Meditation for Managing Change

Sit comfortably on a chair with your back upright and feet on the floor. Begin by taking several deep breaths, while bringing your focus to your body.

When you feel centred, allow yourself to imagine that you are a tree - strong and solid with roots going into the ground. You are enjoying the sun - your branches extending outwards.

Suddenly in the distance, you notice the dark clouds of a storm forming. As you watch they start to move closer. You feel threatened by the approaching storm and start to dig your roots deeper into the ground. You hold yourself rigid ready to battle the storm. As the wind picks up you find it harder and harder to resist the buffeting wind and you worry that you will be damaged. These are the winds of change.

At that moment, you hear a voice from an owl that has taken shelter high up in your branches. The owl urges you to bend with the wind rather than resist it. It tells you that the wind can’t break you if you are flexible and move with it.

Despite your fear, you gently allow yourself to move with the wind, backwards and forwards, and to each side with each strong gust. Allow yourself to feel the ease of this movement and continue to imagine yourself moving with the wind. Your roots remain firm in the ground and you feel secure in your movement.

Continue to imagine being in the storm until you are completely comfortable with bending with the wind. You can then allow the storm to pass over you and move off into the distance. Imagine the sun returning. There is a now only a light breeze, but you still sway gently with this breeze, continually feeling the ease of the movement.

Every time you face change that feels difficult, you can remember the feeling of bending and swaying with the wind.

Open your eyes, being fully aware of your surroundings.