Today is a great day to focus on your breathing. You know that you breathe and that your heart beats without your direction. But it’s important to pay attention today to how you are breathing. You will probably become self-conscious at first as you do this, finding yourself actually thinking about breathing – which will most likely cause you to breathe unnaturally. Take the time to notice whether you are a “shallow” breather, one who tends not to take purposeful deep, cleaning breaths every so often. Work with your breath once in a while today to take those deep breath pauses.
Your breathing is tied to your heart chakra which makes sense since our lungs and heart work without us asking them to. Working on a blocked or sluggish heart chakra through your breathing will assist in fostering a healthy connection between you and the world you inhabit. You will naturally feel more attuned to the world around you.
It’s most beneficial to do this meditation, if possible, by leaning against a tree. If that’s not an option, do this mediation with your back against a wall, imagining that the wall is a tree. We are choosing to work with trees since they are really the “lungs of the earth.” Close your eyes and lean back into the tree, allowing it to support your weight. Feel the energy of the tree moving from its roots, through the trunk, into the branches, and upwards to the sky. Focus on your breath. Take a large, deep inhale and slowly, slowly release it, controlling it as you go. Really force the air out of your lungs. Picture this exhale as releasing things that are causing you heartache. Allow the breath and these aches to flow down through your body into the earth which willingly accepts them. Inhale deeply again, this time holding your breath a bit long, until you have a giant exhale, again, releasing negativity. When you feel that you’ve released what is causing you pain, turn now to taking cleansing breaths and as you begin this part of the meditation, picture a green light entering your lungs, an inhale of all that is healthy and healing and good. Work with this green breathing for as long as you feel comfortable. When you are ready to close the meditation, take one final exhale and thank your tree companion for its assistance. Open your eyes.
“Each breath I take sustains me and attunes me to the world.”
