Black Forest Chapel

It's golden hour here in the Black Forest. Dusky threads of sunlight weave their way down through the canopy above, lighting up dust motes that glint and glide through the cool forest air like slow-moving stardust. The shadows of the trees stretch longer and thinner as the sun drops lower, sinking down into its celestial slumber. But before it does, let's take a moment for a short wind-down exercise. Tonight's exercise is a really simple breathing exercise. So when you're ready, let's begin. So first, get yourself comfortable. Now just bringing the attention to the breath, just noticing where you feel it, in the nose, the throat, the chest, the diaphragm. You're nice and relaxed. We're going to be taking a deep breath in for four, holding it for four and then breathing out for six. So are you ready? Let's begin. In for four, two, three, four. Hold it for four, two, three, four. Now breathing out for six, two, three, four, five, six. In for four, two, three, four. Holding for four, two, three, four. Out for six, two, three, four, five, six. In for four, two, three, four. Holding for four, two, three, four. Out for six, two, three, four, five, six. In for four, two, three, four. Holding for four, two, three, four. Out for six, two, three, four, five, six. Great. Now, returning the breath to normal. The forest path is lit by a lustrous moon, and stars wink through the gaps in the branches above. A short way ahead, just off the path, there's a small clearing in the trees. Something bright and white seems to be gleaming within it, like the smile of a giant or a huge box of pearls. There, cradled in the crook of the clearing, stands a small white chapel, glowing like an orb in the moonlight. Who built this, and how many years ago? The rugged stone walls, cracked and uneven in places, suggest this chapel has lived in this nook of the forest for 200 years or more, standing silent as a stoic, through the passing of 200 autumns, winters, springs, and summers. It's apex roof looks newer, plated with silvery slate tiles. Though it now wears a coat of very green moss. A well tended trellis arching over the doorway suggests the presence of a person who tends to the plant life surrounding the chapel. It isn't the season for flowers, but it's not hard to imagine the flamboyance of color that bends and bows and leaps like a dolphin over the doorway during the warmer months. A small steeple crowns the roof, miniature as a dollhouse chimney. While one, two, three arched windows are set in the chapels white stucco walls. Two are small as portholes, and edged in pale pink paint. While the third window on the back wall of the chapel, displays a splendid stained glass picture. Autumn leaves of lemon yellow and apple red have started to fall, drifting down to the...