Awakening In Spring ✨ Sleep Meditation For Earth Day

[00:00:00] Hi, I'm Karissa Vacker and welcome back to Sleep Wave, a podcast where we let waves of relaxation

[00:00:18] wash over you through original sleep meditations, created to help you fall asleep tonight.

[00:00:23] And don't worry if you don't hear the end of an episode, I encourage you to drift off

[00:00:27] whenever you're ready.

[00:00:29] Before we get started on tonight's episode, I'd like to say thank you so much for all of the great ratings and reviews

[00:00:35] you guys have left us on Apple podcasts and some of the other networks too.

[00:00:39] This one goes out to Frank Frank who left a comment that made me laugh.

[00:00:44] I always imagine Karissa playing the drums on the intro.

[00:00:47] Sorry to say, I do not, but I am now also enjoying this visual.

[00:00:52] I hope those dreams signal your brain that sleep is on the horizon and it's time to get cozy.

[00:00:59] Before we begin, I wanted to let you know about the best way to get a perfect night's sleep.

[00:01:04] With Sleep Wave Premium, enjoy an ad-free experience, two exclusive bonus episodes a month, as well as our back catalog of premium content.

[00:01:14] Your support really helps.

[00:01:16] Sign up, take two taps, so please click the link in the show notes.

[00:01:20] But now it's time for a quick word from our sponsors who make this free content possible.

[00:01:29] While time normally feels like it's speeds by, this winter time has gone very slowly.

[00:01:42] The energy of winter is slow though.

[00:01:44] In nature, everything is in hibernation.

[00:01:47] The air is cold, the trees are bare.

[00:01:50] Everything looks barren, but there is much happening beneath the surface that we cannot see.

[00:01:57] As we've spoken about before on this podcast, if you feel any discouragement that your new year did not start with a bang

[00:02:03] and you aren't a totally renewed person since 2023, fear not.

[00:02:08] The energy of spring is really when to begin something new.

[00:02:13] The other day I was sitting out on my back patio and I noticed the trees had just begun to bud.

[00:02:19] Dogwood flower petals were drifting down all around the backyard and landing on the journal in which I was writing.

[00:02:26] The breeze was gentle and cool but the sun was warm.

[00:02:30] In that moment I felt such tremendous gratitude for the beautiful day,

[00:02:36] for the evidence of spring all around me and for the time to sit outside and enjoy it all.

[00:02:43] This winter I have gone at a much slower pace than is my norm.

[00:02:47] And while in some ways that is really challenging, in other ways I have begun to appreciate it.

[00:02:52] It is easier to see what is around you when you're not rushing by it.

[00:02:56] I'm not sure I've ever sat out in my backyard in the middle of a weekday and enjoyed the

[00:03:01] sun on my face in the first tense of spring ever before this year.

[00:03:07] While in many ways I feel like I've had no choice but to slow down,

[00:03:12] I am also now choosing it more consciously.

[00:03:15] I am choosing to live life in a gentler, more aware way.

[00:03:20] I am eating in a way that is more nourishing.

[00:03:22] I am moving in a way that is aligned with the energy level of my body

[00:03:27] and I am choosing to spend my time in ways that I find fulfilling.

[00:03:32] The energy of spring is growth and new beginnings,

[00:03:36] but even if we're starting new things or feeling that sweet rush of energy and new season brings,

[00:03:42] we can still honor our awareness.

[00:03:45] If you are interested in meditation and sleeping better, which I assume you are since you are here,

[00:03:52] bringing awareness and peace to all aspects of your life will help your meditation practice

[00:03:57] and your sleep.

[00:04:00] Just as the flowers begin to bloom in the next few weeks,

[00:04:03] I encourage you to enter spring with peace and ease even as we embrace the fresh energy of

[00:04:10] beginnings the new season brings. Let's wind down from our day, our season, our efforts,

[00:04:18] and immerse ourselves in the beauty of spring during our guided meditation tonight.

[00:04:24] This is Awakening in Spring by Billy Gil.

[00:04:28] The Holy Festival is a spring ritual celebrated by Hindus the world over.

[00:04:43] If you've ever seen images of the celebration, you'll be familiar with the splashes of powder

[00:04:49] dye that covers everyone in attendance with bright pastels. It's an expression of joy and freedom

[00:04:56] from inhibitions. The festival has come to represent the victory of good over evil.

[00:05:02] One story associated with holy is that of the union of Radha and Krishna.

[00:05:08] They are the cosmic lovers symbolizing the union of the divine masculine and feminine.

[00:05:15] In the story, Krishna is afraid that Radha will not accept him as a husband because he has blue

[00:05:21] skin, but Radha allows her skin to be dyed and as a consequence their union is complete.

