Kellyne Vaudreuil '23 - "Moments of Visualization: The Open Expanse"

Welcome to Mindful and Reflective Moments. In today’s session, Kellyne Vaudreuil ‘23, will be leading a visualization/guided imagery meditation designed to help you slow down and be present- wherever you may be.

Transcript

Speaker 1:

Welcome to Mindful and Reflective Moments, and thank you for joining us. Each week, a Vassar College community member will share a mindfulness practice, and explore how their practice sustains them during these uncertain times. We hope that you enjoy the podcast and find it helpful and meaningful.

Kelly-Anne:

Welcome to Mindful and Reflective Moments. My name is Kelly-Anne, and I'm a sophomore here at Vassar. Today, I'll be leading a short, mindful visualization designed to help us slow down and live in the present moment. If you're anything like me, you might walk around campus and marvel at the fact that you're here at Vassar. Sometimes it doesn't feel real. I've wanted to attend college ever since I learned about higher education. For years, I told myself once I got into college, I would finally be free to enjoy my academic success. I would take it slower, maybe actually have a life. However, most days I find myself completely overwhelmed and inundated with work, too busy to even take a moment and really acknowledge my here and now.

Kelly-Anne:

When I look back, I want to remember being present for every moment, instead of living in an academic haze. So today, join me in a visualization meditation that helps me to slow down and enjoy the present moment, even just for a few minutes. Feel free to follow along with me or complete this meditation on your own. If you are completing this meditation on your own, follow these instructions: find a spot and focus on it. It can be wherever you are now or somewhere else that brings you comfort. Maybe that's your backyard, a friend's house, a bookstore, the beach. Describe it in as much detail as you can, letting your mind focus on this one place. Where is this place? What do you notice about this place? Is it outside or is it indoors? Is it sunny, rainy, snowy, cloudy? Is it loud or is it quiet? Are you alone or are you with someone? What different colors do you see? And what are you doing there? Don't forget to take a few deep breaths while you're visualizing.

Kelly-Anne:

For those following along with me, we will begin on the edge of a cobblestone pathway. Imagine the quiet thumping of your shoes as they work to avoid the cracks between the uneven gray stones. Making your way past the winding rock formation, you enter into an open clearing, its edges sloping down ever so gently to meet the outskirts of a serene lake. As you take a few steps forward, you feel your feet sink slightly in the soft grass. The blades tickle the skin on your exposed ankle. As you find a spot to sit down, you draw in a deep breath. As the wind begins to pick up, the massive tree towering over you begins to shake its branches, and you watch as a few leaves drift down into the green expanse. As you begin to lie down the grass shifts to make room for your outstretched form, creating a cozy cushion beneath you.

Kelly-Anne:

You stretch out your arms and legs, slowly feeling your muscles loosen. In the grass, you spot two tiny ants scurrying towards you. You stay as still as you can, unwilling to disturb them, and curious to see what they're up to. You watch as they make their way through fallen leaves and broken branches, only stopping to load bits of food on their backs. You watch them return the way they came, disappearing in the grass. Taking in a few deep breaths, you turn your head to look up at the sky. Basking in the warm glow of the sun, you focus on a singular fluffy clouds, drifting aimlessly through the blue sky. And you think to yourself, "I am here, and this is now." You take three more deep breaths.

Kelly-Anne:

Thank you for joining me on this visualization meditation. I hope it brought you a sense of comfort, or at least a few moments of peace.

Speaker 1:

Mindful and Reflective Moments is brought to you by the Vassar College Counseling Service, the Office of Health Promotion and Education, the Office of Student Growth and Engagement, and the Office of Spiritual Life and Contemplative Practices.