For this week’s guided meditation, we will be visiting Ocotillo Wells. Let’s get ready to find peace in the Southern California desert!

Estimated practice time: 15 minutes

Start practice in: Savasana, Sukhasana, or in a supported Chair

As we get started, begin to close your eyes and scan the body. We must scan ourselves head to toe, removing any future distractions. Feet and toes are unclenched as you start to ground down in your comfortable pose. Let your belly relax, and start to tap into the rhythm of your breath, perhaps for the first time today. If you are able, start to breathe in and out through the nose with steady and even inhales, exhales. You are always welcome to breathe in and out through the mouth, especially if the nose is not an option for you today. Strive to breathe in and out through the nose, as you activate ujayii pranayama.

Face is at peace, as you relax your forehead, unfurrow your brow, and open and close the jaw a few times. You are welcome to yawn…

Swish back and forth your spiritual mouthwash as your relax the cheeks…

Imagine wiggling your ears and choosing clear and conscious communication for the rest of the day. We are ready to begin our visualization. As you keep your eyes closed, take note of any colors or sensations that you start to notice through the eyelids. Bright bursts of color and shapes tend to shine through the eyes as we travel to the sunny deserts of eastern San Diego.

A panoramic view of desert colors unfolds in front of you- soft tans and creams, light yellow flowers, dark brown rocks, and bright blue skies. Soft, fluffy white clouds pass freely in front of you, as you feel the desert breeze brush against your face. You take in more of the colors that surround you- hints of subdued green from cactus and ocotillo branches, light purple flowers dance in the wind, and deep dark black ravens fly overhead. At peace, you start to match your breath the ebb and flow of the wind that surrounds you on this warm, sunny day.

The sun shines down on your face as you feel the warmth of the sun give you a bath. Like a lizard baking in the sunshine atop a rock, you continue to feel sun on your shoulders, your arms, and watch as chills and goosebumps run all down your skin. Enjoy your sunbath. As you slip off your flip flops, set the bare soles of your feet on top of the hot sand. Not too hot, not too cold, you feel its radiating warmth underneath your grounded feet. Sparkles and glimmers of gold specks wink and dance in front of you, as you keep looking down to your toes. A bright Orange butterfly gracefully flutters past you, dancing and bobbing with the wind across the sky.

Up ahead, you see a brown, inviting, primitive and quaint desert dwelling. The porch is old and sagging, the roof is discolored and bare, but the heart of the home calls you closer. As you take a closer look at the porch of this desert house, you notice a large wooden rocking chair, available and waiting for you to take a seat. Underneath the shade of the porch, you hear the creak of your footsteps as you walk across the wooden deck, making your way to this noble, knowing chair.

You find a rhythmic rock back and forth, as you slowly sink into the chair and align your breath to movement. As you slowly rock forward, you inhale through the nose. As you rock backwards, you exhale. Find your rhythm, find your prana flow, and guide yourself through 10 rounds of breath as you sit in your rocking chair.

Inhale- rock

Exhale- roll

Inhale- rock

Exhale- roll x5

Still in your rocking chair, still meditating on your desert porch, you feel and hear the wind start to pick up. As you look out over the desert horizon, you see an eagle, a hawk, and a raven surfing with the winds of change. You watch these three massive birds of prey effortlessly float with the wind. Not fighting the wind, not swimming upstream, these birds are one with the earth. The birds continue to dance and caw, teasing with one another in the desert’s playground in the sky.

One of the birds makes its descent, slowly, to your desert dwelling. Knowing he is safe and welcome, he stops and perches on the stoop of your porch, appreciating the divine connection that you are having with one another.Which bird came to visit you? Of the three birds that danced in the sky, one has chosen to visit you and send you blessings. A message of peace and intuition, this magnificent bird reminds you of how truly knowing and wise you are and have always been.

You spend a moment, at one with the bird and the shade of the porch, listening to the gentle creak of your rocking chair. Finally, you find stillness, and close your eyes as you firmly press the soles of your feet down onto the ground. As you lightly bow and tuck your chin in towards the chest, the bird knows that our ritual is complete. Slowly crouching, ready to take flight, the bird lifts off the porch, gives you a gentle CAW, and leaves you in solitude on your desert porch.

You are welcome to stay here, as your desert house is always available to you. At any time, you can close your eyes, settle into the body and mind, and take yourself on a creative vision quest to your dilapidated house out in Ocotillo wells, where the wind whistles gently through your hair and the birds always notice lifeform. As you prepare yourself to leave your house, for now, you thank it and wish it well. Bless your home, and remind yourself how grateful you are to have this house to rely on. To protect you from wind, from prey, from sun, and from dark thoughts. A safe space tucked away in the desert, farewell abode and thank you for your offerings.

Begin to slowly wiggle your fingers and toes, as you start to find consciousness. If you feel naturally guided towards further meditation, I would continue to stay in your restful place. Fall asleep, take savasana, or continue to walk around the inside of your desert home.

If you are feeling invigorated, alive, and reset, it is time to open your eyes and find consciousness. Bring your hands to hearts center, and take a deep breath in. Hold. Take a deep, open mouth exhale.

The light and the teacher in me is honored to guide the teacher and light in you- NAMASTE! -Xo Kelli