Emmy

St. Louis, MO

Elaine

Carmarthen, Wales, UK

Rachel DuBois

Alyth, Scotland

Marcus

Jean Summers

Orlando, FL, USA

Angie P

Fort Wayne, IN, USA

Joan Paulette

Boulder City, Nevada

In Sch

Giessen, Germany

Boulder, CO, USA

Laura Pestronk

Rebecca

Belinda Clair

Suzi

Oregon, USA

Jackie Roberts

Liverpool, UK

Debra Sokol

Amy Brice

paul beagle

Sian Ashby

Leeds, UK

Jonah Fertig-Burd

Durham, ME, USA

Meet your internal parts, address their fears, and journey toward pure awareness on a meditative path.

Science

Recovery & Healing

Healing

Psychology

Guided Imagery

Visualization

English

In this deeply relaxing meditation, Dr. Richard Schwartz guides listeners through The Path exercise where they take a journey without their parts in order to learn about Self Leadership. This exercise is designed to create awareness about Self and the needs of parts, both specific and in general.

The Path: Internal Family Systems (IFS)

 Let's take some deep breaths again. This is what I call the path exercise, path meditation. In your mind, put yourself at the base of a path, your mind's eye. It could be a path you've been on before, or it could be one that's completely new. And just stay there at the base for a minute. And before you go anywhere, meet with your parts about how they'd feel about letting you go by yourself. If they have any fears, you can let them know that you won't be gone long, and that this would be good for them and for you. See if you can organize things so that the ones who are afraid are comforted and cared for by ones who aren't. And even with all that, you may find that your parts don't want you to go. And that's just fine. You can spend the rest of the time just getting to know their fears. Yeah, so if they don't want you to go, we're going to respect that. But if they are okay waiting there for you, then go ahead and head out on the path, whatever pace feels right. And as you go, I'll ask you to notice a few things. The first thing I'll ask you to notice is whether you're on the path or you're watching yourself on the path. Because if you're watching yourself, it means there's a part that's trying to do it for you. And ask that part to be willing to return to the base also and to let you actually be on the path. So you don't see yourself, you're just there and you see your surroundings. And as you go along, also notice, see if you're thinking anything. Because if you're thinking anything at all, usually means there are parts still with you. And find those parts and see if they'd also be willing to wait, return to the base. And if they are willing, you'll gradually find yourself becoming more and more pure experience or pure awareness. So that's the first thing I'll ask you to notice. The second thing I'll ask you to notice is whether you're on the path or you're watching yourself on the path. And as you go, if you find at any point that you're lifting up off the path and flying or soaring, don't be alarmed, that's fine, you can go with that. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Notice your body as you go, you may find a kind of vibrating energy running through it. And see how possible it is to hold that energy as you continue. Thank you. And as you're feeling that vibrating energy, at any point you can pause and ask if it has any guidance for you. Thank you. And when the time feels right, begin to return to the base, whatever pace feels right. There's no rush. When you get back to your parts, meet with them for a little while and just see how this was for them. And see also if they'd be willing to let you hold this energy while you're with them. And if there's anything they want you to know about this journey. Thank you. And when all that feels complete, then thank them for letting you go if they did or for letting you know they were afraid to if they didn't. And then begin to take some more deep breaths and come back here. Thank you.