Tree Meditation for the Other Senses
Many meditations focus on visualization- "seeing" with the
mind's eye or the imagination. This alternate form of the
standard tree meditation emphasizes the other senses: hearing,
feeling, smelling and tasting. The purpose of this meditation
is to strengthen one's ability to "visualize" with more than the
sense of sight and also to provide a method of meditation for
those who are vision-impared. Do not be concerned if you
have different sensations from the ones described here. Use
these descriptions as a starting point, but focus on what you
feel so the meditation becomes your own.
Breathe deeply from your diaphram, filling your lungs with each
breath and then exhaling completely.
Feel yourself standing straight with the cool earth beneath your feet and
the warm sun above your head. Feel your feet expanding, stretching,
branching into roots that burrow through the damp soil. Smell the earthy
scent as the dirt is pressed aside. Hear the crunching and creaking as you move past rocks and roots. Feel the earth's
coolness as you go farther down, your roots branching and stretching ever wider and deeper. You can no longer move
from the place where you are standing. Feel your smooth skin transform into rough bark. You are solid now, unbending.
Your roots now begin to take in the cool energy of the earth. Soak it in and draw it up through your body with each
breath that you take. Feel this energy flowing throughout. Let the energy flow like cool water, streaming up now
through the top of your head. Now feel branches growing from your head- stretching upward and outward, and tiny
shoots twisting open and exploding toward the heat of the sun.
While your branches stretch upward, your roots push deeper. You begin to hear a hum in the distance. The hum grows
louder the deeper you go. Feel the vibration of the earth. Let the vibration travel up your roots and throughout your
whole body- each part of you tingling with the earth's power. Hear your own body humming in harmony with the song
of the earth.
Each tiny leaf upon your branches is enveloped by the warmth of the sun. Open each pore to the sun's heat. Draw it
down throughout all of your body. Your branches sway in the breeze in time to the earth's rhythm. Feel the wind and
hear the flying and buzzing creatures it carries past you. Smell the woodsy perfume of oak and moss.
Each time you inhale pull the energy of the earth up, and when you exhale feel the energy of the sun flowing down. Feel
the energies wash through you, spinning through your veins and centering upon your heart. Your heart opens with love
like a blossom. Feel the awe and wonder of being part of everything that is.
Wrap yourself in the energy of the earth and sun. Feel yourself in the embrace of their power. Let it enfold and protect
you.
© 2002 Scypres - Used with Permission from the Author.
Many meditations focus on visualization- "seeing" with the
mind's eye or the imagination. This alternate form of the
standard tree meditation emphasizes the other senses: hearing,
feeling, smelling and tasting. The purpose of this meditation
is to strengthen one's ability to "visualize" with more than the
sense of sight and also to provide a method of meditation for
those who are vision-impared. Do not be concerned if you
have different sensations from the ones described here. Use
these descriptions as a starting point, but focus on what you
feel so the meditation becomes your own.
Breathe deeply from your diaphram, filling your lungs with each
breath and then exhaling completely.
Feel yourself standing straight with the cool earth beneath your feet and
the warm sun above your head. Feel your feet expanding, stretching,
branching into roots that burrow through the damp soil. Smell the earthy
scent as the dirt is pressed aside. Hear the crunching and creaking as you move past rocks and roots. Feel the earth's
coolness as you go farther down, your roots branching and stretching ever wider and deeper. You can no longer move
from the place where you are standing. Feel your smooth skin transform into rough bark. You are solid now, unbending.
Your roots now begin to take in the cool energy of the earth. Soak it in and draw it up through your body with each
breath that you take. Feel this energy flowing throughout. Let the energy flow like cool water, streaming up now
through the top of your head. Now feel branches growing from your head- stretching upward and outward, and tiny
shoots twisting open and exploding toward the heat of the sun.
While your branches stretch upward, your roots push deeper. You begin to hear a hum in the distance. The hum grows
louder the deeper you go. Feel the vibration of the earth. Let the vibration travel up your roots and throughout your
whole body- each part of you tingling with the earth's power. Hear your own body humming in harmony with the song
of the earth.
Each tiny leaf upon your branches is enveloped by the warmth of the sun. Open each pore to the sun's heat. Draw it
down throughout all of your body. Your branches sway in the breeze in time to the earth's rhythm. Feel the wind and
hear the flying and buzzing creatures it carries past you. Smell the woodsy perfume of oak and moss.
Each time you inhale pull the energy of the earth up, and when you exhale feel the energy of the sun flowing down. Feel
the energies wash through you, spinning through your veins and centering upon your heart. Your heart opens with love
like a blossom. Feel the awe and wonder of being part of everything that is.
Wrap yourself in the energy of the earth and sun. Feel yourself in the embrace of their power. Let it enfold and protect
you.
© 2002 Scypres - Used with Permission from the Author.
