Relax in Joshua Tree

(peaceful music) My life can get very busy and my house has a lot of people in it at any given time. So it can be difficult to find the quiet solitude that is so nourishing for me. My trip to Joshua Tree offers the spaciousness that I seek, allowing me to wander, contemplate, and meditate on the sights and sounds of nature. I wanna offer a meditation that's inspired by the incredible landscape of Joshua Tree National Park in California. At first, you might see the desert as a really empty place to be. The conditions can be arid and harsh, but when you zoom out you see the vastness of the landscape which reflects the spaciousness that we have in our own minds. Just like the boulders here, allow the body to feel settled, strong, still and present, ready to witness whatever arises. And just take a nice, slow, deep breath as you sense the space around you. The American Southwest is the only area in the world where these peculiar yucca palms can live. With a lifespan averaging 150 years, Their resilience inspires us to go inward, and witness ourselves just as we are. Sense the spaciousness of your mind, seeing the mind as a vast landscape, open, receptive, and able to hold any thoughts, emotions, or any sensations that arise. And just touch into your motivation, your intention to be open just like this landscape, and see things just as they are. And let's welcome all parts of ourselves to be here just as we are, allowing whatever wants to show up to do so in its own time. And allowing ourselves to be vulnerable, abiding by our own internal experiences, as if sitting down with a good friend, inviting them to share whatever they'd like with no pressure and no sense of rush. Connect with the sense of possibility. With more space there's more room for creativity and insight to blossom. And now let's take a moment to connect with our senses. Start by slowly looking around, and notice light and shadows. Notice details in your environment that you haven't noticed before. And as we take our next deep breath, notice any scents in the air. Is there anything you can smell? And now, sense the temperature of the space that you're in. Is it warm or cool? Maybe you feel a slight breeze against your skin. Or maybe you can sense your clothes keeping your body warm. And if it's comfortable for you, you can close your eyes for just a moment just to notice sounds in your environment, one at a time. See if you can listen with curiosity as if you were listening to music that you really enjoy. Notice sounds that come and go and notice sounds that seem steady. What's the quietest sound you can hear? And we'll slowly bring our attention to the natural sensation of breath. Just feeling your body being breathed. Notice how your abdomen and chest...