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How to Practice Guided Imagery

Written by: Marcie Hunt

Article Overview: The embryo of successful ventures, realized dreams, and a fulfilling life begins with inner vision. Inner vision allows you to imagine your life as a complete picture. You can explore how to use guided imagery, practiced at a deeply relaxed level of mind, to access sacred dreams hidden within. Like forgotten treasures waiting to release their splendor, your dreams can be realized by first energizing them through imagery. What is guided imagery, and how does it work?

How to Practice Guided Imagery

Guided imagery is experienced in an altered state of relaxed focus. This state of mind, called the “alpha level,” is deeply serene yet alert. We usually experience the alpha level just as we wake up before opening our eyes, or as we begin to fall asleep.

Guided imagery includes all of the senses: sight, sound, smell, taste, and feeling. For instance, when you imagine an orange you see its color, sense its texture, taste it, and smell the fruit fragrance… The additional senses of intuition and spiritual inspiration can also come into play during imagery, bringing additional information to guide you toward your desired purpose.

Being in the present moment when you practice imagery allows you to draw your future powerfully to the present. In this manner, you create a mental blueprint of your future. Your feelings are important catalysts to realize your purpose, whatever it may be. The more dynamic and real your feelings are during imagery, the greater the energy you send out to attract what you desire.

Jennifer, a client, visualized changing from an accounting job to her dream- business development. She envisioned herself accepting a new job, and sensed it becoming real through her feelings of joy, enthusiasm and satisfaction. Three months later, she accepted an offer to begin an international marketing career!

Here is a simple guided imagery exercise to begin. It will allow you to connect deeply with your spirit and with the Universe:

Your Sacred Space:

Sit in a comfortable position in a quiet space. Close your eyes, and take a deep breath, breathing from the belly up through the chest and letting go of any tension as you breathe out slowly and completely. Tell yourself mentally, “I have no place to go, and nothing to do at this time.” We will begin counting down slowly from ten to one. As you count down, simply feel that you are taking a step down with each number. You will be stepping down toward your own beautiful private garden and, when you reach the number 1, you will enter this peaceful spot.

Let’s begin your countdown: 10…taking a step down… 9…relaxing now…8…tell yourself mentally “deeper and deeper into relaxation”…7… “it is good and healthy to be relaxed”…6…deeper and deeper… 5… 4…taking another step down 3…2… let’s relax a little more physically before you enter your garden. Relax your face and your jaw…you are mentally alert as you continue to relax…let go of any tension in your neck…and your shoulders…go to your back and slowly relax from the top of your vertebrae all the way down to the last vertebrae in the lower part of your back… 1, as you enter your private garden.

Take in the colors of the flowers in your peaceful garden…touch one flower and smell its enticing fragrance…notice the brilliant blue sky, or perhaps there are some fluffy clouds…feel the gentle healing warmth of the sun… You look out to a pristine beach with pure white sand, and the ocean beyond…You feel safe and warm in your magical garden, while enraptured by the majestic expanse and beauty of the ocean. Your body and spirit feel at one with nature and the universe. Here, there is only beauty, love and serenity surrounding and uplifting you…

Begin to count back up, slowly, from five to one. 5…coming up slowly now…4. …coming up a little more…3…feeling good and feeling better than before…2…feeling at ease, yet energetic…1…opening your eyes when you are ready, and feeling great…

You can use this same exercise and change the visuals. You might envision having a big contract close, or working with wonderful clients, or receiving big checks directly into your account-you get the idea.

Have fun! Know that this is a powerful practice to create what you want.

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Article Tags: alpha level, business development, catalysts, color sense, deep breath, dream business, fragrance, guided imagery, international marketing, intuition, mental blueprint, new job, number 1, present moment, private garden, quiet space, sacred space, senses, smell taste, spiritual inspiration



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