[00:05:29] Holy is a cultural celebration that gives Hindus and non-Hindus alike an opportunity

[00:05:35] to have fun banter with other people by throwing colored water and powder at each other.

[00:05:41] It is mainly celebrated in India and Nepal, but over the years it has grown to be a celebration

[00:05:47] that takes place in many communities all across the globe. The festival is most widely and openly

[00:05:54] celebrated in cities like Delhi, Agra and Jaipur, and while each city may celebrate slightly

[00:06:01] differently you can expect to see plenty of colors, music and dance. Rituals like this are abundant

[00:06:10] throughout the world and throughout history. As the season of spring arrives people welcome

[00:06:17] the longer days and shorter nights. The cold beariness of winter melts into a bursting season

[00:06:24] of growth and new beginnings. It is the morning of the year, and it resonates with the principle

[00:06:31] of fertility itself. The spring festivals almost universally celebrate the union of masculine

[00:06:39] and feminine energies. The festival of Easter in Christianity coincides with spring and

[00:06:46] celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ, which is itself a symbol of renewal and regeneration.

[00:06:53] The cross is a symbol of rebirth that reaches as far back as the ancient Egyptians.

[00:07:00] Those who have seen the iconography found in ancient Egyptian artifacts will likely recognize

[00:07:05] the symbol of the Egyptian Ankh, which bears a striking resemblance to a cross.

[00:07:12] The Ankh is visually characterized by a cross with a loop or oval at the top, resembling a key.

[00:07:19] The vertical line of the cross represents life while the horizontal line symbolizes death.

[00:07:26] The loop at the top is often associated with eternal life and immortality.

[00:07:31] The combination of these elements makes the Ankh a powerful and positive symbol in Egyptian iconography.

[00:07:39] Ankh means life or breath of life in the Egyptian language.

[00:07:45] Of course, it's easy to see the similar meaning of the Christian cross,

[00:07:49] which also evokes the transcendence of life and death and eternal renewal.

[00:07:56] All of these themes are embodied in nature as spring returns again and again each year.

[00:08:03] The union of life and death, spirit and matter is essentially a sacred marriage,

[00:08:10] which again is the mythological foundation for the marvelous spring festival of holy as described

[00:08:18] in the marriage of Radha and Krishna. In the spirit of spring, tonight's meditation is a

[00:08:25] celebration of fruitfulness, life, the union of opposites, renewal and regeneration.

[00:08:33] Each time we return to our bed to sleep, we act out the process of withdrawing our consciousness

[00:08:40] from the world of the senses and re-emerging the next morning once more with renewed

[00:08:46] vigor and expression of the life that we embody. Finding a comfortable position in your bed,

[00:08:53] allow yourself plenty of time to prepare for this sleep meditation.

[00:08:58] Don't hurry into relaxation. If you are reasonably comfortable removing your pillow from beneath

[00:09:06] your head, allow your chin and your nose to remain at the same height by tilting your forehead

[00:09:14] back just enough to open the area of the throat. This will allow the vertebrae in your neck

[00:09:20] to find their optimal alignment. The most important thing is that you are comfortable,

[00:09:27] so please feel free to make any modifications to my instructions if you need to in order to relax

[00:09:34] comfortably. Then concentrate on your breath, inhaling a long slow breath and then just

[00:09:45] open your mouth to release it. Good, now again, inhale through your nostrils until you feel

[00:09:55] your chest expanding up and out. Then open your mouth and release all the air in a woosh,

[00:10:05] one smear in a similar way. Breathe smoothly in through the nose, then release the breath by

[00:10:14] opening the mouth and letting the air fall out. Then notice how much more slowly your breath

[00:10:23] enters the body when you inhale through the nose. The nose gives your respiratory system a chance

[00:10:31] to warm and purify the air a little more before it enters the lungs. See if you can breathe out

[00:10:39] through the nose as well. If you'd rather continue to breathe in or out through your mouth,

[00:10:46] please feel free. It's absolutely essential that you give yourself the freedom to adapt this

[00:10:53] practice to your own unique needs. As you slowly breathe in and out, can you make your breath the

[00:11:03] most important thing? Let the breath occupy more of your mental energy and attention.

[00:11:12] It may seem like you are exerting more energy by keeping your attention on the breath,

[00:11:17] but in the long term, you will save mental energy. What you are doing is practicing the art of

[00:11:24] presence. For those who are unpracticed in this art, the habit of letting the restless mind wander

[00:11:32] from place to place rapidly is so ingrained that it takes some additional effort to restrain the mind.

[00:11:40] The more you practice presence, the easier it becomes and only grows more and more satisfying.

[00:11:49] The energy that is devoted to corralling your mind gradually diminishes and presence becomes

[00:11:56] more of a habit than that of scattered thoughts and worries dissipating your awareness.

