meditation exercise I

choose a soothing background sound, like a very soft meditative music album, or, listen to sounds of nature while visualizing a smooth flowing ocean current, swishing against the worn stones and sand by the water's edge, with a late spring sun warming the skin and a gentle wind breathing into the roots of the hairs ------
and listen to an occasional bird lit golden by the rays of the sun, one that might whistle overhead while gliding across a perfectly blue sky.

Let the rhythmic tide wash in then dissolve outward, in a very slow cradle like rocking, gentle, slow, like a sleeping heartbeat. Breathe to the sway of the ocean at the most peaceful sunrise, gently, peacefully--- dare not to let the sounds of the tide be disturbed by your breath. Let yourself ascend and become mystified, light-headed, slowly breathing in the sea mist --- and feel each invisible droplet of energy, of the beginning of life, of the same salt water that is flowing through our own veins. Let the mist infuse the body through the lungs, let the energy merge into your blood--- a golden energy originating from the center of the universe from the very beginning of time.

Let the golden energy alight your spirit with warm golden hues that reach out the smallest sparks and rays---

Let those rays reach out and extend to find the bird that flew across the blue sky---
breathe in--- then as you slowly breathe out, let the golden rays from your body reach out and attach itself to the bird flying higher towards the sunlight--- higher into the sky--- farther towards the stars in the universe----

Fly with the bird until you start to reach the edge of space far above the atmosphere of the earth--- and see the wonder of the planets and satellites floating and spinning in all directions-- weightless, but with just enough gravity to hold orbit--- but you are weightless and flying with the golden bird....

Fly beyond the universe, past the darkest blackness ---- until it is so dark you cannot see the bird, but you can feel and know the bird is still guiding you and pulling you to your destination---

Fly with the bird through the darkness until there is no more darkness left---

into the whitest most brilliant light --- where there is nothing else but the brilliant warm light, perfect silence, and the bird that still leads you --- the golden shine of the bird melds into the brilliance of the light and there is then nothing left but the peacefulness and your consciousness, knowing you are there and being fed by this perfect light and peace.

Let the stillness and silence be so pure and deafening... that finally--- there is a sound, a gentle soothing sound. A tone, musical, simple, yet somehow, there is a message. Feel each sound and tone...

See a glow coming from each sound and tone, see colors come out of the light and glow with each tone...

See the colors grow from the sounds and tone--- each one unique and pulsing with the beautiful sound---- pulsing, percussive, with a message...

A single thought or word, with each sound and tone--- a beautiful and powerful message, just for you and no one else.

Then see the word --- see the transformation of the word into a picture within the brilliant light that frames it------

When all the tones are transformed into the final picture, fold the picture gently, carefully-- and cup it into the palm of your hands. Caress it, place it into your heart and memory. Then as the bird whistles, follow the whistle until the bird leads your back through the universe, back to the earth. Glide with the bird down to the edge of the water. Gently land on the sand. Feel each grain of sand tickling, then massaging the skin on your feet. Start to walk on the sand, one step at a time and let the bird release you---

Let the brilliant blue of the sky flush color into your eyes and let the crashing sounds of the tide beat like a slow drum as you walk, then run, and sprint --- then
walk again fast, and be tickled by the water, and watch a dog snap back from a crab --- and laugh at the expression on the dog's face----

then awaken with a great deep breath ---- refreshed --- at peace ----

with the vision of a unique message from the universe, captured in your mind--- to guide your wakened soul into your waking hours.