Now I'd like you to sit there in that chair and look across the room--you can pick a spot--a space somewhere in front of you-any place on the wall, or pick something to gaze at--- just look there, letting your eyes rest softly in that direction.

And as you accomplish that, you can move your body to some very comfortable position as you begin to focus on that spot and you can let your eyes remain focused or become de-focused as you choose. Just, adjust yourself in a way that allows you to be most comfortable.

You can just continue sitting there, paying attention to your breathing. As you notice each breath, become aware of the rising and falling of your chest. The breath coming in and out--- in and out--- in and out---your chest rising and falling--- rising and falling.

You are breathing in and out, and as you breath yourbreath, it is as if your breathing breaths you--- in and out. Just letting your breath, breathe easily and comfortably allowing your whole body to experience that pleasant, comfortable rhythm.

And as you breathe, my voice will be speaking to you in a certain rhythm and you can hear my voice coming into your ears and at the same time, people can be listening with an inner ear--- and that inner ear can listen in it's own very special fashion. And while you listen, you may find that you have an inner vision, the mind's ability to see with its own eye---with this inner vision that can imagine and perceive the vast realm of possibilities.

People can learn things only imagined while daydreaming or while sleeping and dreaming. And the things one can learn can be little things or more important things and your inner mind can have its own intention and dream dreams while asleep and rest well while sleeping and dreaming none-the-less. And you may not know what that intention will be, until after you have those dreams and do that dreaming now as a day dream or tonight or some time in the coming nights.

Now---your mind may wonder what can be discovered right now, just as you can be curious to find that it is easy to see with your eyes open--- and you can also see with your eyes closed. And closing your eyes allows you to notice the ability of the inner eye to see new and intersting things and they can delight you and you can make many discoveries.

You don't need your eyes open to learn and you really don't know at what moment your eyes can close, your eyes could have just as easily closed before or now --- or at anytime as you choose. Coming closer to giving your inner mind an opportunity to see and explore with enjoyment so that in the next few minutes you may discover to your delight that there are many things you can learn in this state that might not in any other. You may realize what these are now, sometime in the next few moments or perhaps, in the coming hours, days, weeks or many months ahead.

And you can hear and you can just hear with your inner mind and you can see without looking outside - and your inner mind stays right here protecting you, just as it does when you are sound asleep and at all times.

It supports you and you don't need to do anything and that support can be trusted. Know that you are a whole and that you have all of you. And you can count on yourself --- for yourself in many ways you don't fully realize, and caring for you in a kind and considerate way, even now as I speak to you. And, each and every passing hour, every day, all through the days and weeks and years of your life this inner wisdom can grow and support you more and more.

And now, continue at your own pace to do the many things that you do, just as we all do them without even thinking about them. And to relax is one of the things when the time and place is right. And people find that relaxation helps to restore both the body and spirit.

And as I count from one to twenty, you can experience a certain relaxation at the number one then with each count, drift progressively into increasing ease, comfort and security. And your level of comfort and relaxation progresses in a way that is just right for you.

Now while I continue counting --- and you take one breath after another all the way to twenty---The everyday experience of letting go and you can learn to enjoy relaxation.

One --- Two --- You can recall that time at the end of the day, when work is done, you have finished what needs to be done.

Relax, Three--- Relax, Four---

And take time, time to relax and you are in a comfortable place as you are there comfortably--- Drifting more and more relaxed pleasantly drifting, drifting and as you allow the drifting---all the muscles letting go,

Five---Six---

Such a pleasant, comfortable experience feeling just right, such a comfortable time, an in between time--- when you don't have to attend to anything---a nothing need doing time--- a just relaxing time. You can allow your thoughts to freely drift where they want to go.

Seven--- Eight--- Nine--- Ten---

You've heard people speak of enjoyable and comfortable times, sitting in front of a fire --- logs burning in a fireplace --- or perhaps a candle --- and feeling at ease--- A time just to relax deeply. And can you imagine those the dancing lights. And while watching with your inner eye --- relaxation continues to develop all the way and you have a sense of being in the right place, a secure place, right now.

