Himalayan Mist

The sun is setting on the Himalayas. Our mountain cottage is nestled in a garden, and the rain draws the aromas from its plants and soil. In the corner of the property, a small bonfire smokes under the drizzle, damp, but not extinguished. This is the perfect time for a visit, and the cottage's porch is the perfect place to view the brilliant colors of the Himalayan sunset. Curling vines wrap around the cottage. And from the porch swing, you can see the garden gates and surrounding landscape. This is a wonderful place to relax before bed. There is just so much to see, but before I show it all to you, let's take a moment for a short wind-down exercise. Tonight's wind-down is a visualization. When you're ready, let's begin. So just take a moment to get comfortable, letting go of the day. Enjoying that feeling of having stopped, of having nothing left to do. We're going to focus the attention of the mind on the different parts of the body. Watching as the muscles in the body switch off for the night, leaving the body feeling rested and leaving the mind more at ease. So starting down at the toes and feeling a sense of the muscles switching off. The feet, the arches, all those muscles switching off. Same in the lower half of the legs. Notice any tension being let go of as the muscles switch off, shut down. In the upper half of the legs, any tension melting away, being let go of. Into the area of the hips, the pelvis. Again, any muscles shutting down for the night, completely at rest. Everything from the waist downward is heavy, at ease. The muscles in the lower back and the stomach are now switching off. Middle of the back, around the diaphragm, the upper back, and the chest. So any muscles not needed, shutting down, switching off for the night. The shoulders switching off. The upper half of the arms and the lower half of the arms switching off. The hands, fingers, just switching off. Any muscles around the throat and neck, switching off. The head, the face, the jaw, the eyes, any last areas of tension melting away as the muscles shut down, switch off, at rest for the night. And allowing thoughts to come and go. Allowing the mind and body the space they need to rest. In a corner of the garden, a small fire has been kindled. The warmth of the flame entices. The vivacious orange and gold colors of the fire, the crackling of the firewood, and the scent of the wood smoke are an invitation. Watching the flickering light, a deep sense of gratitude permeates. All tiredness melts away and is replaced by a sense of safety and healing. Everything is cozy, gentle and tranquil. The flames leap lightly in the bonfire; the mountain cottage warms in its soft glow. Light mist envelops the mountain cottage and its gentle sloping grounds....