Animal Attributes Meditation

Animal Attributes Meditation

Close your eyes and take a few relaxed breathes. Try to keep still as you go through the meditation. Take in a deep breath and let it out slowly. Keep deep breathing with long, slow exhales. Feel it, hear it, and observe how this affects your body. As you breathe, mentally tell your body that it can relax.  Keep your mind only on your breathing. Focus on the sound, the feeling of your lungs expanding and shrinking, and simply breathe. When your body has relaxed move into the following visualization.

  Again, imagine yourself in a circle of stones in a field at night. The field outside of the circle is overgrown with wildflowers and tall grass. Each stone has a lantern sitting upon it, glowing softly. In the center of the circle is a small bon fire, lighting the area with the circle. Walk around the circle and touch each stone, knowing you are protected within the circle. When you have touched each stone, return to the center and within your heart let it be known you wish to connect with one of your animal totems.  Take a deep breath and await the animal. It should step into the circle without any hesitation or difficulty.  When the totem has appeared, ask it politely if it would gift its attributes to you for a short time. If the animal says yes, continue, is not thank it and come out of meditation.

   If the animal has said yes to your request step closer to it and offer your hand to it, like a hand shake. When the animal returns the offer and you touch it relax and begin the visualization. Feel the animal’s body becoming transparent like water or mist and move within you. See the mist of the animal moving into your hand and through your body, filling you up. The mist moves into your heart chakra and compresses into the shape of the animal. Feel the difference, observe how you are feeling and thinking. When you are ready to leave meditation, thank the animal and extend your hand again. This time, visualize the mist moving out of your body, down your arm, and out through your hand.  As the mist reforms into the animal thank it once more and allow it to leave. Relax and imagine your body. Focus on your breathing and reconnect to your body. Wait a couple seconds before opening your eyes.