As you continue to watch --- you can become more and more absorbed---and so many colors and those colors are enjoyable---so many shades.

Eleven--- Twelve---

And relaxation progresses. Going into a space of comfort and a place where it is safe to go. And as you watch, time can pass comfortably and easily. Time of the moment where a few minutes can seem to be all the time in the world. And there were times when you took a book and read it there in a comfortable chair, perhaps --- in some room, in some house and it can be any kind of a book or some other reading material. And just getting absorbed in the experience completely.

Thirteen--- Fourteen--- Fifteen

And as you are traveling through your inner experience and you may feel like you're on a cloud or a soft cushion as you become more involved with that story --- perhaps images begin to appear in your mind's eye. And you can pay attention in anyway you choose --- because we enjoy taking time to be with ourselves and to take some time off, where we don't have to do anything.

Sixteen --- Seventeen

You might like to take a journey to a special place, a remembered place or some place only imagined, a time out place---some people call it a place in the middle of nowhere, some call it the somewhere there, or call it the there of all places, a special wonderful secure and quiet place. Some people refer to it as that nice place --- an inner place, a safe place --- or just a time off place.

This is a place, a nice time off place where nothing is required and you can just be with yourself. And remember that your special place can be anyway you want it to be. Some people even experience it as a place of pleasant activity--- and there are many places you've visited in your past or you might be just discovering a preferred place of all places --- and your inner mind knows of those places and activities---and it can use them to construct this safe and very comfortable place for you.

Eighteen --- Nineteen --- and ---Twenty --- So nicely relaxed, relaxing---relaxing---

Perhaps it might be near an ocean, or by a lake --- and you are there enjoying it --- the sky --- the waves --- the sights and sounds --- the feelings --- all in your own way. You may see the sights and hear the sounds and feel those good, rich feelings --- all while you are there ---can you smell the fresh, clean air and feel a breeze---and breath easy in this wonderful safe place.

And as you are there --- you can feel a sense of peace, for you to enjoy you may be alone or you can have company with you --- you can engage in any enjoyable activity or just relax and enjoy being there doing nothing at all --- it's really up to you.

Or, you might prefer to go to a meadow or a park, or to the woods or anyplace here you can rest and be comfortable --- a place just for you--- There may be trees, many shapes and sizes, many colors. You can enjoy the sky --- hear the breeze --- smell the fragrances that are there --- enjoy the feelings of comfort that are there.

And what you really want to remember, remember all that you are, and gain a new point of view, while enjoying the peaceful scenery. SEE something in a new way ---Those things that you can attend to while you are there. And you can be sure and confident in a totally new way --- SIMPLY ENJOY BEING YOU. Feeling at ease.

Your place can be anyway you want it to be, anyway you want it to look, anyway you want it to sound or feel and experience that comfort that is there for you---And this is your place of all places, a place to enjoy being you, all of you. Enjoy you, enjoy all parts of you enjoying being whole --- and continue with that enjoyment yourself, for your self.

And I really don't know--- it's up to you and your inner mind can assist you here. And one of the nice and good things to think about and learn, is that here, of all places, you can appreciate yourself more and more, and you can, can you not?

And as you appreciate having taken this opportunity to learn, you can carry that understanding within yourself --- the feelings of comfort and relaxation can spread throughout your body, your whole self --- and be at peace with yourself --- secure---very secure and comfortable.

And just as a small stream flows---you can flow with the sense that it is so satisfying to be at one with oneself --- to be for oneself --- you are one of a kind, that is very special---And you are learning --- not bad to learn --- in fact it's very good so many good things one can discover for oneself.

A long time ago and you may have not thought about it for a long time, you were a small child. And, as a child, a little child, small kid--- just a baby --- you didn't know how to walk. You know that little children look at the grownups and the child moves, and begins to learn how to walk and many, many things --- And the baby starts to crawl, and how many times the baby falls, and gets up again --- and, all the while just wanting to walk --- and you did learn to stand and to walk --- and you didn't know just how much you were learning while you were doing it, did you? You were learning, nonetheless.

