So Let’s Begin…
WE ARE ALL CONNECTED SLEEP MEDITATION SCRIPT
Take in a deep breath,
and as you exhale,
become aware of your body
as it lets go and relaxes.
LONG PAUSE
Notice your shoulders
melting in relaxation
and your neck
as it softens comfortably.
LONG PAUSE
Bring your awareness
to your back
and feel it opening
and any knots or tension
unraveling.
LONG PAUSE
And now, become aware
of your lower body,
your hips, legs, and feet
as they release
and unwind from any tension.
LONG PAUSE
Take a moment,
and indulge in feeling relaxed
and centered with a feeling
of peace both inside and out.
LONG PAUSE
Now, see if you can imagine
standing in the center
of an old, native village.
PAUSE
And all around you
there are huts
with dried palm fronds
as roofing,
and the buttery
scent of fry bread wafts
through the air.
PAUSE
As you stroll
through the village,
you notice women
with copper skin
and black eyes
that sparkle with stories.
PAUSE
The women glow
in skirts and ponchos
woven with intricate, banded designs
in bright colors that call out to you.
PAUSE
After a moment,
you see the women gather
in a circle
sitting on the ground,
each with
sweetgrass, palm fronds, and pine needles.
PAUSE
In unison,
the women pick up
the materials,
and begin weaving them together.
PAUSE
Like a symphony,
their hands sweep in and out,
and around the basket
bringing colors and
geometric designs to life.
PAUSE
The women talk,
weaving connections
in the baskets
and connections
between themselves.
PAUSE
While watching the women wave,
a woman
with lively eyes
and a soft smile
sees you
and beckons you to
join the circle.
PAUSE
You plant yourself
next to her,
and stare in wonder
at the partially made
basket before you.
PAUSE
The woman takes
your hands,
and together,
you begin dancing
with your fingers,
moving in and out
and around the basket.
PAUSE
Colors like berries appear
in the basket:
reds, blues, and blacks.
and diamonds and triangles
come to life with each row
of weaving.
PAUSE
While weaving,
daughters of the women
in the circle come
with plates of piping hot fry bread
stuffed with meat and sweet fillings.
PAUSE
You take a bite
that melts in your mouth,
and a harmony of tart and sweet flavors
plays on your tongue.
PAUSE
As you delight in your fry bread,
you notice the circle changes,
and the women come closer
to you and your basket.
PAUSE
Hands reach out
and take your basket,
adding layers of weaving
and passing it on
to the next pair of hands
like a tribal dance.
PAUSE
When the basket
circles back to you,
there is one row of weaving
left to add,
PAUSE
Gingerly, you thread
the strands of sweetgrass
into the basket,
and when you finish,
one of the women
takes the basket
and finishes the edges.
PAUSE
When the basket is complete,
it is gently placed
in the center of all the women,
and each one gives it a blessing.
PAUSE
Take a moment and
thank the women of the tribe
as you ready to leave.
PAUSE
You begin to walk away
when the woman with the lively eyes
who helped you start the basket
hands the basket to you.
PAUSE
Gratitude swells within you,
and you thank the woman,
who seems to understand you.
PAUSE
The woman nods
and returns to her tribe,
and you leave with the basket,
feeling in the depth of your soul,
that every strand
woven into the basket
Is a connection with these women.
PAUSE
As you leave,
you hear a whisper in the breeze
that affirms all of your thoughts,
a whisper that touches your soul and says,
“We are all connected.”
NAMASTE