[00:12:03] Take some time to feel present as you breathe in and out, gently and deeply, at your own pace.

[00:12:56] The more you practice presence, the more you practice presence.

[00:13:13] Fertility evokes the mother. In Hindu mythology, the goddess Kali is the mother of the cosmos.

[00:13:21] She is both the womb and the tomb. All beings are born from her and they all return to her.

[00:13:33] The earth is also such a mother, hence we refer to her as mother earth.

[00:13:40] Many people live with the feeling that they are in the world but that's an error.

[00:13:47] We came out of the world.

[00:13:51] The world is the womb that we exist within and that we return to after death.

[00:13:59] The spring reminds us each year of that continual cycle and unifies the life and death.

[00:14:09] In order to be resurrected, Jesus had to die.

[00:14:13] In order for the sacred marriage to consummate, masculine and feminine energies merge into one.

[00:14:21] Spring is the manifestation of these cosmic principles.

[00:14:27] As you grow more and more relaxed, you are also merging. Your conscious mind merges with your

[00:14:36] unconscious. The unconscious is symbolized by the mother. It is the matrix, a structure that gives rise

[00:14:47] to structures. The content of your conscious mind merges out of and returns back into the unconscious.

[00:14:57] The process of integrating the conscious with the unconscious is prefigured in the image of Kali

[00:15:04] as the world womb, the ink as the symbol of immortality and union of life and death,

[00:15:12] the union of opposites. Spring displays the merging of the winter when life comes to a frozen

[00:15:21] standstill in the summer when life is flourishing. Spring unifies these energies in a divine and

[00:15:31] fertile marriage. As you breathe in, envision the soft colors of spring surrounding you.

[00:15:48] Picture the landscape adorned with blossoming flowers, vibrant greens

[00:15:57] and the gentle warmth of the sun. Feel the freshness of the air,

[00:16:07] caring with it the promise of renewal and growth. Breathe out and surrender into the depths of your

[00:16:19] unconscious. The fertile ground of your own being and experience, return to the source that is

[00:16:32] an eternal well spring of life.

[00:17:19] The

[00:17:39] sense the presence of the divine masculine and feminine energies in

[00:17:45] and in perpsecting and in perpennetrating in a harmonious dance in the gentle interplay of light

[00:17:53] and shadow symbolizing the pairs of opposites. This is the second marriage of spring,

[00:18:03] where the energies of creation and fertility unite.

[00:18:07] The union of opposites can lead to a higher state of consciousness, spiritual enlightenment

[00:18:16] over the generation of new life and creativity.

[00:18:22] It reveals the interconnectedness of the spiritual and the material realms.

[00:18:29] Breathe in, breathe out.

[00:18:36] Breathe in, breathe out.

[00:18:44] Breathe in, breathe out.

[00:18:59] Breathe in, breathe out.

[00:19:06] Breathe in, breathe out.

[00:19:13] Breathe in, breathe out.

[00:19:20] Breathe in, breathe out.

[00:19:27] Breathe in, breathe out.

[00:19:34] Breathe in, breathe out.

[00:19:41] As you continue to breathe deeply, feel the essence of this divine union permeating

[00:20:02] the air.

[00:20:04] Allow the energy of spring to touch your spirit, awakening the dormant seeds of potential

[00:20:13] within you.

[00:20:15] Just as the earth bursts forth with life in spring, sense the rejuvenation of your

[00:20:23] own inner landscape.

[00:20:26] Breathe in, breathe out.

[00:20:31] Breathe in, breathe out.

[00:20:38] Breathe in, breathe out.

[00:20:45] Breathe out.

[00:21:01] Breathe in, breathe out.

[00:21:08] Breathe out.

[00:21:15] Breathe out.

[00:21:22] Breathe out.

[00:21:29] Breathe out.

[00:21:36] Breathe out.

[00:21:43] Breathe out.

[00:21:50] Breathe out.

[00:21:57] Breathe out.

[00:22:04] Breathe out.

[00:22:11] Breathe out.

[00:22:18] Breathe out.

[00:22:25] Breathe out.

[00:22:32] Breathe out.

[00:22:39] Breathe out.

[00:22:46] Breathe out.

[00:22:50] Feel the warmth of divine love and creativity filling your heart.

[00:22:58] The fertile energies of spring are not only external but also reside within you, ready to blossom into new ideas, possibilities, and personal growth.

[00:23:14] Breathe in, breathe out.

[00:23:19] Breathe out.

[00:23:24] Breathe in, breathe out.

[00:23:31] Breathe in, breathe out.

[00:23:49] Breathe out.

[00:23:56] Breathe out.

[00:24:03] Breathe out.

[00:24:10] Breathe out.

[00:24:17] Breathe out.

[00:24:24] Breathe out.

