… taking your time… Seeking your safe place to land… down below… and when you find that safe place to land… bringing your flying machine slowly… slowly… back down… If any of it is unclear… know that your Safety Crew on the ground will gladly and smoothly guide you back down… And now… in your own time… landing your amazing flying machine... smoothly… easily…
Very good… Getting out of your flying machine for now… Finding a way to express gratitude to it for the gift of perspective that it gave you today… Knowing that you can take a Perspective Flight any time you like… simply by closing your eyes and taking a breath…
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… shaking out your hands… or wiggling your feet and legs… Following the sound of my voice back to this room… this gathering…
And when you are ready… gently opening your eyes… There is no rush… I will wait for you… Take your time… Remembering that all is well…
Enjoying the Ride
Allow your body to experience the contact that it makes with the chair and with the floor… and let it adjust itself in any way it needs to in order to be just a little bit more comfortable… Shifting any part of you that needs to move for that settled feeling of ahhh… You can close your eyes when it feels safe and comfortable to do so…
or you might choose to keep a soft gaze downwards…
As you tune in to the rhythm of your breath, imagine that when you inhale… you’re inhaling a little bit of the sky… and it’s very clear and very refreshing… And
as you exhale, imagine that you’re letting go of whatever you don’t need right now… Inhaling the light, clear sky… Exhaling that which does not serve you right now… Letting the rhythm of your breath be just what it is… a simple and beautiful process of taking in what’s fresh and clear… and letting go of what’s no longer needed…
Each breath you take relaxes and refreshes you… Your breathing and your mind are becoming clearer and clearer… Your body is relaxing a little bit more with each inhale and exhale…
Very good… Now… activating your imagination… I invite you to look up into the sky… and begin to think of all the things that can fly… Insects… birds… balloons… rockets… airplanes… helicopters… What else comes to mind when you think of things that fly…
Now… imagine yourself walking out in a large open field… and there… sitting there just for you… is your own personal flying machine… Walk all around it now… Notice any colors… its shape… Is there any writing on it?... Any symbols?... Is it making any sounds?... How does it feel when you touch it?... Are there any good smells in the air around you?...
If you choose to… go ahead and climb right on board… and then make your way into the pilot’s seat of your flying machine… That’s right… You are taking the pilot’s seat… and as soon as you are cleared for take-off by your Safety Crew on the ground…
you can choose to stay on the ground… or you can taxi your plane slowly… and then a bit faster… until you are gliding right up into the air… flying higher… and a little bit higher… only as high as you choose to fly… and knowing also that your Safety Crew on the ground is keeping you safe… and that you can choose to land
whenever you want to…
As you continue to pilot your own plane… take a look around you… it’s a perfect day
for flying… the skies are clear… and you can see for miles… Take a moment to feel the thrill of this flight… Remembering how safe you are… and how your Safety Crew is looking out for you at all times…
Now… I invite you to take a “beauty flight” just for the fun of it… If you choose to… fly yourself to a place that fills you with beauty and awe… There is no reason to go here except that you want to… and that you enjoy it… It might be somewhere you’ve already been… or it might be an imaginary place… Fly yourself there now… Allow yourself to be lifted… by joy… delight… wonder… and magic…
If you choose to… you can bring your flying machine lower… so you can really see and savor this beautiful place… If you find a safe place to land… you can do so if you’d like to explore on foot… Take two minutes for this beauty flight now…
Taking one more minute… Noticing the pleasure that you feel… in your body…
in your mind… your spirit… just being here in this place you’ve chosen just for the enjoyment of it…
Very good… It’s almost time to start thinking about coming back now… If you landed your flying machine… please find your way back to it… Climb back into the pilot’s seat… Soar your way back into the sky… remembering again how safe you are…
Flying back… and back… back to where this inner journey began… taking your time…
seeking your safe place to land… down below… And when you find that safe place to land… bringing your flying machine slowly… slowly… back down… If any of it is unclear… know that your Safety Crew on the ground will guide you back down… And now… in your own time… landing your amazing flying machine... smoothly… easily…
Very good… Getting out of your flying machine for now… Finding a
way to express gratitude to it for this gift of pleasure and enjoyment that it gave you today… Knowing that you can enjoy a flight like this any time you like… simply by closing your eyes and taking a breath…
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… shaking out your hands… or wiggling your feet and legs… Following the sound of my voice back to this room, this place, this time…
And when you are ready… gently opening your eyes… There is no rush… I will wait for you… Take your time… Remembering that all is well…
Gratitudes
We must find time to stop and thank the people who
make a difference in our lives.
~ John F. Kennedy
I offer abundant thanks to Spirit, and my Bright Ones- for their guidance on this journey. As I explained in the Introduction, these Magical Inner Journeys come through me rather than from me, and I am grateful for each and every image and word that flows through me to the page.
My appreciation goes out to my 7th grade Physical Education teacher for that very first inner journey back in 1969. Also to Ruby Dillard, the principal of Amelia County Elementary School where I was lucky enough to teach from 1978-1984. She always championed my creativity and imagination, and encouraged me to share these gifts with my second graders.
Alan Cohen’s guided imageries and teaching have inspired much of my own inner work since 1987. I would be a very different person if I had not stumbled across that cassette tape of his meditations during my first dark night of the soul.