Starbright--Meditations for Children

by Maureen Garth

Overview

Driven by the desire to help her three-year-old daughter settle down into a peaceful night's sleep, Maureen Garth devised meditations that would help her daughter feel secure and cared for. Starbright is a collection of the stories Garth created as her child grew older. These innovative meditations are simple visualizations parents and teachers can read to their children to help them sleep, develop concentration, awaken creativity, and learn to quiet themselves.

"Unfortunately, a lot of children have trouble learning these techniques by the time they are seven or eight," writes Garth. "Relaxation and visualization, if taught at an earlier age, could enhance not only children's school work but other areas of their lives. Their concentration would improve; their artistic abilities would develop; they would feel more centered; their daydreaming could not only bring joy, but be constructive."

In her engaging, warm, and personal style, Garth teaches parents how to help their children relax, concentrate, and develop artistic and mental abilities, as well as enjoy a good night's sleep.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780062503985
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	10/25/1991
Pages:	112
Sales rank:	283,329
Product dimensions:	8.50(w) x 7.50(h) x 0.22(d)
Age Range:	5 Years

About the Author

Maureen Garth was an innovative teacher and writer about meditation who lived in Sydney, Australia. She died after completing the manuscript of Earthlight. In addition to her collections of childrens visualizations for older readers, The Inner Garden, InnerSpace,and The Power of the Inner Self.

Read an Excerpt

Chapter One

The Star Prelude

I WANT you to see above your head a beautiful, beautiful star. This star is very special to you, as it is your very own star. It can be any color you like — you might see it as being a purple star, or perhaps a pinkone — or blue — or yellow — or is it a speckled star? Or a silver one? Because it is your very own star, it can be any color or colors you choose.

This special star is filled with white light, lovely white light that shimmers and glows. I want you to see this light streaming down toward you until it reaches the very top of your head. And now I want you to bring this pure light down through your head and take it right down your body until your whole body is filled with this glorious white light.

I want you to feel the light going down your arms, right down, until you feel it reaching your hands and going into each and every finger.

Feel that light going down the trunk of your body, down until it reaches your legs, and when you feel it there, take it right down until it comes to your feet and then feel the light going through each toe.

I now want you to look into your heart and to fill your heart with love for all the people and animals in the world. They are your friends, be they small or large. Can you see your heart getting bigger and bigger? It's expanding because you have so much love in your heart for all these people and the animals, and of course for yourself

Now your guardian angel is waiting to wrap golden wings of protection around you beforetaking you into your garden. The angel's wings are very large and very soft, just like down. Everyone has their own guardian angel and that guardian angel takes care of you and protects you always, so you are never alone. It's important to remember this and to know that you have someone who looks after you with love and care.

Your guardian angel is now going to take you to a garden that is your own special place, but before you enter I want you to look at the large tree that is outside. This tree is called the Worry Tree. I want you to pin on this tree anything that might worry you — perhaps you have had some arguments at school or maybe you are having difficulty with your school work. This tree will take any worries at all, be it with your friends or your family. This tree accepts anything that you would care to pin there.

Your guardian angel is now opening the gate for you to enter, and as you go in you find the colors are like nothing you have seen before. The beauty of the flowers, the colors, the textures, and the perfume — breathe them in. The grass is a vivid green and the sky a beautiful blue with little white fluffy clouds. It is very peaceful in your garden; it is full of love and harmony.

You may feel this prelude is very long, but it is wise to create with care, thought, and feeling the setting your child is entering. When your child is used to it, the prelude may become shorter, as it is not always necessary to describe the star and the angel in such full detail. Then it becomes something like the shorter version below.

I want you to see above your head a beautiful, beautiful star. This star is filled with lovely white light. I want you to bring the white light from that star right down through your body until you can feel it in every part of your body, and your heart is filled with love for all humanity and for all creatures great and small.

Your guardian angel is waiting for you to wrap a golden cloak of protection around you and take you to the Worry Tree. Put anything that worries you on the tree, and then your guardian will open the gate and take you inside your garden.

Your garden is filled with glorious flowers; the grass and the trees are an emerald green, and the sky a deep blue with little white clouds.

After you have set the scene, as it were, you can do anything with the children that you think they would enjoy. Become a child again yourself — I think you will be surprised at the pleasure these flights of fantasy will give you.

Some of the meditations I have done follow.

Starbright — Meditations for Children. Copyright © by Maureen Garth. Reprinted by permission of HarperCollins Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved. Available now wherever books are sold.