Jenny Garrison: Journeys

Every few months, new information and ideas about imagery will be posted here, along with a fresh journey theme for inspiration. I will also post some of your journeys here, so if you would like to submit a journey, you can do that through e-mail or the guestbook. Come back and visit often for ideas and support as you explore and practice your own deep imagery.

A Heart Walk Practice

Last summer, I was given the gift of being guided in imagery by my beloved teacher of imagery, E.S. Gallegos. My imagery journey took me to my heart, where my heart animals (see chapter 14, Imagery In You) clearly told me “You must let your heart breathe.”
Breath brings us the gift of spaciousness. It fills each present moment with the holy and natural rhythm of expansion and contraction which is evidenced in the tidal rhythms, the birthing process, and the cycles of life and seasons. Breath accompanies growth.
When we breathe into our hearts, we soften the hard places. We let loose the constraints we have put there (often inadvertently) and we free our hearts to be a bigger part of our lives, of our mind, and of our soul. Breath loosens the tongue of our heart, so it can talk with us ~ so it can hear, smell, taste, see, and touch as our soul stands witness.
You are so unique, dear guest. Your heart has its own sound, resonance, and song. Just as Earth is the artwork of our Creator, our hearts can teach us through the language of the senses and the world of nature.

The Practice
(suggestion: Have some protected time in which to do this, where you will not be disturbed by phones and other distractions)

Breathe, now, into your heart.
Feel your body’s place in the Cosmos.
Feel your heart at the center of your body.
Feel the spaciousness of your awareness, and also your center…the seed place of mind, body and spirit in you, and the vast awareness of which you are capable.
Allow breath to be free in your heart. Take as long as you need till you get a sense of breath moving freely in your heart.
Begin to tune in to your heart’s senses. Close your eyes. Allow the image of your hearts landscape to come to you. Be there with your hearts senses. What are the sounds, the colors, the smells, the textures and tastes of the air?
Does this landscape have a message for you?
Invite the Master Love Teacher to be present in your breathing heart~ in this landscape. Be in His/Her presence. How does this teacher want to BE with you? Allow them to show you, to teach you, to be with you as they will. Allow communicative exchange with this teacher. Be present with your feelings. Ask your teacher to walk out with you into the world. Open your eyes but stay in your heart. Allow your heart to lead. What direction? (Ask your heart) Where to go? What does your heart want to show you? Open your heart and mind to the teaching that comes to you.
Breathe deeply and offer forgiveness, gratitude, and love. Ask for blessing on your heart, and allow yourself to receive the same.
Close your heart walk with some journaling, art, sound, or movement.