[00:24:31] Breathe out.

[00:24:38] Breathe out.

[00:24:45] Breathe out.

[00:24:52] Breathe out.

[00:24:59] Breathe out.

[00:25:06] Breathe out.

[00:25:13] Breathe out.

[00:25:20] Breathe out.

[00:25:27] Breathe out.

[00:25:34] Breathe out.

[00:25:39] In your mind's eye visualize these symbols of spring, fertility, and the sacred marriage.

[00:25:49] Vibrant symbols of ocusense of renewal and vitality.

[00:25:56] Blooming flowers.

[00:26:00] Blooming flowers, such as cherry blossoms and daffodils, paint the landscape with hues of pink and yellow,

[00:26:11] while the gentle warmth of the sun breathes life into the awakening earth.

[00:26:21] Birds, birds returning from their migratory journeys fill the air with sweet melodies.

[00:26:35] The sight of newly sprouted leaves and grass.

[00:26:42] The sight of newly sprouted leaves and grass reflect the seasons' promise of growth and regeneration.

[00:26:57] Spring is a time when the natural world undergoes a sacred marriage of masculine and feminine energies converging in perfect harmony.

[00:27:10] This divine union is echoed in symbols like the ock from ancient Egypt.

[00:27:19] It represents the eternal life born from the union of masculine and feminine principles.

[00:27:28] The Tai Chi, the symbol of Yin and Yang, a symbol of Chinese philosophy captures the delicate balance between opposing forces,

[00:27:40] echoing the interconnected dance of light and dark that defies the changing season.

[00:27:52] The serpent who sheds his skin.

[00:27:58] The serpent who sheds his skin.

[00:28:03] A symbol of renewal and regeneration.

[00:28:10] The egg.

[00:28:13] The egg embodying the potential for transformation.

[00:28:40] The egg.

[00:28:45] The egg.

[00:28:50] The egg.

[00:28:55] The egg.

[00:29:00] The egg.

[00:29:05] The egg.

[00:29:10] The egg.

[00:29:15] The egg.

[00:29:20] The egg.

[00:29:25] The egg.

[00:29:30] The egg.

[00:29:35] The egg.

[00:29:40] The egg.

[00:29:45] The egg.

[00:29:50] The egg.

[00:29:55] The egg.

[00:30:00] The egg.

[00:30:05] The egg.

[00:30:10] The egg.

[00:30:15] The egg.

[00:30:20] The egg.

[00:30:25] The egg.

[00:30:30] The egg.

[00:30:35] The egg.

[00:30:40] The egg.

[00:30:45] The egg.

[00:30:50] The egg.

[00:30:55] The egg.

[00:31:00] The egg.

[00:31:05] The egg.

[00:31:10] The egg.

[00:31:20] The world becomes a canvas adorned with the intricate patterns of sacred geometry.

[00:31:28] The delicate interplay of mandalas and the eternal cycles depicted in Celtic knots.

[00:31:38] As the sun and moon share the sky, the symbolism of their union mirrors the cosmic dance of the sacred marriage.

[00:31:51] In this season of renewal, the imagery of spring is a testament to the eternal ever renewing union of opposites.

[00:32:03] A timeless dance captured in diverse symbols across cultures and traditions.

[00:32:33] The world is a testament to the eternal ever renewing union of opposites.

[00:32:43] The world is a testament to the eternal ever renewing union of opposites.

[00:32:51] As you drift off into a serene slumber, the energies of the conscious and the unconscious merge.

[00:33:15] The energies of the conscious and the unconscious merge in a sacred union.

[00:33:25] Breathe in.

[00:33:30] Breathe out.

[00:33:35] Breathe in.

[00:33:38] Breathe out.

[00:33:43] Breathe in.

[00:34:13] Breathe out.

[00:34:18] Breathe out.

[00:34:23] Breathe out.

[00:34:28] Breathe out.

[00:34:34] Breathe out.

[00:34:49] Breathe out.

[00:35:19] Breathe out.

[00:35:29] Breathe out.

[00:35:39] Breathe out.

[00:35:49] Breathe out.

[00:35:59] Breathe out.

[00:36:09] Breathe out.

[00:36:19] Breathe out.

[00:36:29] Breathe out.

[00:36:39] Breathe out.

[00:36:49] Breathe out.

[00:36:59] Breathe out.

[00:37:09] Breathe out.

[00:37:19] Breathe out.

[00:37:29] Breathe out.

[00:37:39] Breathe out.

[00:37:49] Breathe out.

[00:37:59] Breathe out.

[00:38:09] Breathe out.

[00:38:19] Breathe out.

[00:38:29] Breathe out.

[00:38:39] Breathe out.

[00:38:49] Breathe out.

[00:38:59] Breathe out.

[00:39:29] Breathe out.