In your mind’s eye, imagine yourself walking along the shores of a spring-fed mountain lake.  The water is so clear you can see the rocks on the lake floor, even fish swimming.  You walk into the water and feel the cool soothing water and the soft sand beneath your feet.  You bend over and cup your hands to drink some of the clear spring water.  The pure tasting water quenches your thirst.  You feel its restorative life-giving essence coursing through your body, especially to your areas of need.

The lake is surrounded by craggy granite peaks.  The granite peaks are guardians protecting you from all the noise and turbulence in the world below.  In between the granite peaks are pockets of old-growth trees, some over 100 years old.  A breeze flows down from the peaks through the trees gently rustling their leaves and needles. Birds are sitting in

many of the branches.  It is as if they are singing directly to you.  Many small animals – squirrels and chipmunks are running around and up the trees.  Nestled in and among the trees are flowering mountain dogwood and rhododendrons.  You find the flowers fragrance very pleasing.  Hummingbirds, butterflies and bees are flying from flower to flower, drinking in their nectar.  Wildflowers of every color are scattered around trees, shrubs, and lake shoreline.  All basking in the spring sunshine.

On the lake shore, you come across a bench next to an ancient giant sequoia.  The giant sequoia beckons you to sit on the bench.  As you sit, you reach out to touch it.  You feel its wisdom gained from having lived so many years.  The bench is your perfect height so that when seated, your feet comfortably lie flat on the soft green moss below the bench.  Like the giant sequoias roots extending into the earth, feel a part of you extending down from your feet, deep into the earth grounding you to this place.  As you look at the lake, its crystal-clear water reflects the intense blue sky above and passing white billowy white clouds.  This is the lake of peace.  You feel connected with the earth and all the trees, flowers and animals surrounding this lake of peace.   That sense of peace fills your heart.  Your guides and angels gather near you.  Take a few moments to listen to their guidance and uplifting messages.

Amen

— Submitted by T. V.

In your mind’s eye, imagine yourself walking in a beautiful sunlit garden.  The infinite and eternal garden of the spirit...  In the garden there are flowering trees and shrubs with many beautifully colored flowers nestled along the garden path.   Your spirit garden filled with all the plants that you love.  You can smell their lovely, perfumed scent. Butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds are flying from flower to flower.  Other birds are softly singing in the trees.  Your favorite animals are in your spirit garden as well.

As you walk along the garden path, one tree, set beside a stream, in particular calls to you.  You sit down on the soft grass at the base of the tree and lean back on the tree trunk.  You feel the strength of the tree as you rest against it.  You gradually become one with the tree, absorbed into its life.  You feel its roots reaching down to draw strength and sustenance from Mother Earth.  You feel its branches lifting towards the sky absorbing the life-force from the sun and the crystal-clear air.

Great Buddha Statue located in Bodh Gaya, Bihar, India

Buddha Shrine inside Bayon Temple, Siem Reap, Cambodia