In this introduction to meditation and visualization class students will learn how to create a meditation practice by learning about the world of the Grandmother Tree.

The Grandmother Tree was created when my daughters were toddlers.  I had been practicing meditation for many years and knew it was helpful for kids, but also that they have a different capacity for meditation than I did.  We created a world that they could come back to over and over, a space that could be expanded and used in different ways depending on the situation.  The Grandmother Tree lives in a colorful natural world and becomes a loving internal presence in the child's life.  My children are now 10 & 12 and they still love the Grandmother Tree and we still do this meditation together.

We begin the class with greetings and introductions.  We all tell something that's been going good.  I emphasize that it doesn't have to be something big.  It can be something simple like a delicious breakfast, playing with the dog or beautiful weather.  The purpose is to have us focusing on what's going good in life and in looking for what's going good when we're not in class.  I remind them to look for what's going good for our next class.  

Then we do some breathing and energy games.  We'll try different breathing techniques different weeks.  We typically do a little tapping and I share a special tap to remember for when they feel upset, frustrated or scared.  

We ease into the meditation the same way each time, by visualizing walking down a staircase and out a door into the world of the Grandmother Tree.  The Grandmother Tree is the oldest and wisest of all the trees in the forest.  She lives on a hill at the back of a meadow filled with wildflowers.  We visualize taking this walk to the Grandmother Tree.  In times of trouble we can go to the Grandmother Tree for support, we can give her our problems and she can change the energy into love and fill us up with love.  Sometimes we focus on the meadow and picking flowers. Sometimes we visit a garden near the hill. The possibilities are unlimited. Yet it is simple and repetitive enough that when they're ready to try meditating on their own they'll have a solid experience of how they can do that.   

The first 10-15 minutes of class will be for introductions, talking about what will happen in our meditation and breathing & energy games.
The meditation will last 5-10 minutes.  Student microphones will be turned off so there are no noise distractions.
The last few minutes of class will be for questions and sharing experiences.  

By having this as an ongoing class, students will begin to develop a feel for the practice of meditation.  Meditation isn't something you do once, it's something that you do on a regular basis, like bathing, eating and brushing your teeth.  Meditation is a practice that grows with you throughout life.