This meditation is for gently remembering the EXPERIENCE of being in our body, in this luscious present moment.  Rather than think of ourselves as the images that we see when we look in the mirror, let us experience how we really FEEL inhabiting our bodies when we reach our own beautiful inner garden!

You will need a room that has space to dance in, along with a large mirror for this activity.  You may want to pamper yourself with pillows/blankets for the sitting meditation parts. You may also want to light a candle or set up a special alter with your favorite spring flowers and an item or two that represents you in your "perfect just the way you are" and "present" self!  Choose music to play that you enjoy listening and dancing to,

Sit or stand in front of the mirror and notice what you see.  Look deeply and observe.  Notice your thoughts and feelings.  Take all the time you need.  Is your Loving self coming out?  Your non-judgemental observer? Your inner-critic?  Who'se voice have you invited in for this activity?  You may want to journal about this before moving on.

When you are ready, find a pillow and/or blanket to sit on, or stand comfortably and close your eyes.  Notice how your body feels on the inside.  Focus your attention on all of the sensations....Can you feel your heart beating?  Feel your lungs filling and emptying with each breath?  Feel certain muscles working to keep you upright?  

Open up and listen to the songs and stories of your body. What do you hear?   

Become aware of ALL THAT YOU FEEL, INSIDE YOUR OWN SKIN!  Take all the time you need.

Now, find the Loving Self. The part of you that is always whole, perfect, and utterly complete in every moment... Our perfect and whole loving self is always within us, at all times, without fail.  We may lose site and sensation, and forget about this perfect, whole self, but no one can take this part of us away, including ourselves.  It is inherent in who we are.  We only need tend our inner-garden to find it again. 

Tend the garden now.  Dance loving nourishment into this perfect center of wholeness.  Water the inner landscape.  Pluck the weeds.  Raise your face to the sun.  Dance with the rain.  Breathe the fresh air.  Dance the blossoming flower open.  Send roots deep down, and play with the earth you are growing in.  Dance your beautiful inner-garden back to this present moment.  Dance your way into beauty.  Your beauty.  Your perfect whole self.  When you feel ready to stop, take a few moments to sit or lay down.  Now,  open every pore, every cell, every muscle, every bone, to this healing, nourishing energy you have been gifted with.  Allow it to fill your entire body.  Feel it's loving presence glowing within and radiating out.  No hurry, stay as long as you want to in this receiving state. 

When you are ready, say (or dance) a prayer of gratitude!

Then, sit or stand in front of the mirror again.  Notice your reaction, and how you FEEL and what you SEE.

You may want to find a flower (or picture of a flower) to set in your favorite room to remind your of your beautiful inner-garden! 

***This meditation is COPYRIGHTED 2014 by Lisa Thornbury Clark and Body Wisdom Rising.  All rights reserved. You can find this and many other multi-sensory activities in the Archetypes Emerging eBook.