And you can use that way of learning in a directed fashion right now --- to learn something of value to you --- because you are a learner and your inner mind can use that ability to look forward and keep on learning that you are special --- you are one of a kind and you can appreciate yourself today, tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow--- and when you were going to school --- learning those 26 letters --- the difference between a B and a D. And on the blackboard ---later on paper--- first words, then simple phrases, then sentences of more and more complexity--- Not knowing that was the foundation on which a whole lifetime of reading and writing was to being constructed. And that is the way you are learning now---and you can go on learning and using what you are learning as a foundation for even more learning into the future. Now, that reminds me of a story.....

I once knew a young man who went to work planting many plants --- and these plants bore fruit in time --- for each has its own time. It was his responsibility to develop new plants, now he didn't know all about growing plants so he didn't know where to start, and there was so very much to learn. He needed to spend some time becoming aware and gaining knowledge about all the possibilities for growing plants. He needed to realize that some were seedlings --- some were more developed than that. Some were already solidly rooted. There were old plants and some were still seeds in his pockets --- some were doing well, and some needed a little extra attention --- Now the man wasn't sure what was needed--- But he became very curious

As he was walking through the garden he came to a patch way in the back. He noticed someone walking and he went to see who was there. As he searched, he found an small old man with very wise, loving eyes --- he was dressed in a purple robe that flowed all the way to his feet --- and around his waist was a braided, golden cord.

The young man said, "Why are you here?"

The old, wise man said, "I've always been here."

The young, man said, "I've been looking and looking at all the plants--- there is so much to see--- I've lots to learn."

The old, wise man smiled and reached out and said, "I shall be with you and will assist you in the learning. Not just about plants, but many, many useful things"

The young man felt he had truly connected in some very special way with the kindly, wise, old man. Then the young man decided he would like to share learn some wonderful things and the old man decided to show him many things and to encourage him in many ways.

Now the wise, old man showed the young man that he was within a community and how important it was to respect each member. He also explained that each person is a garden made up of many parts, and that they all have particular tasks--- And that just as with plants one must hoe where needed, water and nurture to help all the various plants to grow in a healthy way--- Providing support and attention, wherever appropriate. Then the plants can become solid and grow to bear fruit. And so the young man learned to notice which ones wanted watering and feeding and to recognize how well each one was doing--- He grew very close to the old, wise man and they did share many things--- And the plants grew strong and healthy--- Nurtured, watered and fed. Nurtured and supported in the appropriate times.

Now the young man looked at all the plants and trees they had cherished together--- and the young man thanked the old man for all he had learned. The old man appreciated the young man's curiosity and his willingness to grow and they both thanked each other for the understanding what had grown between them. For the wisdom and the love --- for the questions and the answers, for the caring and the joy of living they were sharing together---

The old man said, "Now it's time for a turning--- just as the seasons turn, the tide ebbs and flows, a clock turns, the farmer turns the soil--- each marks a new beginning,--- new possibilities for renewal, for growth, for enjoyment of one's whole being." The said their farewells and parted, knowing they could visit the garden together from time to time into the future.

OH, yes, what was I saying before I got off on that story? So where were we? Yes, I remember. Now you can continue to hear my voice and continue having this comfortable experience, you can maintain the deep state of relaxation. Letting your relaxation grow more and more comfortable as time passes and your breath goes in and out. You can spend one moment of clock time to take all the time in the world you need to be by yourself, for yourself, finding what your self has to offer you.

Soon it will be time to begin thinking about comfortably and easily returning to the here and now and to begin to emerge slowly to everyday alert consciousness. And prepare to become fully aware, relaxed, refreshed, and ready to go on with your activities.

In a minute I'm going to count back from Twenty to One --- When I get to one or at any time while I'm counting that you feel alert, you can open your eyes and feel rested, relaxed, alert and refreshed.

I'm beginning to count now. You can be here and now and begin to bring your attention to the outside here in this room with me.

Twenty---. Fifteen--- Ten--- Five --- Four--- Three--- Two--- One--- !!!

EYES OPEN....ALERT, ..... AND READY TO GO ON WITH

YOUR EVERYDAY ACTIVITIES.

Look at me...and...say: HELLO.

Author Unknown