Find a comfortable position... let your eyes close... and tune into the rhythm of your breathing...

You are going on an inner journey

You are walking along a pathway through a lovely forest... between the beautiful green trees... it's a warm, sunny day... and as you walk you hear the friendly sounds of the forest on each side... Stop and listen... Which sounds do you like best? (Pause) You begin walking towards the gentle sound of a stream... and soon you see a little bridge that crosses it... You are feeling happy...

You walk onto the bridge and look over to the other side of the stream. There is a hill leading to a cave.

You decide to walk up the hill to the cave... but as you climb up the hill, something seems to be holding you back... the path seems to be getting steeper... and you're finding it very difficult to walk. It feels as if a heavy weight on your back is making it impossible for you to climb... You're now really struggling and gasping for breath... You sink to the ground exhausted... Up ahead you can see the entrance to the cave, but you can't reach it... How do you feel being so near, and yet so far?...

As you sit there on the path, you feel another presence standing next to you and you feel completely safe... This other presence may be that of an old, wise being, an animal or an imaginary being whom you feel is your ally... someone whom you have known for a long time... someone whom you can trust completely...

Your ally reaches out and takes from you the heavy weight which holds you back... Your ally takes your hand, and together you walk easily to the cave... You go in together, sit down, and your ally begins to explain to you about the burden which exhausted you...

You are told that you can leave this burden with your ally and it will never trouble you again... How do you feel now?...

Now it's time to say 'goodbye'... and as you do, your ally says that you can come back at any time, especially when you have a heavy load to bear... You walk out of the cave and down the path to the bridge, feeling light and full of energy... You stop at the bridge for a few moments to look again at your reflection in the water... What do you notice about yourself now that you no longer have to carry the load?...

You walk away from the bridge... Notice how you feel as you walk along the pathway between the beautiful trees... Soon you find yourself coming out of the forest and making your way back to this room...

End the exercise slowly and gently in the way you find best.

De-Briefing

What was it like when you couldn't get up the hill?
Who was your ally?
How did you feel when your ally lifted the burden from you?
What did your ally say to you about your burden?
Did it stand for anything in your life?
What do you think you learnt from this fantasy?

© Diocese of Salisbury Board of Education.